Year: 1871

DIR. starkey on the Power Of the Grace Of


God-st. Paups CLaracter, /, ,-ss;e
-,r,-sTS WASHINGTON, March %, 1871.
The regular morning service at the Epiphany Pro-
testant Episcopal church was conducted as usual,
by the Rev. DR.. Starkey, who preached an impres.
sive sermon from the text First Epstle OF st. Paul
to the Corinthians, xv., l0:-"But by the grace OF
God am what am, and His grace which was be-
slowed upon me was not In vain But l labored
more abundantly than they all; yet not !, but the
grace of God which was with me.n This word


GRACE


as you know. he said, means favor In our text 1t
Is used synonymous with light. 1t was the essence
OF this grace which produced all good works, giving
us the humility which Is at the foundation Of true
religion. In place ST. Paul says. ~ am the least
or the Apostles" We all know he was the greatest.
He did nothing apart from God BY His grace we
may compass all things. l can scarcely conceive,
brethren, OF thought more grand than the concep.
ton OF this One. whose mighty power gives
US the strength to show forth His good
works. The support OF God to our humanity
Is wonder; the mighty machinery Of His
workings are really miracles. Gods providence
miles Of distance. We see the effects OF that sun
beam every day upon the face OF nature. The trans
care Of u.s. ' We seem to Him % as the lonely Sades Of
grass dependent upon HIS rays. From the palace
to the lowest cottage Is


THE INFLUENCE OF THIS SUNBEAM
felt Dear brethren, as thOughtess OF mercy as some
OF you are towards each other should you be called
upon to bear persecution, what grace would you
have to sustain your Not the grace OF man.
As YOU look back your conscience confronts
mighty works OF God, and you exclam, "NOL unto
me but by the grace OF God" We look in HIS sphere
or operations and perfect law and order and not
the hand of dsobedience There are no intermediate
points with Cod His spirit wlelds mighty power.
We know He could. by exercising His will, put an
end to all the evils or the world, he is pleased 10
wait patiently. Thus He compels no man. lie
keeps


AN ACCOUNT OF ALL MANS DOINGs


GODS grace feels 10 man working In Goa as
rational feeling. Indifference In religion Is the
parent OF destruction. The ark on the water was
guided by HIS hands. lIf build ut all must build
seek earnestly and sincerely. When we took our
confirmation vows It was our first step towards
grace The grace that works In our behalf Is strong
enough to overcome every enemy. Ye who have
them and you Will be able to say as st. Paul said,
His grace ls my grace.n Let us call our determi-
nation


A CHANGE OF HEART,


because IL Is written anew by the Holy Ghost. There
Is no work OF man but be discerned by man, but
Gods works are known to no one but Himself In
our works we trace in our limbs the Outlne but God
does His works at once. Like the winds hear them,
Paul is so strongly marked there Is difficulty In
recognizing the old man in the new. Mark the
mighty change from the Pharisee to the Christian;
marx the ancient spirit Of the man when they
me-" st. Paul was the pattern OF meekness. 1t has
been said that he is


THE NoBLEsT SPECIMEN


history presents to US. Under the conviction that
all was done to him that gave him grace, let use
his selfden!al aud that grace OF God that made him