The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-02-10
AssUA1 BERnEnrY SERMON.

Delivered Last Evening in Trinity Church.
 The annual sermon before the Berke- ley association was preached last even- ing in Trinity church by the Rev. w. L.. Robbins, dean of All Saints cathedral Albany. There was a large audience, composed of members and friends of the association. The subject of the dis course was the Revelation of God' as shown by the Old Testament anecdote of the prophet Elijah in the wilderness on Mt Horeb. The story is found in the first book of Kings, eighteenth chap ter.
 The lesson drawn was one full of prac- tical suggestions. Tn his remarks he said:
 Environments have much to do with revelation of God. Our communica tions with earthly friends are much affected by circumstances; so are divine revela- tions. The revelation of God came to Elijah when he was almost despairing of his life.
 ''It was one of the most striking rev. citations of God to any of His servants. Just when Elijah felt that he was alone, deserted, faith almost gone, root and branch that the revelation came. It is | when We need God most and have come almost to the verge of despair that He makes Himself known. When your needs are greatest Gods revelations are the closest.
 "Elijah was alone. He had sat among royal thrones, but when God was to re- veal Himself to His servant He went unto the mountain.
 Alas for him who would substitute public worship for communion with God in solitude. A sound mind, a sound body, is one of the conditions of the full- est revelation. Woe to me if in this age of ease and luxury l should say one word against that atseeticism that
 makes saints. So far as this asceticism l makes men more healthful, so far it aids Christianity. The revelations of God do not come of that asceticism that injures the body and dwarfs the mind. Elijah expected to see God in the Whirlwind, but it came in a. still, small voice, and so. my friends, the revela- tions of God come to us in ways not ex- pected. There are times when the sweet dignity of the public worship does not satisfy, when it ceases to bring the peace we So much desire. Revelation came to Elijah so peacefully and quiet ly that had he not been so eager to hear it he would have missed it. It was spirit speaking with spirit. Do you want God to rend the heavens and to reveal Himself in laundering tones? Is it not enough that God speaks to man as man speaks to his fellows? How shall we hear the revelations? Again we have a lesson. Elijah covered his face and was overcome with awe and 1 reverence when God spoke Do you know that it is possible to mar the ten- derest relations with one little blunder !? And l know of no finer, subtler relation existing than that of man with his God. There is a kind of talking of the sac- raments of the church that is enough to make mems souls callous. Elijah went out; he did not wait to be pushed out into service. and so men should always go in Elijah's spirit when they hear a revelation. There is no such thing as a lazy Christian
 In conclusion the preacher exhorted the members of the association to take home the lessons of the evening.
 There was quite a little reception at the close of the services, when MT. Rob bins had laid by his vestments. Many of the members of the associa tion met the speaker.