Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, December 27, 1880, Page 7

owl to renen inn THE CHICAGO RELIGIOUS. A Timely Sermon by Prof, Swing on New Reso~ lutions. . Dr, Thomas Preaches on the Pleas- uro of “Doing Good by the Way.” Tho Financial Question In tho Church ant. Payment of Dobts. | The Rov. B. ¥, Leavitt Advoontes tho Vol- untary Tithing Plan, ° + NEW RESOLUTIONS. SERMON KY PROF. RWING. To n densoly crowded congregation at tha Central Chureh yesterday morntug rot, David Bwing preuchod on tha’ very timoly tople of “ Now Kesvlution Following’ is te sermout And whoscover will, let him tako tho whter of fe troaly.—fev., ext, 17." fi In tho Grouk Testament this invitation reads this: "Let him take tho water of Iifo usa giit.” As ono would reach out his band to ne- cept of a gift, so whosvover wishes muy take the BITLof Ifo tonobing of Berlpture which It i4 my wish to apply asa rule of mis betng. The varied goud of this world lics iurgely sulject to the cholve of ouch porsy, andon atl sides of tho woul thore nro always flowing waters of. life, that is, puro rimning water, of which all who will muy drink, Tho cup is always full aud ol- ways proffered, + - ‘Througli tho unfortunatelntorferenco of some of tho older theolugiuns there came along at few centuries fu which thore was a luck of confi dence in tho abitity of tho humnn will to reach any good result, Hy means of a cor- tain one-sided = philugophy,, the = fnoul tca oof =tho §=6mind §=6wore = deproalnted in order to make, as It soemed, a grenter display of the sovereignty of God. Manwwes made noth- fog that God might bo ull inal, Lt was forgot- ten that tho luwer man was rendered tho less glorlons Jt was for tho Dolty to surpass hin. It was @ bad act of raliglon which exulted God by making tinn a wortn, for to execl a worm were not dificult. ‘To render real glorlotis tho blessed. name it should bave been declared that man was nimost qu angel, and that God was futinitly: beyond even siteh alotty, intellectual, and moral excelicnes, But it pleased tho fathers to ndopt another course, and from tholr hands there eumo nbuman belug fitted only tosit down and walt {or the hand'of Providence, Litthor sald * that God shatters to pieces the human will, anddaghes: overit Ikon drove of wild horses," ‘to the same effect was the dogma of total tnabllity and Irresistible gracn, No heart could will anything, Praccomplish anything townrd Its own accont- nnce with Ita Maker, nor could it successfully oppose the operations of grace if its namo wore on tho roll of tho elect. Mau was reduced to a shadow that grice might seem more of a subs stance. No tlmo can bu. taken this morne tug to mark, in tho particutar, this degradation of our ancostral generations, tnt tt must be sald (hut our prosent: century hne not yet fully emorged from that old eclipse of hu- man energy and reilntice, und men, old and young, etlll’ fait to realize how much they are the nuieters of tholrown destiny. ‘hero fs still alurge amount of waiting for some magleal turn of the wheel of chunce or Providence, A Tulse theology, or n false politics, or a false pub- He opinion of nny forin or quality alvaya pisses away slowly, ‘The Southern citizens uve Bel re netunt to iningle with citizens, froin tho North; and in the North tho namo of the South sti awakens feelings whlch should nye died iftecn yenrs ago; but ideas are slow tu die, and swe are ssarranted In saying thit-nlthough Wo° Hive fi i Dright and wise'period, there Ig sUll. to Uo’ seen here und there 4 ‘trace of tho fiftee foo much like the heaven and hell tun much like tho oternity of the olen time. and the human will resembles too closely that pationt, hopeless, even stupid lgont which fu all tho old tines of the monks and Puritans walted for tho willof Gow, ‘Pho text luvites us to think of min 4g a create tre thatenn rile and act and bring to pass great results; foritisa nw of logic thit the grenter involves tho loss, und if man can will and then tike the water of iifo freely, be cit, othor reauits; and: ein, ng al low, seo ble wish gratified. It fs u wide" truth -that tho Creator has. cuused | rivers -of Ufo ‘clear, running streama,to flow along upon all sides af ench one, and ‘all are invited to dip their vup into these rivers, ‘Lhoy are the waters of this life, ng that stream fu tha text flowed with walerof the life to como, ‘The probtom, How Godean in nll things carry forward [is own wish, and nt tho sane tine ‘pormil millions of Deings to Hye who should possass u free will, 13 ono which canmot by uny means be solved; but othe hunni race dure ndt watt for the sotution of problems, but it gust move onward along the deat or nimy paths. It seems a great fact that durenrih ig an avenn of tho huimun choc, Nothiyg fs more evident, Our” Wostorn world ny here, tho property’ of the Indinn-or the heontury. Our God is silll duitado, and for many centuries waited for “tho higher wish of tha Europein to gull over tho sea ant come hithor, Tuo prairies, lang tonely and silent, waited for the tnind of ina, the rivers walted, the foresta yalted, tho cont and fron mines waited, und vhen that Boripean, came ong with hismani+ toll tustes aud desires ond begin to Issuc now ders the Held and the river, and the woods, ind the mines obeyed, So, enrth tnallits dee purtnents of lund and wator, of ores and burs vests, of timber and grin, of fruits and tlowera Ans always beon waithig’ for. this creature of wishes to come and tell his wants. « tho powerless personage deseribed by tho oli netaphysiclans Nature could not have lournod Is inet, for it bus always sald to him with 9 tnite, " What fs your request?" A unturalist onco sald, “Tho universe ts an Srormous will rushing into external form." An lntinit: mind thought of sung and planots, thougbt of globes billions of miles apart, thought of sensons of day.and night, and thon of Hitu to occupy those worlds and onjoy those keagons, thought of birds for tho afr, brutes for tho land, tlsn for the water; thought of tho car- Pet of grass und the decuration of forests, Thus ull the universe 14 only an cnurmous will rush+ ing Into eternal embodiment, Just ns tho dream of a painter hnatens to its peripancnt home on the cunvas. What ta allirmed 6f the Delty many Lo wald of enrth, that its a placo whoro tho will of man bas rushed Inte life. Man, indeed, falts fur short of 4 Delty, and tho phenomena of his Ata fall fur below those of tho univerae, Man can busid a putnoo or u-rullway-bridgo, but ho cannot inuke a planct Jupiter or turn tho earth on Ita axia; but carth shows all over ita surface, An ite matoriut, in ite lottery, in its arte in tts in- struments, (ty its homes, that a mind capable of fesuing great orders and of uxcoutlng its com= mands has been bere a, long. time in the exercise of t marvelous power. Whnt is tho great past with Its rocord of nations, and cities, and inen tho past with its temples, aud chariots, and Pulathil bones, with ite ships—but a stuge of great breudth and depth upon which tue heart and ind of humanity bad acted tho varied dramn of existunce’ Inatend of our human ehreer’s bolas only the tuy of an irrosiatibie dos. potism, that