Year: 1873

Initiating Jesus-SermOn by the Rev.


Morgan Dix.


Every pew in Trinity church and all the aisles
were crowded yesterday at the morning service.
Many OF the congregation were strangers; but in
good time they were all pleasantly seated. The
music, as usual, was OF the finest order and the
customary services Of the most impressive nature.
The Rev. Morgan Dix, rector of the parish,
preached the sermon. taking as his text portion
OF the ffty-second verse OF the tenth chapter of
Nark-"And Immediately he received his sight.n
The rector, in introducing the lesson which
she text inculcated, said that but few
names Of the human family were ever
made immortal. Man Is dust and when dead
he is gone never to return in the flesh and soon is
forgotten. Yet some names live, and there might
be among US one or more that will be remembered
In centuries to come. The preacher then asked
what books are, and described them az lampblack
and paper some Of which, when in existence but
few months, are forgotten and LETT to moulder on
the SHE'LL Now and then there are books Of great
value, which are rendered in many languages; but
volume that teaches us how to follow Christ, and
tnis book has lived because OF its great theme.
There Is


A SETTLED CONVICTION


tn the minds Of all men, whether in or ont Of the
Church, that to follow Christ and initiate Him tn all
YES We can Is the better way to live. To follow Jesus
and not fratricidal battles in the Church can
remove this conviction. 1t takes hold OF every
heart this initiating and following Jesus. Such q
course OF religious conduct makes men happy who
have nothing else in the world to produce happi-
ness, and others whose positions and riches are
known are surrounded with black and heavy
clouds. Even II they have gained the whole world
their happiness is not assured. He who tries to
follow Christ cannot far astray The story OF the
gospel before us teaches this. Bartmeus had
been blind many years, and his faith caused
his restoration to sight, when he followed
the Lord. The scene Of two thousand years ago
is the scene OF to-day. Whosoever does not now fol-
low Jesus In the way Is blind Not to follow Him
at all is


TO BE STONE BLIND.


It Is impossible to Christ Alright and not follow
I'm His footsteps But there is much spiritual dis
sensi0n inside and outside among men, and why Is
IT. 1t Is the glow OF the world and the dazzling
pageantry OF the day that cause this and direct
The minds OF men IN channels that are not right.
We erect idols in our hearts and worship
them. These are the apostles OF doubt and
unbelief, and are the creators OF suspicious and
doubts that at last successfully assail the heart.
There are men who, for some cause, sit In darkness
like Bartmeus, begging for light and yet they will
not receive that light when 1t is easily obtained.
Years ago the sceptcal philosophers would ask for
light and truth, but they did not know that Jesus
Christ was the Light and Truth they were seeking
TO find. Unless our religion Is o fraud 1t cannot
be right to live on without knowing and
following Jesus. Not to believe what Is con-
stantly before us, and not to have our thoughts
on the Saviour, is like those who love the hollow
ness Of the world, hoping for nothing believing
nothing and fearing nothing. On the contrary, we
should seek and desire to know how to follow
Christ. 1t is better to see than not to see Do not
despise TO be taught even by beggar; for there
viii be beggars in Paradise and rich men IN hell.
The rector finished his sermon by an eloquent ap-
peal to all, asking them to learn the way to Jesus,
and then follow in His footsteps; and this done, the
grand END Of human life would be accomplished.