The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-05-07
Westminster Church,

"Power is made mighty in weakness. u
These words from the twelfth chapter OF
Second Corinthians furnished the text for
Rev. Mr.. Mott, at the Westminster Uni
tartan Church, yesterday.
In using these words Paul was speak king
of two kinds of strength, the mental and
the physical. The former is the finer and
more beautiful and is exhibited most
plainly at times when the latter seems al
most absent. 1t Is in times Of strife
to live nobly in spite Of physical
weakness that the greatest strength
is shown and Paul is doubtless right in
saying that there Is some compensation
to those suffering from bodily infirmities
that they possess this beautiful mental
power and strength. The victory is not
always with the strong in muscle nor are
the highest rewards won in contests of
physical endurance.
Mr.. Mott then illustrated his thoughts
by the life of Michael Sabetus. He lived
in time when Martin Luther was active
and the whole spirit Of the age was one of
burning ardor. Sabetus was timid, of a
retiring disposition and a weak and sickly
body, and yet he was the one man Of that
age to whom God vouchsafed to show the
most marvellous religious truths. In this
age OF commercial zeal Ssbetus' mind
riches but fame had he chosen such pur-
suits. But he preferred studious
courses OF life and yet he
was not so devoted to quiet
study that he allowed it to interfere with
his duty. The monastery near Saragossa,
where he lived, was quiet and beautifully
located. It's whole atmosphere was one
that would seem ideal to the lover OF of
thought and research. Sabetus, however,
found the spirit Of the teaching not in
sympathy with his ideas and he left il
and went to Toulose. Here bt study he
learned the great truths OF religion and
despite the fact that they were opposed to
the church and that to make them known
he was counting almost certain martyr
dom he published his work, denouncinR
the theory Of the Trinity. The church
was in arms at once. He was seized and
thrown into prison. He escaped and went
to Geneva, the home of Calvinism, only to
be arrested and imprisoned, subjected to
the greatest sufferings and then burned ut
the stake as q hereto.
During the period OF bis persecution he
was made to endure all the pangs OF hum
ger, cold and Imprisonment. He was Of
Tered his freedom il he would recant. But
despite the dignities and cruelty hcaped
upon him, and the sufferings rendered all
the more keen because OF his bodily IN
firmities he was unyielding. Calvin, his
prosecutor, was. man vigorous and
strong in body, but the poor weak man
Sabetus, whom he prosecuted, though
weak In body. was far greater in the truest
strengths. His vision enabled him to reach
n spiritual height immensely above that
Of Calvin, and by that means to win q
most noble reward.
The music OF the evening included sT
W i'll Extol Thee" soprano solo from the
oratorio "Elp' by Costa, one Of those
rarely exultsnt melodies that reflects the
life and spirit Of victorious people such
as were the Jews OF the early days when
they believed themselves the especial care
Of God. The next selection, "Father Lead
Me, was trio for the three upper voices
by Butterfield. ltssoft, prayerful style. in
which the leading air II carried by the
contralto, was sweet contrast to the
previous piece and . fitting response TO
The invocation OF the evening.
t. your messenger BOY n long time. coming with
he messases Forgive him-hs is playing Flip on