New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-05
DR.. HILLIS'S SERMON.
HE breaches ON JOHN THE BAPTIsTs
MORAL CRUSADE.

The Rev DR. Newell Dwight Hills preached at
both the morning and evening services in Plym-
outh Church. His morning sermon was on 'The
Souls Deeper Convictions and Their Transmutation
Into Conduct and Character" The text was;
And now the axe is laid unto the root or the
trees. Every tree therefore. that bringeth not
forth fruit is hewn down and cast into the nre.
And the people asked John. saying, What shall we
then do?" He said in part:
John the Baptist was the prophet Of the invisible.
He stands for sovereignty of conscience BY prth
his large and inspirational nature 1ul OF
sentiments in others Fortunately he grew up in
solitude and fed himself those by the
peoples sins, ashamed of the universal guilt ne
hermit and shepherd of the desert. There n. ne
dreamed and brooded. Alone he dwelt beside the
the Fulfilling his solitary career the years
tated upon the words of the ancient prophets and
fed his passionate discomfort with mans gno o.
golden era and eager longings for , kIgdo Is Of
Of the coming Kingdom and the anointed king:
Long he questioned his own soul and the events OF
Hopes that had been smouldeTing in his race for
6 tb prope The dngngs that had throbbed
in nnumerable hearts trembed into full speech
upon his lips.
JOHN THE BAPTIsTS CRUSADE.
One day he appeared upon the outskirts of the
voice of God, and its clear, sharp tones echoed unto
foundest excitement The whole land felt the cleo
the people from all the region round about rushed
toward John as toward centre the ba
sheaves and SICKLE the towns and villages emptied
was the movement confined to the lower classes or
to the untaught people: Unto him came the sheiks
paupers, the scribes and Pharisees His leather sa
fascinated mems thought Compelled their atten-
ton while the truths he spake filled them with Win
people like an avalanche and a. thunderbot The
sacred fires Of rghte9usness burned within MN I'm
former he lifted the axe upon the root Of the tree
nd bT lined EG s tree nt that t 92t Like
stern surgeon, his knife was in his hand; and he
influence over the Crusaders not Savonaroias rule
as Se tn" of this Tanc man over the Shop
herds and soldiers, the camel drivers, the mltred
mhs Was ' his M sounded no note Of
praise He sang no lullaby in soft r and creamy tenan
bruised like a singing scourge He HIted me Jne
the connections in nature, not the movements OF
the clouds. not the majesty of the all commanding
sometimes overtake whole communities. and, like
divine freshets sweep all men forward unto new
REGENERATED. THE COMMUNITY.
describe the enthusiasm s &c" for morals that swept
over men and regenerated the community. Good
restrained suddenly asserted themselves, and found
yoke. Sacred forces once dormant sprapg up with
and powerful growths. During the French
destroyed castles and fortresses, they made their
way into the lower dungeons and found prisoners
who had been for years in the darkness and NTH
and solitude. and beating down the doors they
eBased to the ieSe Of beasts into light and lib
erty, And not otherwise the soul is castle. and
lions imprisoned and held in subjection and oft
hour when the Whole community was warmed and
aglow with moral impulses. multitudes found
evil Courses The scene forms one of the most
secret and open, the whole multitude broke out
into passionate confession And the moral earnest
out The taxgatherer confessed his extortion and
his mn gotten b ss soaeF drew
forth the of gold that he had taken from his
fsd mad Bsd bPeust
tools Of their INFAMOUS c9nipgs and heaPed o them
came before him, in his surprise John exclaimed D
TO e e 6e % 9T Pe to And eun
who had been Journalists and hypocrites turned
Many who 6ad guilty lying ike
f6s hG road to rest and peaee Man and
foolish prodigal, and he finds rest only when he
asana Heaven 40 and g Thy
toward the prophet toward the throne Of God
another Untrus and an 18th theft Theft at and
it was an epoch making event and scene, When
the tide is out the boats are caught In the mud
of disease and death fills all the air But when the
Washed ae from the shore and the foul streams are
swept out into the great deep be cleansed or to
this rising tide Of spiritual life not simply the in
dividual Was swept forward but the whole nation
was lifted up and carried forward upon the tide Of
universal aspiration.
NATURES METHOD
Now, nature and life show that God has always
used these contagious movements and universal
Growth is through the law of graduslism. and also
through the law of instantaneity. Nature uses a
double method in clothing the trees with leaves and
adjoining the boughs with buds and blossoms. Last
oak
months In making ready the infant buds and the
leaves but in May universal agitation will fall
tree will achieve its pink perfection. In one month
also the oak will be fully robed. For the soft
maple two months will avail foc the branch to push
forth the growth full half yard. Then come
five months thickenng and bracing this growth.
In the human physique also growth is through
this double method. Measurements in the labora-
OF periodicity in childhood. Boys between eight
and fifteen years begin to grow tall in the month
of March. This upward movement continues until
June. Then come four months when the new, soft
growth is thickened and sodified. Having stretched
the tissues out, nature drops in wedges Of blood
and muscle and renders the growth permanent.
forces are quescent and the body makes ready for
another forward movement. Thus, through these
two laws (the law of gradualism and the law OF
sudden upheaVaD full manhood is achieved.
Nature adopts a similar method in connection
with the movement of the Days and even
weeks spent In the accumulation In air OF rich
den storm, with its electric outburst, washing down
the ammoniacal gases and the rich invisible foods
for the hungry and waiting harvests. Winter also
is through a long, gradual period OF ordinary
weather. Then comes an interval or sharp cold,
with Its tonic effect.
PRODDED HIM WITH AN UMBRELLA.