The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-07-08
A SERMON FOR SUNDAY
AN INTERESTING DISCOURSE BY THE
REV. ROBERT MACKENZIE.
Subject: "The Trials and Triumph ofLife"
The Outside and the inside Sources OF
Strength-The Weakness of This Pres
ent Day-Life scene of Compensations


ent Day-Life a scene of Compensations
BROOKLYN, N. Y.-Dr. Robert Mac
kenzie, pastor of the Rutgers Presbyterian
Church. Manhattan, preached Sunday on
"The Trials and Triumph Of Lite. his
text was found in Acts xx:22-24; And
now, behold go bound in the spirit into
Jerusalem. not knowing the things that
shall befall me there. Save that the Holy
Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying
that bonds and Affections abide me. But
none of these things move me, neither
count my life dear unto myself, so that |
might finish my course with JOY, and the
ministry which / have received Of the
Lord Jesus. to testify the gospel OF the
grace of God" DR.. Mackenzie said:
Paul feels himself set to a definite pur;,
pose in life, something appointed OF God
and worthy of himself. He is determined
to finish his course successfully. Each OF
us is called Of God to live some definite
purpose, to add by our lives to the sum OF
the good in this world to do something and
to be something for God. To accomplish
this purpose Paul saw that he had to pass
through many trials, temptations, dltlcul-
ties. He is looking back upon those
through which he has already come and
forward to those he saw he must yet meet.
He knew that bonds and affections await
ed him if he pursued his present purpose
further He saw his life as very st =
one. His friends sought to persuadl -
to change his course, to compromise LITTLE
with his purpose, to adapt himself more
prudently to the ways of the world in
which he found himself to be less straight
forward, and so escape those bonds and
affections that threatened He was not
Indifferent either to the dangers of the way
or to the kindly interest of his friends;
but he answers: "What mean We to weep
and to break mine heart? For [ am ready
not to be bound only. but also to de for
the name of the Lord Jesus" Then the
calm conclusion of our text None OF
these things move e." 1t is difficult to
get up to the level of Paul. he is the most
determined, uncompromsinG straight.on
man in this book of great characters. Yet
there are ordinary human steps leading
to this level all who will can rise.
'These things of our text have not
passed away with Paul. Trials are behind,
bonds and Affections are before every man
that will make worthy course across this
life. When you build a alp tor the North
Atlantic you must take storms and ice
bergs into account and build accordingly.
When you would build boy for business,
for honor, for goodness, for Christian SER
vice in this community, you must take
these things" into account. Last year
icebergs have melted in summer seas, but
new ones have formed and will meet the
sailor of this year. The North Atlantic Is
ever the samoa scene of storm aud ice.
The particular trials that overlook paul
may not fall on any OF us, but Others will
come, bearing other names, equally disturb
ing to our souls. This world is ever the
samoa scene OF many trials. q y few
are exempt, only few are permitted to
stand with their hands at their back and
their backs to the fire looking out upon the
storm. There are such people. We are
glad when old people can do this, but the
young people who can do it, or do do it,
are not to be enyied, but pitled. Most men
must go out and meet the storm of these
things opposition, competitions, dlTap-
pointments, temptations-m them and
make. their way through them, as best they
can, and become men, and all the better
men for meeting them.
'These things" move some men nightly;
they seek to edge their way out of the
storm, they change their course, compro-
mise with their original purpose, choose
some less strenuous way through life.
Some young men form purpose to go to
college, when the bonds of mathematics
and Affections of Cicero's orations come be-
tween them and their purpose these
things" move them out of their course.
They compromise with their purpose and
look for an easier way. Some men go fur
Their, they finish their preparation, face
their profession, meet the difficulties Incl
dent to any such beginning, complain,
finch, fall out discouraged, despairing,
scarcely living, driftwood on the streets.
Some men, like Paul, are unduly moved
by these things. These are not spared
the storm nor does the storm beat less
hard upon them; yet they keep their faces
to it, keep to their purpose firmly, often
bent like trees, but like trees well rooted,
recover themselves; often like William Tell
going through pass of his native Alps on
n ra1. not faao 6 4 l..0.
pice, the mountain wind blowing a gale
against him; unable to make progress
against it., unable to stand against it, he
lay down in the path, but he lay with his
face to his goal and crawled to it, Men
knowing their full share of the trials of
life are yet able to say, each in his own
measure. None of these things moved
me-" Most of you here belong to that
number. Your life in youth was not cast
In easy places; your present life is not
spent in sheltered places. Most of you
were cast as young men into this, or some
similar stormy community to make your
own way. You have been met repeatedly
by the storm of S'these things" in business,
in home and in your Christian life yet you
are here to-day with your faces to your
purpose, your purpose well IN hand, able to
say after as well as before the storm,
None of these things move me-"
How is this explained? Take the life of
such men as Job, and Joseph and Daniel
and Paul-men who have set before us ex-
amples of how much the human heart can
bear and not break, what bonds and af-
hictions it can endure and not be unduly
moved. Take the men and women of your
own acquaintance and observation on
whom these things have broken with full
force and yet they are cheerful, sunny,
sympathetic people, reaching a middle life
of high honor and an old age of charity
and faith and hope-people whom it is
good to know, people who show into what
rich coinage the rough ore of human nature
can be minted. How is their triumph ac-
nnt1ntnd fnr2 Rrr 10 4. e