The times., 1899-08-28
CHRISTIAN DEVELOPMENT.
Rev. Thomas A. McCurdy at the New
York Avenue Church.

Rev Thomas A. McCurdy Mt the New
York Avenue Church.
At the New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church yesterday the pulpit was occupied
by the Rev. Thomas A. McCurdy, d. D.,
of Wilmington, Del. His sermon was on
The Law of Growth" He took his text,
Mark iv:2S. For the earth bringeth forth
fruit of herself; first, the blade, then the
ear, after that the full corr in the ear
He said in part: THE law of growth is
interesting, widespread, and suggestive.
We are in touch with it at every point
of our lives, and are subjects of its invisi-
BILE working power It is everywhere and
in all relations first the blade, then the
ear. after that the full corn in the ear.
God does not create great results by direct
operations He introduces forces which
are to be causes and elements of results,
and then leaves these forces to work, each
according to its law in the production of
its effects; but the result thus achieved
is as much Gods as it would be were he
to bring 1t about by the direct fat of his
will. Human results are attained accord
ing to Gods plan. Infinite wisdom is never
in haste Results are of slow growth The
oak springs from the acorn, but ii does
not at once become a tree; 1t must have
time TO grow. We are to work, using
means, then wait. The achievement of
results without the use of appropriate
means is simply an impossibility. The So
called Christian Science is the most idiotic
fraud ever presented to an intelligent
mind. 1t is open rebellion against all nat
ural law, against the order God has estab-
lished for the maintenance of life; against
God own sovereign will; against ciyiiiza-
tion, and against common sense. Christian
Science is itself disease which, like all
other Diseases destroys human life, and,
therefore, is the handmade of death.
There is no condition of human existence
that is divorced from the use of means.
Indeed the use of means is mans only
employment in this world. Use idleness,
and there is poverty; use diligence, and
there is competence; use dishonesty, and
there is the penitentiary; use honesty,
and there is open air and respect; use
temperance, and there is thrift; use intem-
perance, and there is debauch; use prayer
lesspess, and there is godlessneSs; use pray
erfulness, and there is godliness; use the
devil and there is hell; use God, and there
is heaven. But the use of means for the
highest good is the insistence of Gods
word It's keen illustration is the hus-
bandman planting seed in soil prepared
previously. Then there is the chemical
action Of the soil, and the rain, and the
air, and the sunshine and then the blade,
and the ear, and the full corn in the ear.
THE same law acts in our mental ma
ture. Our minds are not created in the
full development of their powers. The
infant is created with forces within it
which are to be unfolded and matured un-
der the active efforts CT others. In this
way the result is brought about so far
as we are able to trace it in this world;
and we know of no different method in
a higher state of being. In the sphere
of mind it is the prattle, then the little
word, then little sentences, then the alpha
bet, then the reader, then arithmetic, and
then through the languages and the sci
ences as far as the mind here can go. In
the sphere CT religion it is first the cloud
of sin, then rays Of hope that God viii
have mercy, then the cry for pardon, then
the shout of acceptance, then faith work.
ing by love; first the babe in grace, then
the strong man, then the old saint; and
after that the grave and the home of the
soul. And what is true of the individual
mind is true OF the race in its eiviliza-
ton Civilization is always progressive,
never instantaneous. No nation comes
suddenly into prominence fully equipped
in intellectual vigor in material resources,
and in moral influence.
No nation sets up housekeeping with
finely finished parlors, decorated walls,
luxurious bedchambers and costly livery
Every nation must take the preparatory
eoSse. 1t must start at the first and low
est round and climb the ladder. One hun
dred and twenty-three years ago the "Old
Liberty Beil'' rang out the Song of Free
DOM From that hour onward we have
been nation. Patriotism has never ceas-
ed to kindle our altar fires, our eagle has
never wearied in its flight, our flag has
never dlmmed its colors nor lost star
our Army has never suffered a final de-
feat, our Navy has never failed in its ef-
| forts TO sweep the seas. In midday and in
midnight the sun beats down on our
shores. But there have been more than
one hundred and twenty-three years
growth. First there was the discovery
Of this continent; then the Pilgrims; then
the Colonies; then the war of the Revolu-
ton; then independence and its war; then
the Confederation of States; then the Con-
stitution; then storms of argument and
OF war; then peace from ocean to ocean;
! then Alaska; then war: then Cuba. Porto
Rico, Hawaii, and the Philippines; and re-
Gently at The Hague our moral and ma
terial resources battled with armed pow
ers for advanced civilization in war. and
especially for tribunal of arbitration.
whereby war itself shall be, il possible,
| eliminated from national life. That is the
| history of American civilization in the alb
stract; but it enlarges when viewed in
detail
But there is a spiritual view so is
the Kingdom Of God The Kingdom OF Cod
begins in any man in the solemn central
| purpose of his soul to become like God
| But before this, indeed the kingdom may
really, though invisibly, have commenced
| in him in new convictions and in new
tastes after holiness; but in this central
purpose OF the soul to become like God. II
Is firmly established. Then what? There
is new life springing upward toward
Christ on the cross and on the throne.
! The Kingdom of God as it is now. began
in single promise, and by an influence on
a single human mind. 1t extended so slow
! ly that when ages had passed. only one
| wandering family was included in it, II
spread by degrees until that family he
came tribe, and it went out with that
tribe into a province, but not until after
the coming OF Christ, its king was IL fitted
! to embrace the world Then IL went from
mind to mind, from kingdom to kingdom.
1t came to this country with a Christian
! colony, and has been built up here by the
iabors, the prayers, and the tears of
generations The Kingdom Of God has
made America what it is.
we should never be discouraged in true
Christian work because the growth is slow
We must labor, sow, and then await the
harvest. The harvest of all things is ap-
preaching. We have long prayed sThv
kingdom come and il is coming, coming
rapidly along lines hoary with age and bril-
liant with glory. Gods kingdom has always
disturbed nations and empires 1t has al
ways cast down thrones. Its influence has
always changed Governments, either in
their forms or in the principles of their
| administration. It has pushed the world
! up TO the point where man Is to be recog-
4
| as man. We should not be disturbed about
national policies with respect to our new