Middletown transcript., 1894-12-22
[coSr1NUEp FROM FIRST pAeE.l

far from the whole of the religious life, but
it is a most important part of it. In the
service of the sanctuary We present to God
our highest and purest offering. Let us
keep in mind and adhere closely to this
i high thought of worship. 1t is not easy
always to- do this Self-pleasing is very
persistent foe to spirituality and it forces
itself even upon our devotions. Too often
dov christian people make their attendance
at church depend on mere inclination or
the whim of the hour. Too often does
Christian Congregation bear the aspect of
group of people gathered simply for their
own pleasure to listen to the music to hear
a Sermon to see their neighbors. putting
themselves in the attitude OF spectators
and listeners instead of feeling that they
have q vital part in all that is done and
that unless they rouse their souls to spirit
nal activity they will fail of the blessing.
Let us try TO take the higher view of our
common worwhip. When we come here to
the House OF Coz we come not TO please
ourselves, but to fulfil our highest spiritual
function. We come to hold communion
with God. to praise His holy name. to hear
His holy word to present our petitions at
His footstool, and to offer Him fitting
sacrifice. In every part of our common
worship we must "set God alway before
u.s." Our thoughts must be fixed on Him.
In such theory of worship, self drops
out of sight; the worshippers are gathered
before Throne, they are in the presence
of a King. Thew feel His presence. To
Him they lift their hearts and minds in
reverent and adoring service. Our precious
Liturgy-to which as churchmen we feel a
loyal observation-disclosures the vehicle of the
holy homage which we render to our
Sovereign. of the conservation of ourselves
and all we have to our loving Father in
Heaven.
We have seen that the great principle of
a single-minded devotion to God must be
brought to bear upon our personal religion
and upon our common worship. 1t must
also guide us in all our church work.
trust that it is the wish of all our hearts
that this shall be working parish. There
was a time not long ago when very
marrow idea was entertained of what a
parish should be. 1t was thought that the
end was reached if the people gathered
together, maintained public service and
lived in peaceable and friendly terms with
one anothst j our own day, we may
thy9k fhange is taking Place place
jority Of the House are gning, they are centres
nething and that its pasre beginning 70 real
use will throw the respSrgotten it?~that the
failure of financial legin to every man in the
already unpopular Sen within ii its ISL sphere he % of
to the knowledge of
.-..sings of redemption. A |
t is not necessashtly been published with the |
title, Liz I16IGSy Vi SdlU.
% .lS 3 false idea was that each man lives
.unrrfor himself alone, that he is not his |
., brothers keeper but Christ has taught u.s. |
and the church today is gaining fresh in
lde sight into the blessed truth, that we are our |
y brothers keepers. that there is work to |
do at our very doors, that God will hold us
responsible for doing il, that if there are men |
living in our communities or in near COM
munities, men whom we might touch with /
our Christian life and we permit them to go |
on still old way, unsought and unaided, with
out the light that we might have brought |
into their lives, then sin rests upon us, we
have been faithless in our charge, we have
been unworthy of our Master. My dear
friends let us revive our spiritual energy
this morning with the great thought that
every Christian is Missionary. Let US
realize that every one of us has work to do
for Christ right here in this community.
Let us remember that the welfare of human
souls depends on the the way in which we
fulfil our trust. Gods work is waiting to be
done. The harvest is ripe for the reaping.
1t is for US, for us each one, for US in our
united parish life, to arise and work We
are set here not to please ourselves, not only
to enjoy the blessing of common worship
and the pleasure of social fellowship. We
are set here to let our light shine forth, to
do Gods work, to deny ourselves, to suffer
and toll that our parish may be SURGE of
blessing to all who live about us. We are
set Senly to the garden of the Lord
but so to labor that even the wilderness
and the solitary place shall be glad" for our
endeavors and that even the desert itself i.
''shall rejoice and blossom as the rose"
My dear friends, it is we'll that our life to-
gether as pastor and people should begin in
this Advent season. In these solemn days
we are reminded that time is flying, that
eternity is our portion, that Gods judge
ment awaits lis. Shall we not pray that
through all the Christian year upon which
onfar rSt,n tbror1 1v1, oil /
of our life together, the solemn yet blessed
truths which Advent teaches may be pres
ent in our thoughts and give soberness and
earnestness to our lives. As we 60 about
our daily duties our common tasks, our
trivial concerns, we perceive that all around
US lies spiritual realm with facts of deep
est import. To that spiritual realm we be-
long, in it lies our real life. The children o
men are the sons of God. As we think OF
these high things do we not see that the
great principle of which We have spoken
to-day is the only one which can meet the
requirements of both worlds. We must set
God alway before US in our daily duties, in
our common life, in our personal religion in
our public worship in our parish work, in
all that we say and think and do, and then
as we think of the great future We need not
fear.
To those who live for Him, God gives His
help and strength. The way seems hard,
the task set before us may appear beyond
our power, the difficulties whice confront us
may seem insurmountable. But God is with
rs and those who wait upon Him find stores
OF grace sufficient for their need. Miracle
of service may yet be wrought by men and
women like ourselves if we 60 forth in the
Name of the Lord of Hosts, and rely on Hi
Holy Arm. can find no better word with
which to close than those which we read to-
gether in the Psalter of this morning, "Oh
put your trust in Him alway,ye people, pour
out your hearts before Him, for God is our
hope.
CHESAPEAKE CITY,