Inttulte Ona: whose presence and fgen are everywhere hus ecomed, hero on this ttle wtar, to ubdtente Tis throno in favor of nian tosco if inn would Hot wake from sleep and aspire tube n king. What furm of empire the Heavenly Father may sway on the surface of Other planets and stare {8 nos known, but the monnrehy {8a limited ono; so Hmited, indood, that ft I6an amuzing republic, where ench ono ot God's children may follow the beart's cholce, Only tho leust ppeiite does the Divino intorfore; the most posgible fy loft foriman. No miracty is rformed, no sick one fa cured by a drop of wily water, Hor by # auored olla, nor by prayer beenuso the Author of our world wishes tha Man should study: tho Liwa of Sif and health, And practice thom. Hutif # discago might bo Avorted or cured by holy rolivor by % mingleal tite or prayer then selence bus no longer na Tootlve of oxistonvo, and yront intelloote would QUIt thule studies of law und become seekers und Yendera of holy bones wud of mugical ine cautntions, kvery arringement fs mado In this workd for holding mun clearly down to tho study of things und thelr caused, abd thorv. fore all’ miracles, which are the negation of Cause ant ettoct, are kept fur away. Lf guod could come by mouns af witehury, thon oyr ste dents might as wiucly as not discontinue .Wolr labors and hand usd all aver to that kind of po- teney round in the witeh sconce tn Mucbeth or Ih the eibth cule oF Virgil, In that pastoral tho heart uttempts tp bring back the abxont by: Sprinkiing verbunas und tho fragrant thyme Upon ultirs, und by Draedent the altar by a delicate wreath, Ustug three colors as a charut, and saying over certain magical words, the abandonud soul felt that tho wanderer would ro turn, AlLthia contempt for'humun reason bas Passed uway, and the modern absent one is on- Ueed back from w foreign lund ouly by baying foe country, or home, or (friend, worth tho exe pense of a‘return, «Brom theology und from Incdlelne, and trom science, und from affairs of (ho heart, mugle bas departed never to revialt Us and iiivtond have come the laws of God dopted and applied vy tho humun will, Our Parth ts the human wish In full blossom. It was my desiry in the outset of this germon fo iuke lt one of encourngemont for ull tho young. Vor at tho closeof a your a now on, Reema to bugla and the henrt ts ready for words of Warnlug OF of encourugemont. [ut tho wal Vuth fs, all our duys ure equatly important, Ale Ways a yeur isending, and furthermore wo all Heed almort cquatly this study into the abliity Ofwanin the midat of bls tonths and sous 40 this world, Adivine order 13 issiied to all ‘Ubat thoy muy come to these flowing waters and tony dip out of the’ Hood trocly, Wo muat ace cept oa though ull were offered us a gat. God in Batrange wunner bands tho world over to hu Man reason and ebolee, und almost tells man Muat bo tay be wise of Jgdoruut aa ho Likes, rich iftman is ur minds and splrite minty 4 df Vo H00r as ho profer; almost God says you may: {ive long of dig ently as nceording ta your Jules ta Ko lintiense ta the fehl of man's freo ch hat the records of mortality are affected hye Presence or bsenee of common serisc. The avernge of ite tengtt whon man lenis: to feck thit his own lon will lengthon or shorten dis time, Our West tits just buried tte best natronomers bas Juat now done tts weeping over Prof. Watson, and has lumented the more heenuss he was young and need not hinve ani into his wathnedy tomb. Beto in ii) henlth from some local aud transient aiiment he wont Inte Che Dnaeinent of a new hoitds te watol his workmen, and there he stood until the very danp and chill of death touched bis body, Thus dledalso se grent a man us Lord Bacon thus, 1 Washington, perhips, by. a form of let. Nature Js often pletired to us as as boing wot a kind mother atep-mothors but tho reat i. fa kindor than wo adit, aud) man f¢ eruel to himactt. fe falls to Bayi © Lshalt do rignty—F stall act wisely: Twill do my duty"; and with many regrets Nature accepts of bia wenkness, and with tenes of ro= Iuctinen permits blin to #arve, or freezo, oF drown, or dio by poisoned tr ar territle self exposure. When you haye bent town cr bruised. W tender pirat hive yout not noticed that Nature attempts tohenl the wound you live made. No sooner toes iy man orn elit dasome unwiso Uiing and injitres the body than Naturo comes and Kets nbout muking repairs. Henee one of tho best fowmuing of modern medicine ts that Nature must bo asked to help tho physiol, ‘The doctor and Nature imvst both take thotr ieo by the berate, and if Nature his been ong atlighted and insulted the othor doctor feols powerless tnd WnOUNEES thy approach of death, Not ny thauns 18 she whum we eal Natire a harsh anemss sho fe a fricnt, and tiken blor= enee Nightingale In a hospital, she passes from home to home, from. priaun to prisoti. wish Ing: ne oe Lest possidte outcome of this sojourit earth. ‘The vssumption stands good that our planot ls an arena where te deupest wishes of tho mind fire to tent tholr battios or run thole race. Ag in the Olymphin games thore aeaeinbled tans of thauminds, once in far yenrs, that for tive long duya thoy thlaht seu the varied contests botweent ebnrloteers, between wrestlers, between boxe: between nrchers, between mien swift Of and ts grott shouts nrove over each eeparute victory, 60 dn this earth oa grent is. sembly tas heowsealicd, =oand = hero tho power and the taste and the rovolution of nian piss (nto and through a thrills ing strugulo, Tho assemblige continies forever, shouts of victory are wways claitig, prizes are tl ways boing awarded. AN those now standing anid the strong years of youth partlenlarly ure Kindly favited to gone te some form of earth's, success and when wo rend the kindness of God iu His efforts to beak the wound of a plaut or ot the body we cannot but conclude that He chers Iehes an equal kindness toward wll waands of tho soul, ito le uot pleased with the poverty or misfortunes of any but the brulsed reed which Ho will not fully break but loves tu henk tells us that He wishes man’s wilt and industry to inake this world a paradise perfect us is possible. Not ull oan find success, however ardently dey may seck it. For rea: unknown to man, God docs not place before His ebitdren absolute certains tes. No one can bo absolutely certaln of tte, or of the contmuanes of reason; no one cat be vorfectly assured that he will noxt year see or that he will herr, or walk. or think wisoly; no ong ent bo eertaln that ho will wake after denth, or If so, he cannot by certain to what kind of ex= Igtence ho witluwaken. Noone can atlicm why the Crentor hus chusen te set before us posalbil- Itivs rather than surtalitles Dut tho tact is be- fore us, and ag a parte: this general fact ap: penrs the -trath that pot. all whe inny ardently Beek success will bumedintely find it, “Tho wide Inw roumins thut there wre rivers of this life and this happiness flowing before ull, and they must souk the bright waters, All must yo to tha bunk and dip in tholtcup.. Unlesseach shall ito this, thoro t4 no maxle or miracly that will come to thoir ussistanes, Some who come to the river bunk will not find