The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-04-08
A SERMON FOR SUNDAY
AN INTERESTING DISCOURSE eY THe
REV. J. A. TRACY.
Subject; rerssversnee-rhe True Joys Of
keiigioI-Impressive IL the Cheerful
ness Born OF the Testimony OF u Good
Console nee-No Compromise with Sin.

I u
on "Perseverance Father Tracy took
as has text, BE faithful until death, and
l VIII give thee the crown OF life" Apo
calypso n; lO). and said:
/ can imagine no sight more inspiring
or more consoling than that which / be-
hold before me to-day Hundreds Of souls
have listened obediently 10 the voice of
God speaking through ne and hundreds Of
hearts have been opened 10 the infusion
Of grace from on high CheeTfully and
bravey you have looked into the condi.
ton oi your conscIences and on detecting
the marks OF san there you FASTENED 10 the
tribunal OF penanee, you exposed the guilt
contracted by sln, YOU resolved that with
the help of Gods grace you would never
compromise yourselves In the sight OF God
again. The absolution of Gods represen-
tative was pronounced over you and you
went forth with light hearts and pure con
sciences and grace filling your souls. BY
the reception of Holy Communion the seal
was set upon your resolutions and the act
recorded in the book of life. Your bodies
are now the temples of the Holy Ghost,
your souls are burning with His grace and
IN your present condition you are worthy
10 be called saints. the name given by ST.
Paul 10 the early Christians.
Hence i have no hesitation in saying
that the congregation assemble d here to-
day, pure, holy. unspotted, cieansed from
the defiement Of sim is N object of com
placenoy TO the blessed and adorable Trim
lty; TO God the Father hecau-e He sees
His people, the work OF His hands, faith
tul, loyal and obedient;; to God the Son,
because His tremendous sacriLCe has not
been in vain; TO God the Holy Ghost, be
cause your souls are the receptaces Of HIS
grace and you show the work Of His
! mighty hand And the guardian angels of
tins church participate IN the common Joy,
Tor they see the glory gwen to God by His
faithful people. Yes, from the heights Of
heaven above the cherubim and seraphm
look down upon you to-day and bless God
their Master for His mercy 10 you and
lor the wonders OF grace wrought IN your
souls.
And we, too, bless God and fall down
in humility before Him at the thought Of
having been His unworthy instruments
IN this mighty work. For il is not we
that have done il. lrresstibiy the convic-
ton IS borne home upon US th't this
change Is the work of the right hand of
the Most High But we have IN HIS
name received your confessions; we
have listened TO your sIghs Of repent
| ance; we have heard your resolutions Of
amendment, and have satisfied ourselves
oi your determination 10 perseyere In grace
and holiness by your own free act you
declared an eternal divorce from sin. That
| resolution was registered IN heaven, and
when you stand before the throne Of God
IN judgment IT shall be brought forth as
testlmony-ior your everlasting JOY Il you
have kept II; for your eternal confusion
II you have failed.
Now, there Is no doubt about your pres
ent dispositions. We know that as You
NOW stand your hearts are for God and
against sin. But we cannot close our eyes
TO the melancholy fact that the flesh is
weak. When the present religious fervor
has passed your old enemy. the devil. will
return TO the attack and you must be pre-
pared to meet him. You must not deceive
yourselves. but look the situation straight
IN the face and take measures according.
~. In matter so serious 10 viii be OF
immense service to az TO consider what it
means TO iaIl.
Think, first. of the base ingratitude TO
Christ implied IN a return 70 sin With
eyes of faith you have been able TO dis
cern as never before the significance of
the life and death of your Redeemer. You
nave made a personal application OF the
lessons YOU have seen. You realize that
It was all done for Won. Yes. our Saviour
had you IN mind when He was subjected
20 outrage and ignomy IN the court of pi-
late; when the fierce scourges descended
upon His face and back; when the thornv
crown was cruelty pressed upon His sacred
torn
upon the cross. The thought that you
would appreciate His sacrifice and profit
by 1t, and through IL be enabled TO obtain
mercy and forgiveness from His heavenly
rather fcconcled Him 10 the cruelty of
which He was a victim. If our Lord ad-
dressed you personally to-day He would
assure YOU OF this and tell you that the
thought OF your conversion made His suf-
ieings sweet Moreover, He took the
DF
hend the infinite love Of His sacred heart
Gods love for man might have been writ.
ten IN characters of blazing gold across the
heavens; II might have been proclaimed
throughout the universe by an archangel.
and man would have still remained skepti-
cal lie would ask for further proof But
when the Son Of God Himself takes flesh
and suffers and dies for man, what heart
can be so hard and stony, so insensble to
gratitude as TO refuse to be drawn to God
and return love for love.
what baseness, then, and what treach-
cry II ~ to receive the gifts OF God and 10
turn over to His enemy that which should
serve HIS honor and glory. How migrate
ful the heart made for God and virtue
which uses the power that God gave it
IN selflndulgence and sin. How wicked
the soul redeemed by Christ which renews
again His terrible passion. For we DO re-
new Chnst's sufferings when We sin. We
wave aside the marks Of His love
Tor us and - far as we are able we
say. these things mean nothing TO me /
have passions which must be satisfied. am
bltons which must be attained. avarice
which must be satiated. The teachings.
the passion of Christ stand IN the way of
these and must give way before them "
And - II possible after all the manifesto
tIons OF Chrst's goodness that you will
again JON forces with His enemy. the de.
wi! shall you again take up the scourge
and shed the blood OF your Saviour? Shall
YOU again press down upon His head the
crown Of thorns; Shah you make Him
cry out IN bitter complaint, "Of what use
was My blood" Oh, God forbid God pre-.
serve you from such cruelty and treach.
cry.
Again. remember that return 10 sin
Will replungc you into the pitiful state
from which you have just emerged. Bear
IN mind the significant words Of Christ
No man putting his hand 10 the plow
and looking back is fit for the kir gdom Of
heaven" We have begun the good work.
why should We look backy Can you again
lace the misery and remorse you expert
enced while under the guilt OF sin? Was
lt not difficult enough for you 20 summon
up courage 10 break away from sinful hab-
ITS, 20 confess the sins that oppressed your
soul, 20 triumph over the concupiscence
that held you captive Would YOU again
place your souls IN the slavery OF the evil
one who seeks your destruction Yol
are now healed; take 20 heart. then. the
words Of Christ. GO now and san no
more lest some worse thing befall thee
strengthen your resolution, remain faithful
and do not fall into the happy condition
Of him OF whom our Saviour spoke when
He said. All who shall see ann shall be.
gln % mock. saying this man began to
build and was not able 10 finish"