The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-04-27

The Easter sunday Contribution Almost

Tn. Tas,er sunday Contribution Almost
Entirely Cancelled the Church's Debt
AT St Marks the rector. 1T. Rev. c. c.
Penick. d. D.. preached most eloquent
sermon.
Before taking his text he called the
attention OF inc immense CO. sregauOA
TO the tact that the DAY was 81. Marx
DAY. and in a few fciicitous remarks con-
gratulaied them upon the happy TACT
mas uuon this. the day OF their own pc
culiar saint. he could announce TO them
that their liberal contribution OF Easter
Sunday would almost entirely cancel the
debt Of their church.
Ic then took for his text the fifth and
eighth verses Of the Gospel Of ST. John
Il am the vine ye are the branches. lie
that ahdeth an me ana / in him, the
same bringeth forth much fruit, for with
out me We can do nothing and herein
f. my Father glorded. that ye bear much
fruit
Tie said. ! have prepared my sermon to-
day with peculiar reference 10 the needs
OF the sixteen persons who were confirmed
an this church last Wednesday evening,
but / trust that IL may prove helpful 10
many who were confirmed here years ago,
and 10 those who yet linger in the border
land Of indecision. This was, indeed, q
wondrous idea which Christ had Of him
self and life II am the vine" His life,
a vine going down into the worlds death
and gathering in itself what could be
lifted and made into living. fruit-bearing
branches. A gathering up OF forces
earth could do nothing with, and had
thrown away. What the vine lifts passes
into its nature. and that only What
nd ~
mes lies at the roots; yet down into it all
1he roots grOpe. and grasp and lift into
the glad sunshine OF life all that may be
lifted up.
eye are the branches" Awhile ago
you were but damp. rotting earth. but
the root of the living vine reached into
the sepuchre OF your dying life. drew
your sinking forces upward into itself.
and begin TO lift. 10 form, and TO give
purpose. on up into its great heart
life you will pass far above the worldly
plane. and respond oh. so gladly, 10 the
sunshine and dew.
Whereas before every touch Of the
world dragged you lower and lower now
you are born again. the spirit Of hope.
and conquest is yours
u Is not to destroy our individuality
that Jesus lifts as into Himself. but TO
give 20 us a new and glOrihed individual
ity. lie sends you of from himself each
one distinct branch TO grow strong and
beautiful and fruitful In good works in
Heavens sunshine while he stands be
tween you and the worlds death.
Christ's life passing through your life
makes it rich with his gifts. The vine
makes the branches its almoner. and
hungry humanity comes for fruit not TO
the vine but 90 the branches.
10 was the grapes grown on the vine
az his humanity that were trodden I'm
Calyay's great wine-press for the worlds
life and joy. and so also our life's fruit
s. great as n Is giaddened into personality
through Christs life.
What the branch lifts from the vine
and glorihes into the fruit decides its
value Not the grace nor the beauty.
nor the size. but the power which the
branch has TO reach into the vine, Christ.
and through Him bring out Of earths
dying self life and hope. and eladness
10 men
Only as the world comes 10 me through
Christ can / use IL gioriousy only as
7 consecrate my whole force TO his pur-
pose does II become a living force
That life Is the greatest which gives the
most Of Jesus TO the world for just as
the nature of Jesus is incarnated and
given 70 humanity 50 is God glorihed.