tho good they week, but allwho atay nwuy will dio. ‘Tho New Yenr Days as thoy come, one by ono, open tho sites ton scene more and more ene chanting. ‘Kho prospect ts not a vanishing view, but an enlarging and Inereasing splendor. "Those of us who. have seen many returns of tho si from tho winter solstice, to bring biek the power that makes a new springting, buve nover sevn a better future thin that which seems now [tting itsourtain, [by the law of buinan progress, ouch period. ds better thun the past ono, Lhe word cops all It ts hit nnd steniily neyulros) more, It. 1m, thorefore,” always richer than It was. Ita hingunyes enlarge to make room for tha names of now things and new actions; [ta selences cuinrge; its dumostte arts mult! iy in pamber and ficrease In dignity bad value; fig cducation becomes moro wite- eprend, its wenlth tuerenses, the public happl- noes grows. But while thia la true there come now und thon perluda of twonty-fve or fifty Yours when progress quickens Hts pang and glows with enthusiasm. Thy future before you dock Hot seem nv comuion Liture. Tt is highly colored. Jt surpasses all net only that. you and { have seen, bul tht imun his soon, Maw hasbeen upon earth many thousands of years. Ho bus acon now times come when tue “pyramids wore being constructed; he has sven spring come when Habylon was fn Ita splendor; he has seen what wore entlod golden ayes" como under | Porleles or Auuustus: baa seen tho mugnificence | of Louis XIV.; und the intellectual awakening firtho rein gf Mzubeth, antl yee "that human eyo that has ecen this long pageant of grontuvss Ibust confess that tho speatuelo naw spread out in tho Old aud Now Worlds is the grandust iu tho whole history of nian, The common citizens have become Kings; the miflions wre so educated that superstition and Imnposturenre loss possible; the * pow bis become mightier than tho sword liberty bus oxpanded uutil ft hus embraced the slaves nodes of travel andof speech have come to make distunt places aear—Culeutta can talk to London aud Now Yorks wars have given plicy to peneefal pursuits; thalnventor is nobler than the ambitious suldicr; man x8 a brothor his made popular mat 8 au onomy; undor the stimulus of pence aud industry new pursuits havo sprung ute being: Just as tho wild orange hus become sweet und ng tho wild rose his been developed Into n bundred species, religion bis become more rengourble and things. to be bee Jteved have glyen place to things to bo dono; the cominon home would oxolte tho envy of tho old pninee: many a: modern sehool-eirl would in education and manners and personal beauty surpiss the royal daughtors of monurchs in tho Tonrtecnth anu fifteenth centuries; young men ‘are now it law-olllves or plices af business! who could have taught Sintesnunalie, to old crownnd hends, who could have reformed Europo even {1 the more recent goncratious, Now tho relntions of each young man, and young woman, too, to such a world ur largely those of the will, Have thoy the resolution, the splritual powur that ean shipo this plant clay? fod permits toni so tu shape this earth; be ore dors thom. Look back, and whic isa it Int or woman oxcopt one who said, *L will"? Tho men who aro eminent to-day in all tho forms of mental netion, or in olives of great trust, bo thoy pots or presidents, osenyists or senators, Artists or morchunts, inventors or thinkers, are Porsons whose wills rushed out {nto life, Thoy could not, ke God, nko a universe, but thoy fabricnted n wondartul life, mute it gront in tte oxpansy, und rich in tty decorations, Edueas tion ins always boon n mighty influence, and a wise man allirined that knowter ig powor, but those glunts huve atways sulfered front 1 com- potltor—resolution, A balf-tuught, nulf-aitlte ured inind full of reselye and peratstenco, has always stolen honors from tho tho very fore- head of 4 Learn that had noimpuiso. [tis whon learning and wilt combine or genius and will combine, that the groutest personil suc: cess’ fs reached. Whosoover will muy take of those living waters freely,—a nw passed by Him who framed that network of rules by whieh wo Aro cneomprased,—n hiw nover to bo'slightad or repouled by mankind, Its presence un tho stutute-book of man compels you to scorn ail who speak against the power of tho buman will, and to guy, “Lt Know thut [must be the muker or destroyor of my own fortune,” Since this human onorgy und power of rosolu- tlon aro Instrumonts 6o effective in sccuring mutterial and intellcatual results, alnce tho: shape all civilization by thoir creatlyo touch, ft must bo that in tho spiritual reulin thoy are ulso muster hands, ind that tho goul can sock its God und Savior, and cin, if te will, drink of the water of w fe otornal na wall ns tho swoot watars of this world, ‘Tho thoologians who taught that tho will bud no power, or Virtuo, or pivty, belonged to tho ora, which’ held n falyo neironomy, a false chemistry, a falso politics, n fulso avolitl aystem, “If those mon beld any aore rect idea of Godt or man It must bave been by a form of aceldent, itis pot ta be believed thut if God mado tho destinies of the soul to issue largely from the will power, that on Ace count of 4 #10 OF u tlrst man Ho roculled the will power of all the subsequent billions of ten, women, und children, and made us holpless, Dloeks or stones us to choloo, and living, and sentient, and able only us to aulturing torments, All that duproclatiny of the buman will hus boon an Injury done to sagicty, an injury from whloh nyan ds Just begining to make nn eseape. Han py diy for onch young bexrt when it ahall earn Oo fock that it carries within ita little walle the germ of Ite good or bad fortuno,—thut God ox- beota it toda ius duty toward Hin and ull cleo, Viaithlo or Invisible, Hueh year with its twelve months, with ts four seasons, 38 a stugo where this froo resulye plays ita happy or sud part, Nature, kind and thoughtful, camea. with ber varying wousons to Keep tho soul froin slnking under tho spell of monotony. Inthe tuniporato done only da man grout, For whoa winfor hug plied her eloquence of storm, and snow, audoolt.and tho hurt has oxbauated that forw of linpulsy, spring enters the soeno, and, hy incttoda wholly now, rolnspires. to spirits Sunmer again changes the external world, and, done ut lust with bor work of folluge und blog sont, #NO wake wut to come and Hy with tender pensivonuss the soul whlch uinid barvost und richos, and quyoties hus forgotton tho sha owofdeath, Nattire and man—mon in an ia Prosalvy past, man in ab indescribable present, und Godin the whisperlnge of religion, in the rgon und tevobings of Jesua, voine Wo you, and Jn. wonls full of mystery butt full of truth, faay: PA HaeOree wilt uy take of the water of lito ‘ro! DOING, GOOD BY THE WAY. | +) BERMON LY Dl. THOMAS, tho Hoy, Dr, ‘humus proached yosterday morning In the People's Churob, Juoley's Theas tro, tukiug for bh thome, *Dotng Good by the Wa: Following is the discourse in fully Who jussinw throngh tho Valley of Baca, make Wawel lg, Uersive. Gs Sometimes the slightest chaugo In the polnt- ing, or {na lotter of 4 Hebrew word, will give us quite unother moaulog, Thus the word Baca, 89 