Year: 1873

ODG01enco


Sermon by tho Rev. w. M. Taylor,


u. ID.


The Broadway Tabernacle, corner OF Thirty
fourth street and sixth avenue, was crowded
with worshippers yesterday morning. The pastor,
the Rev. W. M. Taylor, selected as the text OF his
discourse l. Samuel, xv., %, in part-"Behoid, TO
obey is better than sacrifice and to hearken than
the fat Of rams" The text impaired the lesson
of the true dispensation OF religion. Samuel dld
not mean to say that there was anything wrong In
sacrifices, nor did he mean to deny that divine
service or the Israeltes. Such services were
the ritual observances OF the Jewish church
and analogous to the prayer meetings and the cere
monies Of the Lords supper OF this day. Coo had
commanded these sacrifices, and 1t was IN opedi
ence to His law that they were offered up. Nothing
that man can do can have any merit before God.
We are Improbable servants at the best, and only
when we do the work OF the Lord Willingly ana
with the obedience OF children 1t finds favor in His
eyes; anGrwhen in the hearts OF men there Is the
SPIRIT OF HYPOCRISY


while they obey His mandates, they are soon cast
into oblivion. samuel, IN his WORDS 70 Saud meant
mands is better than an occasional grand sacrince
to Him when the heart is not in sympathy with the
ward act Such obedience as characterized
Saus conduct Is not OF the kind which 1nds iavor,
& wmea s1e d sprs ss q ,ncues them AGAIN
this obedience to COD Is better than sacrince, be.
cause religion Is often thus saved from the scandal
OF many OF its pretended supporters. Inere are
canting men all about us who punctilious as to
the words they use while they are not honest or
over scrupulous In their works. They are the men
who make the Gospel unsavory to the hearts OF the
people, ana they do more harm than sceptlcs.
The shameful divorce between rehgion ana daily
OF great scandal and injury. Still iurther, TINS
obedience to God is better than sacrifices,
which the other only typnes and Illus
trates. The true Offering which man gives
and the ansetype il better than the ype SO the
Offering Of willing heart and obedient spirit IS
better than all ether sacrifices Vital religion con-
sists in character IL Is its essence ana the deeper
you look into the work OF God and into your hearts
the more wiz the impression be created that


AN oDEDIENT SOUL


is such essence. This is the religion of the angels
as well as OF mankind men before the tall as well
as those alter the fall the union OF two things
the soul and body having faith in Gods power and
obedience to His commands. This Is true religion,
and 1t is brought about, not by sacrifices not by
Holy Spirit teaching US to believe that we have
Father in God and are longer Aliens and strangers
THIS is the important matter in personal religion, ,
igon we do not say give away your goods, DO not
say burn your body nor devote both day and night
in devotional exercise. but by suppllcaung the love
of God and letting it dow into your hearts. NO
amount OF ritual 0bservances can make man
obedient in life. No heresy is SO common than to
suppose that the sins committed in every day life
can be atoned by few hours OF devotion IN
church. Sitting down to the Lord's supper VIII
not alone blot out the iniquites OF days before
week OF sin will not be wiped away by Sabbath
in church. You must get your heart right and
then you will enjoy religious exercises as you
never before dreamed OF doing. Ask forgiveness
with your Bible IN your hand and peace viii surely
follow. The performance Of things not COM


NEVER MAKE AMENDS


for the indulgence 0fthings forbidden. Many think
that to atone iniquties committed all that Is
necessary is to recognize God in gifts and similar
TOKENS This is the reason why so many men who


live t0lerably fast most OF the year become serious
in the season of Lent. These men don't care
what they eat and what they drink on other day,
but very particular on Friday.


The parties concluded by observing that IN the
cause OF Christ matters OF ritual obseryances were
OF but little moment A new heart Is better than
surplices. Love Is grander than rituals Let us
ask God to help US to cast out the spirit OF ntoler
ance and bitterness, and not give the lie to our
professions. Let us remember that this Is the
good lesson taught us by the Evangelical Alliance
that was In session here q Jew days ago.