Year: 1869




This spacious and elabOrately finished church was
well filed yesterday morning by q fashionaby
dressed congregation. among whom were several
prominent members OF other sects, drawn hitherto
no doubt to hear the pastor of the church preach In
his peculiarly eloquent and argumentative style.
Doctor Chaplin took his text from Psalms, W, O:
tLord, Lift Thou up the light OF Thy countenance
upon us.n The preacher SAID these words appeared
TO have been uttered at time of peculiar trbGla-
tiOn IL very probable they were uttered by King
David in the midst OF rebellious and tumultuous
times. They were uttered in response to question
puG to him by the people, namely, "Who VIII show
US any good?' Now there were two classes
OF beings who could not with any fitness
give utterance TO these words. The released
and gloriGed spirit could not them; for they be-
logged TO one who was agitated by the agones OF
this earth. On the other hand, those words could
not be used by any IN the world. for they were
the outpourngs Of spirit struggling with the human
condition. and yet able to triumph with the assur-
ance, "Lord, lift Thou up the light OF Thy counten-
ance upon u.s." lie thought he might say that that
was the highest position man could attain in this
present state-nOt perfect vision, not constant rest
but the shining light OF God Himself, from whom all
light proceeded. IL struck him this very question,
which was put, "Who will show us any good S' was
testimony to the greatness OF human nature. 1t
was peculiarly or man that his condition pro-
claimed his guilt while 1t also implied his dignity
and worth. Our very forms Of complaint and blame





example Only being who had great capacities could
be the perpetrator OF sin. The drunkard, although
an Stes 9 @ OF ioang perhaps worse was at e
on him at all with the eyes OF God, we felt his was
not bad nature. 1t was more a discrownng and
dSheveiling or man than anything else that placed
him In that condition. II might be SAID, however.
that such condition belonged to fallen nature.
sinner, was q fallen being. But falling implied
state Of exaltation, from which he had fallen: We
SPOKE OF the Iall OF man. ii that carried any
II.
that oil our ancestors had fallen NOT that
Adam that have fallen ana
to HIM the very accusation OF sin repudated the idea
Of hereditary: total depravty. They implied moral
word. the dignity OF human nature. lie saId, there
fore, that that cry-"Who VIII show US what Is
darkness was In accordance with the principle OF
human greatness, OF all % created things man was
beautiful in the teachings of Christ as these
wSrasCSme unto Ssovv me laden all rSye that
sSe yoa anS THAI rest Mas precisely
what man was seeking for, and which, outside OF


Christ nc cannot mG dc,e MAN e Tr
Gated that he himself was not mere creature OF
sensuality. Some OF the most affecting instances OF
hIm ask what was the real spring of social
rest, t,essness and dissatisfaction? In all things
SapplnessDa desire to be- be happy. S''I'' In one
form or another was not every one urging the
not that the ever rising, unceasing question that
sprang forth from the mind OF manS Mankind were
asking that question, not merely with their lips but
with their hands and with the innermost desire Of
their hearts and with their whole minds. Every
stroke OF the hammer. every delve OF the spade,
every noble production OF art, all the moving I'M
pulses and springs OF this great world after all
ceaselessly crying out--who will show any goodY
That was question Of eager seeking, but In
various ways. IL was question which was often
asked In superficial, frivolous manner. How many
people were there on this earth who did not know
what to do with themselves whose whole lives were
wasted away In the most thoughtless and miserable
manner seeking what would eratfy their appetites
or curiosities. Such people were constantly asking,
"Wno Will minister thought to our give a
new point 10 our deslresp' The reverend gentleman
then went on at length to make an eloquent and
enectve application OF his text to the various phases
Of the humanity Of the present day. and closed with
O fervent peroration on the Bible which he said was
not merely book or ecstatlc Visions like the Brah-
min book, but a holy book, heart book, a cottage
book, which was closely allied TO our common hu-
manity-a book which answered or gave solution
fully to the inquiry, "Who Will show us any goodD