Year: 1872




their trust in Christ Jesus and all would be weli
SEVENTH AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
The Boston Conflagration-Its Great Los


sons-Thc Public Press and tho Fire


The Morality OF the Bostoninns Not


Better than the ViclSedncss OF the Chi-


cagonns.


The morning services In the Seventh Avenue
presbyterian church wcrc yesterday conducted by
the Rev. S. ii. Graham. The congregation was
large, many having attended for the purpose Of
hearing the pastor discourse on the great confa-
grafton that has devastated Boston, The reverend
gentleman chose as his text Psalms CIV, 4. He
commenced his sermon by making illusions 10 the
great effects that sometimes spring from very
small and insignificant causes only week ago
it was seen how from a comparatively small be-
ginning, that fire spread throughout Boston which
has devastated somo OF the grandest structures ON
the Continent. In one hour they have seen what
had taken years of husbandry to accumulate COM
pletely destroyed by the ravages of fire. The les
sons to be derived from that conAagration do
not speak simply to the inhabitants OF Boston, but
1t may be contemplated in all the land In which
we live, and by the worlo wherever the news of
that great fire has been carried.


THE THREE GREAT LESSONS OF THE FIRE.


Now, ii that fire is minister OF God, what does 1t
teachS What service does it render to the cause
OF the great Author OF the universe2 These are the
questions which consideration OF the great
calamity suggests and it is proper to look at them
under three aspects. First as its natural lessons;
second, as its providential lessons; and third,
as its gracious merciful lessons In the natural
lessons we learn how much weaker science is than
the laws OF nature-that is, Gods laws OF nature.
We live in land which boasts of ingenuity and skill,
and much OF the boasting has been vain boastng
as the fire In Boston attests. All the resources Tor
the extinction OF fire had been procured; oil that
mechanism and ingenuity could accomplished been
accomplished, and the people OF Boston supposed
that they were perfectly safe from any assault that
fire might make upon them. And yet God In
single hour proved that the greatest ingenuity and
wisdom OF man can suggest is but drop as COM
rSe Sa laws sAo Of sIsas nsnro aTe euey
4 more powerful than the laws oil science,
than the ingenuity and skill, and philosophy and
| wisdom of man. 1T has been SAID by those VINO
were capaple Judging that perhaps no city In
the land in which we live was so mpervious
to fire as Eoston And yet What was vas SUPPRESSED TO
be frcproof buildings, containing the possessions
OF the rich ones OF the carth have passed away IN
one day. There is no exception made to the gen
to themselves wings ana ny away" 1t teaches the
supreme folly OF supposing any one rich, ana OF
supposing no one can lose his possessions. People
are apt to suppose that they stand In need OF
nothing; that tney arc independent OF any agency
thing in this world but what is subject to somo
OF the clements thot God has in store and which
have already utterly DESTROYED the proudest ana
/ greatest and most perfect works OF man.
THE PROvIDENTiAL LESSON or THE FIRE
| The absence Of suffering in connection with the
late fire is something for which we had reason to
be thankful How different was the case in con-
nection with thai calamity wnich occurred thirteen
Boston and the other cities have seen, IN the alb
sence OF that suffering, mercy tempered with JUS
witt, with thess fres. Providence teaches in the late
fire not only New York aud the adjacent cities, but
the whole civilized world instruction and warning.
The lesson is very instructive. The words which
read in these flames not in italics, but In the
largest capitals. Every single word and syllable
| and letter are made manifest


FIRE HUMBLES BOSTON.


One good thing in connection with that fire Is
| that it has a tendency to humble Boston. 1t might
| be that New York may be humbled by the same
means. The evident Interpretation OF the great
calamity is in other words, that the foundation Of
Boston must be laid In the truth and Gods Word
before it is sale, and the foundations of the city OF
New York must be built upon the Word OF Gcd he
fore it Is sale. But the fire warns as well as IN
structs and 1t shows that the very clements which
in ordinary circumstances are our slaves may at
very air we breathe may become q tempest, tor
nado or hurricane, and thus prove one OF the most
! recognize tnat while these elements OF God are
used for His glory they are also given TO mankind
| for their benefit.


THE DEFICIENCY OF THE PUBLIC PRESS.
In viewing the providence OF God in its merciiul
aspect it is seen that 1t hits the heart from the
creature to the Creator. There was no such con-
fesslon as that In the secular papers which con-
tained glowing accounts Of the catastrophe. 1t
| would have been productive Of much good had
some allusion been made in the daily press to the
j spiritual aspect OF the great cOnnagrati0n. The
press talked about architecture being at fault; but
II the fire did not lift the hearts OF men from the
creature TO the Creator and the lesson fails Of its
results, then the calamity must be turned in some
ever II Boston does not profit and every nation
does not profit through Boston's examnle-that
doars-then the lesson OF the great fire has ailed


Ut does not teach great lesson to the people OF
| New York then 1t may happen that similar Juds
| ment may overcome this city,


BosToNs INDEPENDENCE AND MORALITY.
Boston Is proud OF itsindependence. 1t does not
depend on New York or Philadelphia, and has little
| dependence on any other city in the world. 1t
thought it was an independency; but what is its
people OF that city If they remember that Gods
| honor and Gods truth are Tar more important than
the truth and honor and integrity and intellect
uallty OF Boston thousand cities. Boston,
with all its morality, was no better than Chicago,
The one exceeangy wicked and the the oser re-
Godiike or christlike religion. Now, what
/ was the evil9 Boston was remarkable as
being the birthplace OF American liberty; but even
though that was the case, had they right to COM
1 plain OF their sunerngs In view OF the absence OF
religion God would teach nations and States and
/ individuals and the world that He Is all-poweriu
bonds mortgages, real estate or stone belonged to
| Him alter all and they should learn that His
glory Is of more Importance than their conceit. 1t
Will be valuable lesson TO those who have wit
messed the great event II it will change their reli-
gion o. intelectuality and morality into religion
OF Jesus Christ. IL Is well known that in Boston
| there have sprung up a great many


ECCLESIASTICAL ISMS,


and We are told that these isms are not inspired
by the spirit and religion of Jesus Christ There
lore that connagraton will be valuable to them II


IL produces change in this very respect. Morality
| is no better than wickedness, and will save soul
no more than basphemy can. 1t Is currency
that passes at its true value with some men but
| nevertheless there is nothing that can wash away
| sin but the blood OF Christ, and every doctrine
which excludes the person and work of Christ.the
! great atonement-incurs the highest penalties.
| The people OF Boston never recognized Jesus
i Christ In great measure and Ii they do not
| recognize His power now another thGnderbolt may
/ be thrown at them.


CHURCH OF THE DIVINE PATERNITY.


DIR. Chm pin ON the Boston Firc-The Les
L IN Rn I.nu xanl Grn AlAn Greu