Year: 1879

l JerenatGh, V: 1.-"Run ye to and Ire through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places there of, if ye can find a man, if there be any that eXecuteth judgment, that seeketh the truth"

 Ihave been studying somewhat carefully the proclamation of Governor Andrews with refer. ence to the observance of this day and this service, since 1 take it for granted that it is the honest, deliberate and wise expression oi personal convictions. If these annual procla- nations of our Governors, setting apart one day in all the year, by executive appointment, l and earnestly exhorting the entire people ot | the State to the exercise of the most solemn religious duties, are a mere form, and are is- | sued simply in accordance with a venerable | and worn out custom, then for me would say, let us throw it aside, and leave Fasting, Hu- initiation and Prayer" to the christian senti- ment of the great body of the most devout, and the most deeply interested in the coming of Christ's kingdom.

 While, as relic of these days gone by, when deeper feeling of responsibility to, and dependence upon God, peryaded the minds ot people and magistrates alike, would cling to it, still as failing now 50 largely in it's primary object, it were better no longer to continue a farce. It is neither safe nor honorable to trife with matters pertaining to religion; so that if the spirit Of life cannot be breathed into this day, it were safer to give up the observance of the letter for as an Apostle has said, ''The letter killeth but the spirit giveth life"

 1 am aware that in this State the day called Good Friday is commonly selected by pub lie proclamation, and that many may feel au especial, binding duty resting upom them to keep it with penetentia awe. For such, how ever, no executive appointment is necessary, since by churchly ordinance it is set apart for devotion. Nor is it the real anniversary of the Saviours death of which every Friday ought to be reminder, and every Sabbath a ''memoriap' of his resurrection.

 There are innumerable lines of thought which we might appropriately preserve to day, for the occasions of humiliation are not want ing As individuals in our personal relations te God and te one another, we can find enough, which reviewed by the Lamp of Gods word, should make us very humble AS a communi- ty, 1t would not require long searching to find some things that would net bear the clear light of the ''Sun of Righteousness" And how,as we widen the range of our meditation, and take in the nation without inquiry, one evil and wrong thing, after another SO forces itself upon us that our faith in the ultimate triumph of free government becomes terribly shaken.

 Since, now, individuals make the communi- ty, the State, the Nation, 1 propose to present few thoughts concerning those qualities of character which are especially de- manded, to-day, in the christian citizen. I find, moreover, in the words of the text, this very theme provided for me.

 The times of the Prophet Jeremiah were to the Jewish nation times of abounding iniuuity. From the king on his throne, through all the officers of the government, and all classes of society, corruption unblushingiy vaunted it. self. And not simply in the civil life of the nation, but lower, among the priests that minis tered at the altar, impiety existed to lament able extent Men claimining to be prophets of the Most High, divinely inspired, arose to set up their utterances over against those of Jeremiah,, pandering to the corrupt tastes and condition of the national life, and bringing reproach upon the religion of the True God.

 Thus 1t happens that this entire prophecy of Jeremiah is largely denunciation of the na- tions sins and prediction of the inevitable ruin that is coming upon them by reason of their rejection of God, and Gods final rejec- tion of them. It is the kind of reading which might be profitable on day like this

 In this passage of the prophet, the Lord is represented as looking down upon the wicked city and exclaiming "Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now and know, and seek in the broad places there- of if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgement, that seeketh the truth. "

 This language plainly implies that there is a wide difference between the divine and the popular idea of man. Here were thousands thronging thls magnificent city. They were dressed in male attire. They held positions, some of them, of authority and influence among their fellows, they were looked up to and courted by others. They walked the streets on every hand in conscious pride of person and possession. And yet Jeremiah commands his servant to go forth and search among all these, to find, if it be possible, man. Are they not all men Have they not the human form, and all the external appearances of men, !, these government officials who sit at the city gates to execute judgment, those persons liv- ing wonder in luxury; these merchants and bankers and tradesmen those men of learning and skill in the arts If these are not the real men of the nation, where will they be found

 There is here the expression of doubt how ever, whether single man can be found among them all. What does God mean? By wqat standard does He judge of manhood to give such a command as this to his servant?

 Here then, as in everything else, ''Geds thoughts are not as mans thoughts'' His judgement of character and greatness is not as man judgeth for as he himself bath declared, ''The Lord seeth not as man seeth for man lpoketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh in the heart" Wealth, knowl. edge, power, force of character, skill, these are the things that are taken into account first of all, in the popular idea of man, which elevates him to superior position among his l fellows.

 On the ether hand, the divine idea has nothing to do with mere externals, as consti. tuting any part of the man himself, but has to do only with character. Likeness to himself is the great criterion by which He passes his decisions. He alone is the true man upon whom Gsd has set the seal of Sonship, througe faith in the Lerd Jesus Christ and ln whom he is restoring that divine image lost and brok. en by the Fall. | It is he who seeks te do the right, in the words of the text, "who executeth judgment ' hnpwing his duty, he not only dares to do it,