Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-10-26
MEMORIAL SERMON.
delivered in 1T. Peters, ClarEsboro,
by Chas. NJ. Perkins. Dean of the
Diocese of n. j., on Oct 18th
on the Occasion of the First
Anniversary of the Death
of Rev. j. ". Burk.

we are pleased to call proverbs, the
exact meaning of the words is not
always taken into the thought that
it is so much easier to accept the
sentences in the way they are gem
orally accepted than to test them
word by word, that we give way to
the easiest course, as that which
presents the least resistance, and SO
often we miss the great lessons that
ever lie beneath the surface of pro-
verbs. We assume that they are
wise. or they never would have been
crystallized into proverbs. | want
to do more than this easy way, as
/ ask you to study with me the mean
ing of my text These words have a
bearing upon the memory OF one
whose long service and active HE
among you has not been forgotten,
and will not be forgotten for years.
AS we stand here, where he was wont
to stand, we summon from our mem
ories many thoughts that crowd for
expression The topic would be a
fruitful one were we simply to take
his record. But this would be to ex-
alt the man, which, were he able to
speak. would receive his condemna-
tion. Rather then would | take the
Divinely outlined character and
study that as we may learn what will
create a blessed memory. The mem
ory of the just is blessed.
|. It will be necessary to UNDER
stand what we intend when we use the
word just. In one sense, we should
confine it to that stern and inf1exible
nature which will not swerye to the
right hand or to the left from a course
which is accepted as evenly balanced.
To the average mind, to be just means
a soullesS sort of decision that refuses
to be swayed by prejudice, or passion,
or affection. Even the heather con-
ceIjfI5m Of justice represented her as
bound closely about the eyes. so that
nothing would enter into the decis-
ions which were to be made AS ]
grasp the idea of Just person, want
TO think of one who could be better
described rather as perfect man. In
this enlargement of the word just, |
intend to consider some necessary fea-
lures that may not be thought very
perfect. But want to insist upon the
man. and not the abstract idea. II
we were to deal with ideas, we might
reach some sort of conclusion, but it
would be ideal and not actual. And
then too, we should have but one fea-
ture and we need the whole nature,
and not skeleton.
The just person must be first God
fearing person. And this description
must include the knowledge of Christ
Jesus as He came to save us from
our sins. This knowledge can never
be merely knowledge, but must be life
in all its fulness as represented in the
highest type of Christian living. This
is a different thing from accepting the
truths of the Gospel, because it is TO
show to the world just what that one
person believes to be the mind and
will of Christ Jesus. 1t is true that
all Christianity ought to be of this
character, but it is not Well are we
aware of that kind of Christianity
which is for exhibition on SUNDAYS or
Holy DAYS alone 1t can be found in
abundance as it is thrown up on the
surface of our life daily. People bear
ing the name of Christians do not hesi.
tate TO yield to tie temptations of the
hour and then claim immunity for
their acts because they are only doing
what everybody else does. The true
Christian cares very little for what the
average person admits or does not adj
nit He serves the Lord Christ, and
he waits at every step of his life for
the approval of his conscience enlight-
ened by all tae knowledge that he can
get. There is difference even in con-
sciences. One will admit no new light
into his mind or heart but only what
he had as child Another will seek
knowledge and seek it diligently AS
he gains the knowledge, he will put it
among his natural traits, and while he
may not make any radical change in
his conduct, he will have wider
grasp of his duty and more knowledge
of his Lords will For as / under
stand the Divine will, it will be shown
to us in Nature as well as in the Sac
red writings. ! do not mean that it
will be so clearly given in words, but
do mean that it can be found there,
and the person who will know the Di-
vine will gladly seek it there. This
will require that the just shall be fa-
miliar with Nature in her best moods,
and one who will love to study her.
And even here, there must be some
d1Hlla1lOH placeu upon Inc WOFu M
ture. BY some the word acts as If it
were something apart from God, in
stead Of reflection of Him. There
are Nature students who stop with the
examination Of the laws surrounding
us, and try to worship, they know not
what TO them a stroll in the forests,
Or a ramble over the fields with some
meditation about the different sounds
and scenes will be taken for worship.
It cannot be anything Of the sort. WoT-
ship, as We know means the bringing
OF something to the object of all wor-
ship. Man is not mere absorber,
he must be a reflector of what he
knows and the highest reflection OF
humanity Is to be seen when he brings
himself to his Creator With alteration.
The true man desiring fn see ana