New-York tribune., 1895-12-16
PREPARATION FOR DEATH.
SERMON OF THE REV. DIR. DORWART. OF
PATTERSON, ON THE SUBJECT.
MAN. HE SAYS. MUST PRESENT HIMSELF WITH
PURIFIED HEART-cAREFuL SCRUTINY or
THE SOU. MADE NECESSARY BY THE

MAN. HE SAYS. MUST PRESENT HIMSELF WITH A
PURIFIED HEART-cAREFuL SCRUTINY OF
THE SOU. MADE NECESSARY ny THE
UNCERTAINTY or LIFE.
The Rev George Metzgar Dorwart. rector OF the
Church of the Holy Communion. Paterson.
nounced his text yesterday morning from Amos w..
u: Prepare TO meet thy God" He said in part:
Prepare to meet thy God" Throughout the year
we hear the continual call of the church, exhortng
us to heed these words OF the pi22phet. p2p But es-
sound forth the summons. Advent Is the especial
time for preparation to meet our " GoG & Nov ,iL i is
Naturally none of y, Is ready i9r ,r, such meeting
ihc aS Greator sr ana made IN Hs image deiacei
that likeness by ain The creature, Therefore. must
may be such is worthy OF father and his cnilG.
How can We expect to meet our God without max
iiie. iii Piciure Distinguished guest expected Every
thing Is excitement, hurry hustle, Anxiety Al last
all is ready, orier is brought out OF confusion. and
the honor OF the great personages arrival justifes
the pains taken How much more should we take
thought for preparation wheh ne IS coming at
whose very name We reverenily bow IN recognition
Of HIS greatness ard His power Prepare to meet
We Ills children. made I'm the holy sacrament of
seal OF His cross the symbol o. our salvation. in
token that We may never be ashamed 10 hSht man
fuy under Ills glorious banner o God through or,
sin but reconcled Him By the blood of tne inn
Hai a'0 not man sinned there Would be no
need OF making ready to meet our God But man
been APPOINTED for his recreation That way has
been fXed 10y mind far above ours The CON
ditions are settled The Catholic fanh. in the voice
that has spoken. heralds forth the mighty truth.
unchanged and unchan able that there IL but one
Name given whereby shall be saved--cnly one
way by which man may come TO God That way Is
We mus; know Him now, in ths oul earthly war
fare-our earthly pilgrimage-that We may know
Him them in the beatifc vision.
VINO is this Gol that we must prepare TO meet?
IL il a new God for whose coming we must have
a new greeting? No: IL Is the same God. yester-
day to-day and forever. Are YOU prepared to meet
Him? Are you satisfied that you nave made a
thorough searching Of the heart; a scrutiny tnat
has laid bare the inmost darkhcss and Vlieness OF
that abode of evil? Have you asked that neart for
every item in its fearful debt OF WronsdoinS, am
Won found In that etched balance-sheet OF bank
rupt humanity sorrow-ihe sorrow that comes
only with broken and coniite heaft tnat S'ou WIZ
net despiseI Have YOU mace your coiiiessluh non
cetiy earnestly, submssivey 10 Hin? Have yoI
faith
Bear in mind that all this has TO do with the right
making ready We may impose Ylth 1t upon oul
earthly friends They may be glad at our piepara-
tions 10 Civ them outwardly glad greeting. ana
never detect tha we y, %ene M wbn searhes hc V"sy
hearts and minds OF men. and knows every thought
and every action. And il dare 10 come before
Him unready, and making but o snow ol psepdia11
tiOn to meet Him. shall not find tenderness ana
love- we shall be only ding sin unto sin ana earn
Ing the doom that waits for tAe presumptuous guest
at the Marriage supper of the Lamb. Its JOY ana
ready and is in the wedding garment "BehoI. N
bridegroom cometh." The second coming of the
Son Of Man Is uncertain event IN time, Dut II
is the most absolutely sure OF events In destiny.
"As 4 thief in the night ghcn least we expect
HINT is that lie mas said tha; He Will come
What my brethren if He find us unpreparedf lhen
the words that revelation has ever given to hAnaA
speech-"dep2rt. never lnew YOU