The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-03
ST. I. MATTHEW'S IT He:
REOPENING
SERVICES
Hold in tho BeautiAed Edlfce Sun
day Morning and
Evening".
SERMON BYREv. D. W. HOWARD
Was IN Able Discourse on "a Gift
to God."-Music a Feature
Of tho Day.


endar was the occasion, also. OF the fer
NAL re.opening Of St. Matthews P. r.
church. after the completion of the
extensive interior improvements which
have been in progress during the sum
mer and fall. There were three SER
vices. Mt 1880 q. m. 1880 q. m. and 7:.o
p. M, conducted by the rector, Rev.
David W. Howard, and ut each large
congregation was present. Tho exar.
clses were largely musical, the music
being In charge Of Prof. Paris Myers,
who had the corporation Of the vested
boy choir.
At tho 1880 service, the re-dedication
sermon wan delivered by Mr.. Howard.
whose topic was. "a Gift to God" He
took az his text II Samuel, 24-24. Mr..
Howard said:
The incident to which these words
have reference, is the sin committed by
King David In taking census of the
people Of Israel. The narrative simply
states the bare outward facts: but the
form Of them compels the belief that
David's actions were now governed by 4
subtle motive. sinful in It's nature,
complete In its mastery over intellect
and will. and so able to dominate his
entire nature. that It's own real charac-
ter should all the time be disguised 1t
Is difficult matter to present an accu-
rate psychological analysis Of an act of
sin; but we may trace in this case n
few features Of sin In Its subjective
workings. An underlying sinful motive
may so operate as to secure before the
intellect a good array OF reasons for
some special act.
What reasons were formulated in
David's mind for numbering the people?
Perhaps he thought it perfectly natur-
al that after all the nation had passed
through, 1t would afford an occasion Of
showing how God had blessed them.
1t might reveal the weak places in
the defences Of the country. or act as n
check on the aggressivcncss OF all sur
rounding nations. Such reasons may
seem to be the outcome Of mere intel
lectual activity. but in reality they are
set In order by the subtle influence Of
the ruling motive over the intellectual
powers. David's sin in this case con-
sisted In self-exaltation-an assump-
ton Of personal consequence and pride
at being King. as he thought, over an
increasing population. HE forgot the
commands Of Moses. who told them be-
forehand, that II the multitude were
numbered, they should pay half u
sheke Cthe price Of sin offering) to
God for every head"
He seems to have done this. even
against the deliberate protest OF ais
chief captain and military men.
Persistence in Sin.
The persistence Of men In carrying
out 4 sinful feeling, active, though not
perhaps distinctive In consciousness. is
amazing. The will Is so imbued with
the feeling, as to be proof against ell
reason, and all but physical force.
Herein lies the bondage of human
life.
When this sin Is pointed out to him
by the Prophet OF God. sent for that
purpose, David comes to himself, furth-
ermore. he repents OF his folly, and
throws himself upon the mercy OF Cod
saying: Let me fall into the hands Of
the Lord. for His mercies are great.
and let me not fall into the hands Of
man."
Accordingly n great plague swept the
nation and amid dire distress and death
on all sides, 1t Is suggested to David IN
vision, that he should rear an altar
unto the Lord"
This would be a public testimony that
they stu recognized God rs their Ruler
and Guide, that they threw themselves
upon Him for protection. for susie
&, nance and for forgiveness.
The altar was raised and the plague
stayed.
Araunah. the Jebusite. saw David
and his servants coming towards him.
and he said. Wherefore Is the Lord
the King, come TO his scrvants?" Ana
David said, ito buy the threshing floor
OF thee, 10 build an altar unto the
Lord. that the plague may be stayed
from the people,"
And Araunah said unto David, let
my Lord. the King. take and offer up
what scemeth good unto Him. Behold.
here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and
threshing Instruments; all these things
did Araunah, as a King. give unto the
King"
But David said unto Aruunah. NAY,
VIII not offer unto Jehovah my God,
OF that which doth cost me nothing"
Had David received the gift mt the
hands Of Araunah. It would have en-
abled him to perform n religious service
In cheap and inexpensive manner; but
humbly recognizing the obligation that
rested upon him, he will not take part
In an offering. which would In no way
belong to him; nor would he render to
God n selfish md mercrnary service:
which today rcbukcs md condemns
many men. who through their SELFISH
ness, and utter lack OF the spirit OF
self.shcriiice. VIII give nothing for the
maintenance OF Gods worship. or the
promotion OF religion. or any other
good work.
A Living Question.
Oh. what n revolution there would bn
In the religious world. II all Christians