The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-10-10
BISHOP
NILES AT ST.
STEPHENS

The presence in Boston at the present
time Of so many noted and famous
churchmen OF the Episcopal church has
made II possible for local congregations
TO listen TO preachers Of wide fame and
great prominence.
Yesterday morning Rt. Rev. William
woodford Niles, bishop of New Hamp-
shire. occupied the pulpit at st. Stephens
church. He delivered a strong sermon
upon the subject "The Sly Beginnings
and Deceitful Growths of Sin, as Illus
trated by the Downfall Of Solomon from
His Allegiance with Pharaoh and His
Marriage with Pharaohs Daughter
Against the Law of God"
The eminent preacher dwelt firstly
upon the proverbal outward glory and
splendor OF King Solomon; the vastness
OF his empire. the might Of his armies
in conquest and the unparalleled wealth
OF his Kingdom. Continuing, he said:
And not in these outward things alone
did his chief glory lie. 1t was not all
that God loved him ana chose him for
the throne instead Of his brethren and
established him In greatness and ex-
tended his dominion and gave him a
loyal and prosperous people. and riches
In abundance; and elected him to the
unshared honor OF building house TO
Him. No. The man was more than the
circumstance Favored OF heaven In all
these ways, handsome In person and OF
princely mien. no doubt, yet IL you look
within you shall see there an intrinsic
gree tness which exceeded even his glory.
'In largeness OF understanding and
keenness OF perception no one among
the sons OF Adam was his equal Few
have penetrated so deeply into the mys
teries OF the human heart as he. or
traced Its intricate windings so far. His
fame brought visitors from remote ma
t!ons and these returned to their homes
feeling that the half had not been told
Christ makes honorable mention of the
wisdom Of Solomon, and the friendly
King of Tyre blessed God who had
given 10 David so wise a SON
His humility would seem to have
been second only to his wisdom You
hear no words OF vain boasting from his
lips He never glories In his possessions
or his discernment. az II by his own
power he could know or do anything
"t was a bright day for Israel when
Solomon was made king. They already
had for themselves everything that could
be desired What might they not ex-
pect from such a king7 Who could be-
lievs that the reign. the life Of such
prince would be marked by aught else
than prosperity and virtue7 Who was
sasacious enough 20 discern the cloud
Of e bigness OF mans hand on that
fair sky7 Yet there was one suoh little
speck And n grew and spread I'll II
n1antled the whole heaven and that day
whose morning had been so bright with
promise. went out In almost utter
gloom
After treating Of the alliance ~ Solo
mon with the king Of Egypt and his
marriage with a princess OF royal Egyp-
tian blood I'm the cause of strengthening
his empire the bishop showed wherein
disobedience to the law of God In tbs
matter had worked his destruction. He
said that doubtless Solomon. feeling that
he was in no way breaking the moral ties
Of the divine comms ndment. but only
infringing upon the mere letter OF II.
little realized the danger 10 which he ex-
posed himself on one hand he was
busy with the building 81 the most
splendid tabernacle the world had ever
seen; on the other he was breaking the
mandates OF Jehovah. Outward right
eousness, inward SIN
In conclusion BishOp Mics SAID n
mans indulgences are not ordinarily such
at the first. as he would acknowledge TO
himself to be sins. There are fewer hypo-
critics at the outset than we are dis
posed to believe. and more self-deceHcrs.
satan always looks well that one be not
left TO press ourselves too closely for
the motives ~ our bad conduct
Just so SOON as we begin sinful life
and think 10 let that life run on parallel
with our Christian duties then we begin
20 tread on fatal ground
once che did his tvpewrifing.