Itetunds in tho text, micansy mulbersy-tree, =< TRIBUN MONDAY DECEMBER 27, 1880, Wo are told that ina number of manuscripts tho word la written Bacah: and the addition of this ons fetter gives ts mourning, or the * valley: of mourning,” Instead of tho valley of mul- borry-trees. Dr. Clark thinks that tho word hero fs tho aaine ns fochin, urcd in Judson, Ih, 1-6, and called tho “valloy of weeping, or of Inmentation." And thus tt Is sometimes dim enlt to know certainly what tho original word in ma toxt ‘really was, and thon not onsy always to determine its proper meaning, and to find Jts oxact equivalent in our own language, But such diticulties fis those, whilst thoy may teach us mordeaty in doginatiaing upon nsinglo word or n doctrine resting upon a word having various meanings, need ‘not stand tn tho way of those who would fallow the consensus of thought or tho brond nnalogy of fulth running through thoBerliptures. Somatines, also, tho figurative Jangurge of tho Bible ta embarrassing, or by n too literal In= terpretation may prove misleading. Wo hardly oncounter this danger here, however, for we can- not onally mistake the meaning of a“ well.” If wo concelve of the text as spenking of, those who, passing over a dry Innd whoro there are no springs or flowing streatia, we may then takutho termina literally, and aay, * Hlcased are the travel ors who sink wells by tho way, that others com: {ng aftor them miny find water to drink." Or, if we follow the othor randering,—the “valley of mourning, of weeping, thou we hive tho thought that they are bicsecd, and to he praised, who, pasaliug through such a scone of tour, should cause happiness and Joy to spring up nlong thelr path; for a “well” sugzests the Iden of refreshing and Joy vy tho way. And. thus, dismlasing ail that fa criti cal ur obscure in tho text; or, to be suro of nilss- ing nothing, taking both meanings, we reach thisgonerul thought that our world sone ot need aud sorrow, und that in passing through it we should make it hetter—better fur ourselves and better for those who ‘travel atong the sume way when we are gone. Nature provides world well suited for tho Purposes cf 4 burman existence, We find it wl- ready propared for our coming and our ovcu- paney; and finding ft thus ready, we uceept It and dwollin it perhaps without pausing to re- fleet upon tho fact ag ty bow it came, and how ondurkul It is in Its provisions and adupta- fons. Jit if we stop to think, and to ask how, or by what rpooeacts thts vist earth hits come to bo whut itis, wo shall find opening up before us some most remurkable chapters In the books that record the works of God. One of these wo cullthe Bible; the other Nature. The one, or the Biblo, tells how tho carth was prepared for nan; the othor,or Nature, shows how It was dono. The Bible says: crented tho heavens and tho earth: and tho earths was withoutform and vold, and durkuess wis up- on the fuco of the duep." ‘Chut is, the creating: Power brought into existonce thut of which the heavens and the eurth are composed: and In its fae tate’ it was formless, or diffused, or vols 7 and thon when lt had been carried for- ward to the form of be, * the Spirit of Goat ra"; ati thon, * God said, jet there be light"; and thon, “God said, ict thoro be a firmament.” And thon, * God said, let tho waterz ho gathered to- gothor unto one placa”; aud God culled tho “dry land earth; and tho gathering of tho waters called Ho sens." Aud then God sald. * Let tho eurth bring forth grass, nod herbs, and. treus, euch ylelding fruit after bid kind.” And thon, “God sid, let the waters bring forth abimdantly the inoving creatures thut bath IIfo, and fowl that tay tly above the eurth”; und than, “ God sald, let the arth bring forth tho living creature his kind; cattle, and ereopiig thing, and benst of the carth; and {t way wo, And then, *God anid, let us make man tn our image and after our Ikotcss, and tet thom have dominion" aver the earth and all these lower formsof life, Thnt is, ina word, what the Libie tolls us of creation. - Now wo mny look Into God's other book—tha book of Naturo—and seo the facts ny they are. And bere wo find all those things—tho carth and the heavens, the sens and the dry land, vegeta- blo and animal life, and man. And when wo study tho records of Nature thoy quite ngreo with the story of the Bible, Thero was first the “ vold,” or tho formless stnte; thore was thon the gathored or consolidated earth; and this was: vovored with water; and thon thocontingnts werg Nfted up, and tho waters gathored to their place; and then can the life of the grass and tho herb; and whon this was pre pared, next came lite in the gous nnd on the fund to feed upon the grass and the herb; and thon, crownlog all, cane man; man rising above ally ruling all—mun in the “Image of God.” And thus tho grent “ days" or ages of God's croutlvo week pussed niong in orderly Boroldlng, one thing propuring tho way for the athor, till all was complotod. “And God snuv that it was good,” t ‘We hnyo onty touched thle grent feld of atady, this field of fact where tho two books 0 won- dorfully ugree,—Lut thls reference my prepare our minds to better catimute aud appreelate tho hone thut bas Bogie. ile petvurrd, for aur carthly abode, How great ty the earth Stsclf, tho carth with {ts continonta and sens. itamount- ving, and valloys, aud rivera, and platings: the curth with grass, and grain, and flowers, and fruits, and trees. How wonderful the sousons, the nights, nud tho day's; how greut tho wenlth Mond minorals hidden away beneath tho ground and in tho rocks, And all this vast sys- tom of things {8 carried along from ago ta nge without man's thought or effort. But man is intended to be Inn mensure actf- caring, self-providents or tu do something for bimecif, And henco thatho may hive some- thlng tefe to do, God did in the creation, nid still docs in providence, only those things ‘Wat mun catinot do, thus lenving iW innrain in which mun is the crontor, tho rotor, tho doer. Aud itigntong this Httto margin our raco finds {ts notivities and nchigvements. and somothues, too often Indeed, we are so fled and blinded by what we havo to doand ure doing, that wo al- most forget how much hus been done for its, and wo full to see how comparatively Hetlo it 1s ta! after ull that we cuando, And yet that tttio Is, our party and tous it {8 really great. We could | not muke n world, nor orente life, but belie tn Warld whero these thinga aro, we ent uso them. OF the olny, and tho woud, und the atova we oan: Vuitd houses, and cities, and tomples. OF the tUmbers In tho forests we cn Untld sips to float upon the lakes und eas, With tho seed and tho soll wo can cause the riponud flulda of grain to, wave in richness, and wo cau harvest nod garner thuso for bron. With minds to plin and con cclvo and hands to work wo cai fashion tho ores and rofine tho fron and construct machinery, und thon wo can cull in the power of water, and: wind, und steam to do our bidding and to lighten our labors. And in theso things has all along been, and now {8, a large part of thework of our rico; and we should all look with sutlsfaction upon what hns been achtoved, Taking