The herald., 1895-05-27
THE central PRESBYTERIAN
First Regular Service OF the
New Organization
A LARGE CONGREGATION
"Thy Gent1eness Hath Made Me
Great"
The Rev. L. r. Laverty Makes Of David S
Words Text for His Sermon-A
Condensed Report

The first regular service of this recently
organized church was held at Temperance
temple, corner Broadway and Temple
streets, yesterday morning at II o clock.
a large congregation being in attendance
Rev. l.. L. Laverty, pastor of the Second
Presbyterian church, delivered the SER
mon. taking for his text the latter pare
OF the thirty-fifth verse of the eighth
Psalm-"Thy gentleness hath made me
great" Mr.. Laverty spoke substantially
as follows:
This psalm was composed by David at
the close of his checkercd life and ex-
presses the grateful utterance of his heart
for Gods goodness to him. He had bee II
great warrior and a great poet, but tha
was not the kind of greatness to which he
refers and which had been produced by
Gods gentleness. Men are great in the
proportion in which they are like God.
Gods greatness consists in his holiness.
Greatness in Davids sense is morai
thing. 1t is thing of character-som
thing that will last through eternity.
rather than of position III society. Christ S
greatness was not lessened by the fact
that he labored at the carpenters bench
and was not a man of wealth. Those
who deny his divinity acknowledge his
greatness. Nelson was pre- eu.i inent rs an
uuullIdl anu DyTOu dS u DOcl, Uub WIZ
would think of calling either great with
the greatness of full-roundcd man?
David says this kind of greatness is pro-
duced by Gods gentleness. We are not
surprised at the statement when we think
a little on the subject. The human
heart is always more deeply touched by
tenderness than by sternness. 1llustra
lions of Gods loving kindness in dealing
with mankind are numerous. We never
reach the best III divine blessings. There
is always something better yet to come.
When He prepared this earth for our
home, think of the many beautiful things
lie stored in nature for mans happiness
and comfort. The vast beds Of coal. the
minerals piled away in rocks and hills
the medicinal and healing virtues stored
away in Leaf, root, fruit, bark and min
eral-all tell of Fathers love in fitting
up home for His chilrden. So far as
we know, nothing new has been created
since the beginning. AS the new needs
of advancing civilization have arisen new
supplies have been brought forth from
Gods treasures. The Fathers Thought
fulness Tor the needs of His children are
manifested in nature. in the plan of
redemption and in the wonderful re
sources of His word. Truly His loving
and gentle dealing with us should make
us like Himself in character.
Jesus Christ was the living embodl-
ment of the Father AS He said, "He
that hath seen Me hath seen the Father
The reproach of His enemies was this
man receiveth the Sinners He was
gracious to the worlds outcasts and
those who had been hardened by the
scorn of others we're treated by HIM with
gentleness and tenderness. Here is
lesson for us as pastors, Sunday school
teachers, parents individuals and
churches in our de aling with our fellow
men. Gods gentleness made David
II i
do the same for others. The spirit of
this church has been along this line.
ct this gcntleness continue and may it
make you great as David was great.