The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-12
IN TIE FOOTSTEPS OF THE REDEENER The Rev. John C. Murray's Epi-
 phany-tide Sermon, TRUE WORSHIP THE THEME The ReasonabIesness of Serving the Lord God-PauIs Earnest Exhor'
 tation to Present the Body
 Living Sacrifice.
TRUE WORSHIP THE THEME

At the Church of the Advent the rector, the Rev. John G. Murray delivered an Epiphany- tide sermon on the reasonaple- ness of worship. The text was rom Romans XIII. 'I beseech you, theretore' brethren, by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies d living sacrince' holy. acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service
 The full text of MT. Murray's discourse follows:
 We have fully entered upon Epiphany tide. The echo of angelic song, tuned to note of glory to God and peace 10 men, if ia true. still fingers in our ears; but vitalizing the thrill of the divine melody is the rapture that fills our souls, as the radiant light of Bethlehem's star bursts upon our vision and clothes the whole world with It's splendor.
 We have passed from the season of the Nativity to that of the Epiphany we remember the birth of Him who was born King of the Jews. We behold the Mani festation to the Gentiles of Him who was alike the free gift to God to Jew ana Gaul and Greek as well, to save them' every one, from their sins.
 Inspired was the idea to which the church gives expression in leading her children in the footsteps of her Head from Rethelem to Calvary; from Calvary to Ollvet, and from Olivet to the heavens from whence He came.
 Conclusive is the assurance that those who faithfully follow in this leao' year after year upon earth, shall attalh to that perfect consummation of the jour- nev which has long been their Lord s. and which, by virtue of that fact may also be theirs at the right hand or the Father in heaven.
 Filled with the inspiration of that Idea and comforted with the immutabiity or that assurance, pray God we may enter upon the consideration of this hour ana the work of this year.
 r,a words of the text constitute the first exhortation of Paul to practical Christian living among the Romans In the Epistle addressed to them. The pre- ceding eleven chapters cover the ground of doctrine. The fundamental principles of Gods dealings with man are therein clearly enunciated and such exposition made concerning them that reason mus acoent the statement that the purpose oi God concerning man was that he should be saved with an everlasting salvation and that. too, whether he was Jew Of Jerusalem or citizen of Rome.
 knowiedqe Means Obligation.
 "All this I have made clear to you, V we seem to hear him say. You cannot | fail to hear, see and understand. With this knowledge there comes obligation. That obligation 1t is your simple duty to discharge. Its discharge involves the complete surrender of yourselves to God. I beseech you. therefore. brethren, by 1 the mercies of God. that ye present your l bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which Is your reasonable serv- ice"
 Such reasoning and exhortation are pe- | culiarly appropriate for our study and profit at this Epiphany time. The Scrip ture lessons of this season open with the cluster around the visit of the wise men Of the east to the manger-cradled Babe | of Bethlehem.
 | Centuries before the occasion of this I visit prophecy had declared that the Mes { sianic star should shed Its Illuminating rays upon the dark places of the east and reflect its shining face in the tranquil | bosom of her waters.
 | All through the ages had this prophecy been preserved. The babe assimilatet knowledge of it with the nourishment | drew from the mothers breast. Young men and maidens breathed it in the at mosphere of tradition and education. Stal wart manhood and mature womanhoot ever prayed that they might last in thu hope that this Star of eternal promise might adorn the heavens before the sun