th world ns God gnve it, tho labor of man bas changed Its face, - and mude of It quite another scone, We can imagine such a world as God made, with man Jott out; or the world without the presence und activity of mun. The continents would le tna wild, or tangicd, or luxurious beauty; gous, and lakes, aud rivera would all have thelr places as now;'tho sendons woul come and go, towers would bloom, und tho wild fruits would ripen and fall; birds would sing In tho trees, und Dutfato ronm the pralrics, aud‘ tigers crouch itt tho Jungle, Hut no fro would be Kkindlod, no oities would risa, no veasols would eull, no angling sped over the track, no aplidles turn, no gar- ment be woven, no ferest cleared, no harvests sown and gathered, Duuth would bo heros but no coftiy wotld hold fits dust, and Bo tombstone. mark its place of rest, But mutts bore,—he has Deon a worker on the vurth for thouvands of yenra, and all along bls pachway. burlad oltios and crambllug inonumon Yyot perishing—pyramida, tell whore be hus beon land whut ho bas done, Notonly has wan brought vast industries to our world, but he has caused yrent clvillzations: tonriso, Aas a soolal being man has bullt moro hirgoly oven than as 9 physical being, He bos fow‘on tho structure of qovurnmone, nud ones ribd it up atl the way from barburism and dua. pytiam to tho modified monnrebies of the Oh} World and our owt pen of the Now, Ho has tolled with tho problem of thought and rea- gon and of Nature, [lo hus tillt up tho atruc! ure oF many hinguages; he bud reasoned out many philosophies; ho bas discovered many of tho sevrots of Nuture; he has constructed w chomistry, © goology, and a astronomy. fo bus perfected music and art. He tus rofnod marriage and benutified home. Ho hus heard the yolco of God speaking within blin—bas Caught the thought of Heaven and nas con. posed psuling, and bymns, and tturgics. He bas erected temples and lifted upultursof prayer, Ho. bas buitt ojtlos for tho Hymy und eomotoriea for the dead, flo tus vaused love and hope te tivo and rojzn, and to rejotce and sing ubove tho ushos of doath, Fo hus placed at of tmmore tality above counticss graves and filled it with shina and sung, Wo stund to-day ina world not new, but ald: old in {te bisturios; oll in its paling; old bn its ware and struygles; old tu ita dustitutions of governments und religions, Wo aro tho inherlt- ore of the past, ‘Tous bave come down Hag pus f the bud, the mixed of all that hus been. Wo are ‘Uorn Into goveramonts, jute foring of religion, and Into schools of thought. The pust hus cor- tulnly wrought bard, if not alwayd well. tdo not fuel like reproaching the past. Dbave read Of Ite darknoss, its ward, ity crualtics, sis work, ius suffurinyg, have read of its patriots and martyrg, ity prophets and apostles, {ts Kings and uevne, ite eoldiys, its students, ite thinkers. Many of Ita paged seem ouly dark; some of is SuoHos may Cnuse Lours und cegrets; but over all those past centurics and those silent graves [ would gust sumte mantle of eburitys and t would rojulco to-day that out of this troubled pret bid como so mueh yuo. “hunk God to-day fur the food that has lived, and the evil that buy led. ‘Thank God to-day for government, and Church, and tome, und sohooly for the tltora- ture, the muaio, tho thought, the luveution, (ho guthored woulth, and all tho rich gifts thut the past bas bunded along from generation to wens eration, and that hus not beon lost by tho way. ie pust bus done much te mako our world & fairer and better home tor all tho millions of thidvreat contury, ‘They bave caused inuny Sivolis of ving water to spring un by tho way, They bave left thom for u: ells of litoratureor learhlug, ot pioty,ot hope, fn tho * yalluy ‘of weoplug" thoy have dricd the tears from wany chooks, and spoken consultation to many bourts in corrow, And ull this kindness, this love, this hope bys come out into richor and @ éwouter lite tn Gur day. Aud now what shall we of this genoration de? “In tho begining Gexl | wand enduriig—aond , ‘This is our brief day upon theearth. Toour hands and henrts, to our keeping, are intrusted nlt for tho ages have striven, all for whieh tho tniiiiena qave thought, and tabor, and fife, Got ‘ t wil still de His part, Tho foundations of ourth will not be removed: tha years will last; tho gents sons will como and oz natura willenditre, Hut tous tateft the keoping of ull the creations of our fathers, Liberty, learning, truth, Justteo, roligion, prayer, piety,—all tha. Immense wealth of civilization isin. t keuping of tho living and women of this day, a\s [t looks to me, the work of the gencration now on oerth Is tot ao much tte tthe fine of ils coveriug the now us It isin conserving and per- feeting that which wo alrendy bives und yet tho new thuatever be coming fn to complete the olds or rather (hie old must take on newer and mure porfeut forms, hora ire three great fines along which all tho past hus moved; they are tho phystcal, the mental, and the moral. Much, 19 wo have seen, tits been done In the hy sien! world to muke iia home for our riee, Hit much more may stil be done, Our century hag been fruitful in inventions, and In the mul+ tipiication of menuns to fiellitate Inbor, We have improved methods of t He aur elt better built und better ight and yet nothing {4 perfect. TL de not monn tently, but practi ly. as perfect as itshould be. Wren we look tt tho world of travel and see how untny lives wre every year lost by land and set, we should cer- {ulaly hopo for some greater safety. When wi Jook nt the amazing mortallty among chil nearly one-hit are seen dying before ten yenrs are reached—we should anxtously took for some nieans of guarding wl there tender Ives mcalnst ought to bo that the mothers who o Hiren stoutd seo thom come to mate hood and womanhood, and not have to seo thom Wing so many long ines of little graves. When we sev so men and women in the very. primd of | lify broken down and dying diseuses that are proventable,and that are traceable toknown, crises, that we should be wble to tiger thos chuses, nnd to cust them out Tt pny boo great thing to Hive ta herge eltys but it 1s not x pleits- aut thing to be polgoncd with sewereyits and bid water, and to know all the thine that ing poktoned, It is a greut convent ‘oO abundint inarkets—to have the riches of the earth on our tables; but It isnot pleasant to know all the time that almost every articie ta Unable to be adultertted, and to by uncertain Whethor you are crting butter or lurd, ur drinks ing tea or some palyonous compound, About tho only thing that wo ean feel certain about is bolted opus or biked potatoes. . ‘uw these iiy scem to suine as Icht things, thoy ire not light, and they belung to our Ife, onr well-being; and to our rellglon, too, And It will hon great work JC thls age ean give us safe travel; can give ua bealthy elties—can, sive our children and our useful ejtizons from untlinely death: ean wive us pure food and wood Nentth, “And with the growth of sclence, and the Visliince of the press, und the power of the law, and the skill of the physician, ft muy and, Lbo- eve, will be done. Then we bave on band alt tho unsolved