Year: 1874

The Prayer for Observation-Disclosures


by Rev. James A. Murray.


The Brick church (Presbyterian) at the corner
OF Fifth avenue and Thlrty-seyenth street. was re-
opened yesterday morning Tor divine service, hay
ing been closed during the past month. The pas
tor, Rev. James A. Murray, announced that the
church would be open on Sunday mornings during
the month OF August, and tnat he himself would
occupy the pulpit. The congregation. Of course,
was very slim as compared to the tnrongs Of wor-
shippers who generally crowd this edince during
the winter although 1t was not small for sum.
mer congregation. The reverend preacher took
for his text Psalm cxxxix 3-24-"Search me,
O Cod, aud know my heart" &c. In the course OF
his brief remarks he said there was scarcely q
spiritual craving Of the soul which was not fully
satisfied by the Psalms. Although [, Christian
Church found itself now in very different and
strange surroundings the prayers OF David were
still dear to every Christian heart. The 139th
Psalm might well be called the Psalm OF omnisci.
enee, and 1t suggested the examination and study
of ones own heart Men would frequently study
and know ether natures wnen they scarcely knew
their own Passionate men thought


THEY WERE ONLY SOMEWHAT IRRITABLE,
and sensuous men thought they were only fond OF
enjoyment Men did not know the strength OF the
depraveo tendencies within them. How could
men measure these teneencies and come to "a full
CONSCIOUSNESS OF their fauts' Some men shrunk
from introspcction-from prying into the emotions
OF their souls. The soul was also often baffied by
the complex nature OF human feelings. But this
conId teach men how to arrive at the knowledre Of
the divine law and Of their own minds.


Most men would freely confess that most OF their
goodness was SIMPLY consequence OF favorable
circumstances. TO be sure, there was the rule that
''every man had mis- price - but this theory was an
tmputation upon the dignity OF human nature.
Tne other theory maintained that culture OF the
mind was the only way TO goodness. But the ex-
perience OF eighteen centuries had shown that
barbarlsm OF the heart could coexist with culture
Of the intellect. Let them look at the ancient
Greeks, who united knowledge OF sublime art and
philosophy TO the


GRossEsT BARBARIsM OF THE HEART.


There was no doubt that worship OF human
Completely crushed # very frequently. Piety had
too much the character OF the vines depending on
the strength OF the trelis.


wnat most concerned them to know was to
ascertain their own weak points. The easy per-
versions OF conscience prevailed 10 great extent
really perverted which was turned from lis direct
course in forming decision on tue many cases Of
trouble was that men did not see the blemishes of
their character. A wanton depauchee, 1t must
touched than a nabitually callous Christian. We're
there not multltudes or Christians who came reg
uarly to church every sabbath and yet had not
received the divine grace in their hearts Was
this not true


There were very many persons who were uocon-
scions OF the impediments to Christian virtue
which where secretly developing in their charac-
tcrs. The Bible had great deal TO say about the
deceitfulness OF sin. Consciousness OF the sin was


NOT NECESSARY IN MAKING SIN.


Men came frequently to sin without being con-
scOus OF 1t, and this was the point OF greatest
peril. The sin was bad enough but Its hidden se-
crccy was the worst part OF IL.


How 5olemnly was this prayer forced on their
lips. such prayer for self-knowedgc was one OF
the best tests oil character. Wnen they offered
prayer TO God they ought to weigh what conse-
quences the answer might involve The means
which God might take to search their hearts by
atrcton and temptation were awlul to conteni.
plate. Adversely, what powerful revealer Of
human character II was Perhaps the search OF
their hearts would be attended with sorrow and
disappointment. Let no soul OFFER this prayer who
was not perfectly ready TO let God answer It in
His own inscrutabe way. And If the soul was un-
willing to expose itself TO this danger was this not
at once proof that sin was less dreaded than SUI.
fered'


It was most assuring reason for onering this
prayer that 1t was


ADDRESSED TO AN oMNISCIENT TENDERNESS.
Men resisted even feeble measurement of their
own sins, but God dealt very tenderly with His
children IN His exposures. Men saw their sins In
much leebler light than Cod and this was owing
TO HIS divine mercy. The searching which God
would give in answer TO the text would also be a
tender searching. God was their very sun. His
omnlsciencc and iu tenderness cared over them
ana Ills light shone over them as the light oil the
sun over The dark valley. Here, where the sad
and dresry knowicdge OF sin might be


THE MEANS OF GAINING ETERNAL LIPE,
was the time and place TO repent. It was solemn
prayer TO oner, but one which might save them
iofeyer-"Search me, Cod and know my