The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-06-22
AT TRINITY COLLEGE.
Baccalaureate sermon by Rev. Dr. Doug
 lass of New Haven,


 Baccalaureate sermon by Rev. Dr. Doug
 lass of New Haven.
 Hartford, June 21.-Trinity college commencement began to-day with holy communion in the chapel this morning. This evening the baccalaureate sermon was preached to the graduating class George William Douglass, rector ot Trinity church, New Haven. The ser vice of evening prayers was conducted by Rev. F. s. Luther and Rev. J. J. McCook. The graduating class, clad in cap and gown, occupied seats in the front of the altar. Dr. Douglass closed his sermon with few words of admo- milton, advice and encouragement to the students. There was a large at tendance. Dr. Douglass sermon was in part as follows:
 I heard a voice speaking unto me, Saul, Saul it is hard for these to kick against the bricks. (Acts 26, 14.)
 I am now ready to be offered. GIT Timothy, 4, 6.)
 These two texts were separate utter ances of sinful man-of one and the same-who throughout a long life tried to enter into the mind of Jesus Christ our Lord. That is to say, these two texts have to do with the life of a typical Christian-of one whose course on earth was like what yours and mine should be. One verse refers to the be- ginning of his life, the other to its close. Between these two periods the outward circumstances of the apostles life have not so greatly changed; but there has been revolution in the mans own soul His inner attitude toward the outward circumstances Is different When St. Paul's life was beginning, as when it was ending, he found himself obliged to do what crossed his natural will, and the only way for him to get on was to sacrifice his will. Like the OK before the plough, he did not like his work, and though at last he did it, this was only after he had kicked against the goad of him that drove the plough. He did sacrifice himself, for he could not help it; yet he was not ready for it. But when his course was nearing the end, and as Paul the aged he was dic- tating for the Roman this second letter 
 say out of an honest and true heart I am now ready to be sacrificed My outward life is not shaping itself ac- cording to its natural desires now, any more than of old; but bear myself differently now when I find my desires crossed. I kick no longer against the goad. I am content to sacrifice my self
 
 Have we not here the heart of true religion? A plain example of the prac- tical effect of Christian faith upon the human soul? First, we have the down. right fact of the whole life of man-the inevitable law of sacrifice, and second ly, we see what the faith and love of Jesus Christ enable a man to do with that law.
 Men and brethren, yon entered Trim ity college to geL ready to live the life of true men in this world. Now you are at the dividing line where the start will soon have to be taken and the actual race begun. And already, if you have any serious insight into what lies before you-already you are perceiving that no mans life can be so managed as to suit his own selfish pleasure-that whatever else betides, a deal of self sacrifice is bound to be demanded of every one of us if we are to be any thing, or to accomplish anything at all. wish tonight to show you how in Jesus Christ self sacrifice is transfigur- ed, and become the path whereby we are ushered into the very life of God Most High. The heather world had re- garded the inveitable sacrifices of human life as a blemish, a mark of mitation-something to be avoided as far as possible. But Christ has once for all revealed that sacrifice is to be welcomed by every seeker after God for the reason that so far from being a blemish, limitation, it is the divinest thing in the life of man-it is what knits the life of man to the life of God, since Gods own life is infinite self-sac- rifice and the very joy of the divine life lies there.
 "He knows but little if this world in which we live who does not perceive that sacrifice is inevitable here. This holds not merely of human life, but of every kind of being. The whole crea- ton groaneth and traveleth in pain to- gether until now The very clements declare it. We talk of the strong mountains and the everlasting hills; but the very rock are giving way