prob- lems and the unsctiled questions of soctety In Ita soclal hearings, We have to dent with the attostions of poverty, of ignornnce, of tojustice, of immorality and celine, The abject poverty of ono-half of Kurope, and the overtlowing woulth of the other half, fs not a) ploasint, nor ig itu sate condition of saciety. Somehuw the poor should be got Into better ways and better: doing, ‘The troubie is not so erent here, but it is dnerensing. Then tho ignorant should be taught. Ibis not no pleasant thougit that 4,000,- Oo Inourewn South ure hot able to read or write. This ave ought in some way to Hil all the Jand with schools, and books, aud pavers. There sere 30,000 i ens Along, A itt told, unible to rend the name on their tleket. Look at this great country and) Governmen whnt possiile perils through ignoranee and eor- ruption; whut possibilities of wealth, of power, of position, and slory among the nations of the carth, intelligent and pure, Look wt our own alte Soon a million souls will be here. What Neld for work, "Think of tho children wntatuges think of tho Sabbath desecration, of tho im- niorality and erline all abont us, Wo need not Ronbroid for heathen, There ls not a aqiunre mile in India or Africa that can need a mission: nry much worse than sowie of tha districts of Chicugo, 5 Now, it should be tho work of nil in our day to correct these evils; to finprove tho social con didons of tho werk, the ignorant, and the fallen, and the outenst. Whit a work for this genera tion, if {tcould bring In the reign of temperance and socin) purity; 1f it could save the rising generation from corruption, save them to virtue and all nobleness of life, and sent thom forward us men and women, plire, and strong, and yout, “What “wolls" of hippiness we maculd plant by tho way. ‘What biessings for the ature, “ Thon took agalu at the moral, or the religious, world, What work fer our keteration to do iu tas tleld, We have churches plenty, proach ers plenty, erceds plenty; but somehow the People ure not gathored tothe altars of worship, and between 4 tov loose raiiicalism on the one hand, and # tuo rigid conservatisin on the othor, tho public faith fs mllunsottied, ft would boa areut work If the raligiaue touchers of this ugo vould safuly conduct the iniillons tn tho almost porous passage thoy are trying to muke from the old to the ew in raligion: or Crom the olt furms of truth to the Uving spiritunl realities of truth and expericuee, Tt would ban great work if-our age could ao cdme tat, ihe spirit and life of Christ that. rollgton would. be moron Joy. fe of tho suul; a worsblp,n sweot restlig. in Gad, and a boly striving for purity and useful- ness, And now, my friends, there remains this fur- Hic thought: We aro not, permunent dwellers on tho curth; we are sojourners—pllgrins or travelers, “ pusaing through tho valley of weep- ine.” ns did the generations before us. Wo read tho Inseriptions on tho tombsof Hgypt, and tho rolls of papyri in which thoy wrapped thoir eo atudy life as it was in the great days of ‘and Itome; we look utilfe ne it wis in tive of Herculenean and Pompell, when iin the ashes of Vesuvius 1,800 years ago; and [n all those ages fe was eweet; ‘thera w Iuughter and Joy ag well as tears and mourning: thoy nite, thoy slept, thuy ,worked, thoy lived, they loved ag we do new. But thoy have long been xone from earth, And 80 of tho nearer yours, Englind’s great tombs fro filled with Kings and Queens, with poets, with privsts, and philosophers, And fn our own fand tho founders of our Governmont aro gongs, Washington, and Jetfurson, ani Aduing sleBp; Lovejoy und Lincoln, Sumner and Bryant bave passed on. The names so doarto us all are one by one belpg placed on the long rollof the departed, Lyin Maria Childs, tho noble writer, und Lucretiy ror ati swoot Quakeress and buinanitarivn, and Watson, the great astronomer, have gone from our shores in tho lust year,—jmased through carth's vulloys of wooping,—tll these are gone to the yreater com pany, beyond. Only this week the gifted Geargo Blllat, who had all the warkd na readers and studonts of her books, followed on to the land whose gates opened fongayo to welcome (omer and Dante, and Shukspeure and Dickens, 0, what groups of uuthors, whut cholrs of alngers, what companics of smiling ublldron are gatheros over thorel And we too aro golnn ‘This Is the Inst Sab. bath of anothor of our cnrthly yours. Tho old cltizoun, the businoss-imen of our city, aro pass- tug away. Brothor Bishop, of Centennry: dtr. Hotnes, tho publisher; Futhor Crows, tho vou- erable minister; and many others whom wo all loved will walk our streeta no more, ‘Think Goi thoy mado the world hotter,—bolped innke of fts “valleys of weeping a woll of joy” as thoy pesaeitn ong. On this last day of our wors ship in tha old year let us feave all ill-will, ntl our wrong, all our sins behind; and lotus in God's mime and atrongth go forth to help overy gol cause; hotp give our city and our tand nh restful Sabbaths help Hil tt with schools and churches; help In every good cause,—of tom- perance, of reforin, of progresds,—nod thon wel+ come tho new yenr and the coming days,—wol cornu Jor sorrow, tnbor, restIf ouly in all wo may follow Christ, live ‘the broad {fe that t# mensured not only by years but by deade, and Igavo a workd that Js better Deeuuse wo lived, CHUNCIE FINANCES. SERMON NY THE NEV. B. ¥. LEAVITT The Rev, Burke F, Leavitt, of tho Lincoln Park Congrogationw Church, corner of Mohawk and Sophia strvata, dultvered tha following sor+ mon yesterday moratng on the rathor practicat tople of “Church und Christlun Finances: God's Remedy for the Ditiouttles": Drlog yo ull tho tithes Into tho storehouse, that there insy be meat In tulng house, und prove me now porewith, auith tho Lonlof hosts, if L with notonen you the windows of heayen, and pour you outa blossing, that thero shall got be room enough to rocolvy It Muty (ty 10, Some thino since a frivnd of mluo recelyved 9 call from a young man in trauble,—n hard-work- ing mechanic, with n wife und two or threo cbil- dren. Ho was in debt; was owing for gro- corles, fur prayisions, fur fuvl, for rent, Dobte wore xcoumuluting, though oll bis wages wont to the grocor, aud butoher, and coal dealer, and landlord, He si no way out, and waa modituting adesperate atop, When qucs+ tloned as to bls hibit in using bis wages, ho sald if bo wanted anything, or hla wife wauted any- thing, thoy wont to the store and had it chungod, Waon ho was patd, if thore was an entertains mont ho felt ike enjoying, or somo lux. wry (not much), he would wave it und lot tho storkovpor hive the restof his mon ie wus not jutemperaty, did not specula Ilo oould only say ait hia carnings wont for bts Hy. ug, and he was running behind, My fricad proposed an experiments ‘That when puid tho noxt Siturdsy gight he sot agile Aoertuln wmonyt—say 2 per cout—for bls dotits, ‘That with the balance ho take ponell and paper, and, with bla wife, plan how (auch Mey would spend the next wook for each article: Hour, auanir, butter, potatovs, moat, cto, and Unit thelr purchases to cuuh, ‘That he sco bia credit ord und tell thon ble plan to got out of dobt, waking