Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1902-06-06
Bishop Hall at Christ
Church.

Bishop Hall made MS annual NlSlla-
ton to Christ Church parish Wednes-
day of last week, and at the close of
Evensong confirmed two candidates, al
ter which he preached an eloquent and
thoughtful sermon, taking as his text a
part of the epistle for Trinity Sunday,
Revelation ", 5-S. He said in sub
stance; suppose you have heard OF
read this passage many times without
being able to tell what it means. 5.
John saw no material throne. God is II
spirit. He does not sit upon "A throne.
The throne in prophetic language rep
resents the majesty and glory of God.
And the four living creatures, what are
they? They represent perfect service
rendered to God not merely the service
in Church, but perfect service which
should be rendered by man at all times.
| The four living creatures are the heads
of four characteristic creations of God.
The lion is the king of wild beasts and
in the symbolic language of S. John
| represents courage. 1t teaches that the
Christian should be courageous, and
eight manfully under Christ's banner
against sin, the world and the devil, and
continue His faithful soldier and ser
want unto his life's end" The OK is the
representative head of those animals
which have been tanned by man. The
characteristic of the OK is patience. 1t
is beast of burden and has to bear
heavy loads, under which its patience is
marvellous. The Christian should be
not only courageous to fight against his
spiritual enemies, but also patient to
bear whatever burden of sorrow, suffer
ing and trial is the inevitable conse-
uuence of a life in the world of sin. To
illustrate: Our army in the PHILIPPINES
has been courageous. The Gonlike
quality belongs to it. The American
army cannot be impeached anywhere
for lack of courage, but if reports can be
relied upon it has not of late been pa
tient to bear its burden of carrying
civilization to an inferior race. The
crueties which the evidence tends to
show have in some instances been prac
ticed by our soldiers in The far east is {
disgrace to our nation, our army and oul
flag. Such deeds must be punished anC
atoned for because "the flag which we
have received without rent shall bt
handed down without stain" So tC
prevent true courage degenerating tC
brutality there must be patience to keel
, il in check. The third living creatur,
has the face of man. Intelligence il
the Interpretation of this figure. Man il
the only being of Gods earthly creation
endowed with high intelligence. He i
thinking, reasoning being. He is ca
pable of experimenting things which ar
, higher than and beyond reason b.
Gods great gift of faith. Once it'll
girl in Boston was asked "What i
faith?" and she replied, ''believin!
: something that amt So" Too man,
people have that idea about faith. Blu
it is false idea. Faith is the hand
maid of reason, not contrary to it. Fait
is the faculty by which we behold earth
: ly things in their true perspective. Iii
Y also the faculty by which we can under
q stand somewhat the things Of God an
the unseen world. On earth in tn
midst of these temporal things the
: look large to us. But ascend above tn
+ earth in balloon and the higher we G
e the smaller the earthly things will az
pear. 1t is wholly matter of the poin
of view from which we look at things
: Or, in reference to things unseen o
t heavenly things, faith becomes the il
e strument by which we are able to vie,
l. them. Take a star, situated beyond tn
point of view by means of the naked ey
} and let that same eye look through
n powerful telescope and the unseen sta
k presents itself clearly to the view. Sue
n is faith 1t is not contrary to reason,
y assists reason. So for perfect service W
3 need courage, patience and faith. An
u we need one thing more. The fourth b.
II ing was like flying eagle. The king {
e those beings of Gods creation that hay
v the power of soaring above the earth t.
: wards heaven. Aspiration, seeking highe
things than those of earth. The eag
Is in its fight on looking back can see no
1t small the things Of earth really are an
je can also behold with undimmed eye tn
~ full glory of the sun. So the soul of ma
aspiring to the heavenly height by fait
) beholds the glories of the heavenly cit,
rs gradually shutting out the view of I'll
il little things Of earth till at last they al
n entirely lost to view. Perfect servic
courage, patience, intelligence, aspir
ton then in the true meaning of the tex
N