thelr Gitienes, ‘Thilo was, if Lromomber, a your ayo. Not tong sinow, It was with 4 diffore crit spirit that the young wien, who had reportod prygroas trom tind to tine, edilud "to aay that Gyo plan proposed bis dabre ware ail paid, Walle nis family nad Hved moro. antistuetorlly thin over bufuru; adding that be should over regard my rived oa baving rendered bin wa service he could nover measure, Bunply by the Introduction of syeten, culculauon, futo tha nuanugenent of bls oxpouses, a Cloud throuten= tng bla whoulo life was sca}tered, if August last a college frioud, Fotucalow from Jupan, cullod ut my pouse. Glylug ac. count of blinaylf slave bis yruduation, he sald that ju waking mauufucturiuy ‘his pro- fusslon ho began fn tho lowgat pies afd served in avery = cupacity til called to the tnanagemont of a eorporation, That at diferent thes he hat answered three catis, in nine, in North Carolina, In Loulslana, where i bt Investin sof capltal had failed, and ia ftatch fnstanes he nad by suceussful in raising: the establishinent to first-class prosperity, By the introduction of thorough system, which embraced Instruction of the employés and bonarding-house kerpersin economical use of thelr wasor—by careful system this tealned matufacturor mune 48 From lack of ayatem there ts inany a failure in farming. in business, in every calling. Frotn inck of aystemn In eating, sleeping, porsonal tine provemont, reroation, application to study or eatesston, muny a tifo is put a half success, Whoro thoro [8 Ho ayatom in the home—In tnenls and work, rising and retiring, earning and spend- Sng. how unaatiafactory tha family life. White ‘often nl that fs neaded te make the home-lita aatisiactory to mother, fathor, ebildran, frionds, fs the introduction of rogularity, System fs overywhere connected with any healthy progress and prosperity, and nowhere with better results thin in the retigious life, Yet how many people intke religion a inatter of Jinpulael fending the It ‘hen they feel tke its praying once ita white, ns they feel ko ity Utlendine church or the pr ineoting when thoy feel like it,—not remembering that a man who treats bis body in that uy becomes an une bay iy, If not useless, dyspeptic. We sutnetitne aco a mun ahitup In his office, Jetting business crowd bl out of a regular dine ing bour, Hating now at 1 o'clock. To-morrow ati. Tho nuxt day notatall titlhe gots home, and wonlering that be dues not feel well, that even bis religious lifo ts of little comfort; and we say thathis religion should for one (hing make him toro regular in caring for thut “temple of tha Holy Ghost,” which ts bls body, Buthow many would give this sensivie counsel who allow thelr devotions, or family worship, or rotigiout service to be Irregular, spasmedic, burried, and then wonder that tholr religious lite brings so litle enjoyment? Everywhere in God's universe, in all that God doen which we can comprehend, wo ace order. In movements of solur worlds, in suc- cession of the seasons, tn diy and night, in structure of plant, Inseat, and animal, in do- Yelopinent of mind and character. Ordor is everywhere u condition of perfection, and nowbers more than in our relicious life, in in our daily, private, and fanilly rolig- rel: a inore rigid than in tho as the development of charneter, of apiritual fife, Ié more Important than the Dixy. Syston, rcinlarity in keeping tho Sabbath as God is reguinr tn giving it tows. Htegulurlty in attending church, and the Sabbutb-school, and the weekly piruyer-meeting; systematic en- gagement in relivious work, Tnm euro I voice the want of many n heart when I epenk of more wniformity in Cheisthin experience, more constancy in religious {fey—to hold rellvion more us panclns than an iin- pulse, Wetnay want higher attainments, and to this end God may ipestally munifest His epirit froin time to time. Mutile we not want to bold whut we qain by uniform ving one bighor planer Then must wo hive rezularity; must Ve principle tn our religions duties; mtist pure form thoin when we do not feel Hke It. At tines: relics exercises may como to be formal, Tut the form of eating against the Inclinntion baa tied the physical Hfe over a crisis, and a cureful inblt in the religions life, vot the fort, but the practice the bubit kuepsugolng, may be an incentive to life. huve been led to this line of thought. to which [am sure nl) assent, in seeking to fullilla Promiso to answer difticultics which one und an- other have stated tu me respecting that trouble. sone inatter, *Christinn xiving.” The best peo- plethose who desire to be wenerous aud Just— uve found themselves tn perplexity on this practical subject of giving. To tho first place, who of us have not felt that there should be some way of keting rid of the anuovinico felt toward the contribution-box. or the discomfort whieh same people say keeps them from church even when there Is no coutrl- Mittion-box because they cannot give as others? How many of ts bive been exercised by the honest question, What {3 right for us?. We would like to help the Chareh ur Sabbath-schoul dn thelr youd work In the community. The erlses of a chureh, of a great Christlun cause, mave us. But we remember those who bave ylelded to lin- pulse and afterward bave at least doubted whethor they did right in subserihing or giving: somuch, Our familtes have wants. Our chll- dren need aya . We tuve friends depend. ent upon us. Que business needs more capital or assistance. We feel the need of laying up Beatinst sickuoss, or doath, or old uge. Ur, we are iu debt. We fool suro our desires aro generous, but whut is right? Wo sce some people glvo what we think thoy ust. to spend for their tamit! Others give tit makes our heurts nehe to seo it or reeelve it. Is thero not somo right and wrong In the mutter? On the other hand, thero ure the instt- tutions of Christlanity which require money for thelr support, Thore is the church und the Sub- ‘Untheschoul, which must haves bullding, warmth, and lights, Must have services of worship and: tho unfolding of God's Word for ourselves, our children, und the wetl-belny, the apiritunt nourishment of the community. Theso are tha causes whieh do for ethors what thoy once helped do here—viz,: start and foster churches and Sabbath-sehools in new communitics fi henthon hinds. Theso aro the causes of highor education, without which wo would hive no mln= istry or Cheistinn literature, ‘These aro, the nyancles of reform which may bless some of our Kindred, save some of our homes from blight, or our community from curse, Those instituttona of our Christianity need to exist—certainly to thrive; need regular up. port, and regularly increasing support ag our wlorions religion udvances, And while we aro embarrassed on tho subject of giving, thore ts hardly a Board of Christian trust which i not ombarrassed on tho subject of recelpts, There is hurdly a church, or mls- slonary sovicty, or temperance union whieh 1s not Inwant of monoy to do its lewitimateor even necessary work, ‘Truster, directors ure every- whero fi perploxity, Thoy labor as_ nowhere else over the lnunees of tho cause of Chriet. It doves not seem ns if it should be go, It dues not seem as ff there should by the need of such various and unsuccessful dovices to milse revenue. Inthe established churches of Europo, a State tnx supports the ordinances of the free Gospel. ‘Twa generations ago, In our Eustern States, It was a purish tux, collected by’ law.” In some churches now it fan society ag- sessmont., In othors it isa sent rental—n price sot aud charged for the privilege of God's house; the privilege of choosing tho best sometime sold. at auction, Some raise thelr revenues by sub- seripuon, the burden usually frlllng ona few. Some churches sceure a fund whose income itt part supports thelr service, Others bulld sons 0 sevtire rent of ball or stares, or even rent the house consecrated to Goi for exhibitions and ontertainmenta to sectire revonue, Aud all of thore expedionts, clso there i3 4 minister of rare drawing populurity, usuatly leave tho church tronaury ahort. Leoturos aro planned, concerts given, tatrs and oyster suppers, apron sales, every imagine able dovico to rigy money,—what for? To foaievaln tho church and cause of God's doar an All sorts of oxpedicnts, and got uniformly a want of funda, till tho fnunees of the Church of Curlst are tho laughing stock of business mon; feeding Intidel banter and unbelleving con- tempt. Itdocs notseemright Itdowsnutseemn, for example, as tf thore should bea call for such doy and suck uses of Gud's house tn raising rovenue ug pln the Christian sense of some of tho bost poaple, : it does uot seom as if churches and Christian souletica should depend tipun the fmpulse which sory crisis, some strong appeal, shall awakon, It doea not som us If we should bo In drend of these appeals, afrald of our impulses, so vom- monty dlasutistled with this whole doportment of our Christan fe, our giving. | It does not oem naif Trustees and Bourds of Management of of our Christian causes should always bo bar passed for menng, Has tho *God of Order” establishet a church, s.causo, In tho world, whose nourishment and Krowth aro finposslble without maturial revenue, and made no pry iitog, for scouring that reve- nue? Hore tone, in tho supreme work of ro- domption, hua the “God of Order" Jeft to human. inotlictuney, method or no incthod, the Eaneloas yital to 18 existence and progresd. Having 0 business aide, did He leave no peingiples for ite Anancink managenen by which It niny avald roprouch at tho burof all business: enpacity? Such questions ag these dave, of Inte, been oxere Claing some of the best business niinds. Aud Hotinveln, Since preaching thig sermon two wouks ayo, & book hug been put In my bands, itied * {low to Pay Chureh Debts, and How to wep Churebes Out of Debt," Tho "Gal of Order" hasnot lett Hts Cuurch and cuuse without mothod of His own approval for thelr support, A Fatbor, He hus not lott His children to be the prey of dissatieraotion: with this practical matter, the religious usu of thelr moves, Wo have a suggestion of God's method tu our toxt. We have often beard and road of “tithos '; buye, ‘perhaps, Known that tho Jow wis ro- ‘julesd to ese one-tenth of all his Income for the support of the ‘Temple survied, wid a soconid tonth for the rollgiuus feast, the distribu tion of tholr ruligion among others (besides tho snimals or hiv aieriicu, aud thy expense of hla roliglous journos 3 itrall, anostinuted third of bis income, And this, ueida from tls free-will altering, to bulktor repair the omplehe Hut, perhaps, wo bave never thought thit here isa principle which inay be of grout servicu to us. Taking fur granted that thi tithesyiving, which had bevome, 4 Phurasalo formatiom, pussod nway with Juda» fain, wo have not even surmised that perhaps {t ontolled tho | yory prins, efplo matter of our ineals Vomaitited by tho Pharisces) which can. solve the inany diticuitios of our Christlanity. We have read, with perbaps never, athougot that it bad any hulpful augees tions’) Jor ua, that Jucab, ray 20 yours before the Mosafe aw, onjulned thihos, mado tenth-giviy the rule of bla Nfe, and was prospered.—and Abrahuin 000 years bofure; that oven Abul und Cain brought olferiugs when they came ta wor- ship, Hat may it not mean something for us that from curtiest times wo fu God's approval of giving tenths? Muy not the case bu stronger ance wo read © tho tithe ta tho Lord'at' | Muay it not be surinualy important since we fnd that Cod cattle withuolding tithos popblug, God," und jet ways of sithos, “those ought yu Wi hive duno"? SMuy there not bo something to pros foundly move us ad we reullzo that thut surpris- tow Divgsiug, for which there shall not be room enough, te conditional ubow bringing tithes, gupou lly whew divastudt of tho tdew thut tharg PR ide lon spiritual meaning to the word tithe in that conncetion? Tithe never mouns but one thing in the Bible—thut of $10, wiges, or prolits, or sulary, ono is tha Lord's, Hut whothor or not this Bible teaeblog takes hold of ts, in Vole wo all buve an dotercet, (ust in thig mutter of the tithes God does give us a principle which enn solyothe diificulties which cluster about tho duty of pecuniary: Biving. The principle 14 this, that of nilour earnings, outof our living, firstof all we abould given stated portion to God fur religious uses, And the reasons for It are theses Pirat—The religious interests of men, of our. solver, tre tho highest, “tore than ment, “tnoro than ralment.” Therefore it ls right.out of uur very Ilving, to provide for theso highest Internsts that ‘This mets the difficulty of the man in debt. Ho hapa right ton living. Tue his religious ine toresta are the firstintercst of life, and ho hos a right to provide for thom tirst of all, italso moots tho aitiiculty of the man who has no ficomo—Is running bebind., Ho Ives, and out of his living may rightly devote firstot nll to religious purposes. Seeond—Anothor renson for the principle 4: ‘Tho Church, tho Sablath-school, the ministry, the institutions nourishing the retigious welfare of mankind, need regular support, as much as a dependent mother. Aud therefore it Is right thit a regular portion should be act apart from our carom. ‘This inecta tho dificulty of those who atray from chureb because they cannot help to sup. Port it. Jtonubles them toe da their sharo for God, ag regularly na for dependent friends. Third—It ts right that he who gives tho power to earn anything should have a first shure of one’s earnings. Recognizing this, brings God Into partnership in_all our toll, vs It gives God an interest Io every day's labor, in every blow of the hammer, every stroke of the pen, every stitch, every Bal. is strikes n blow at that poril the Bible so ominously portrays, to which nllare linbie,— viz: “Covetonaness"'—" tho love of money": ns. itunkes giving, plan and thought of giving, us constant ns recelving. Fourth—It_ makes system and calculation in Medi nh money sacred. It recognizes man as asteward. ° Aud this meota the difficulties with regard to layIngeup—for children.—for old age. By cons Bucrited system one will be more prudent and careful, make tnoncy go further, and buve more fe Here again the question of debt {stelped. A business man writes that “between two men, one of whau declures ho‘ ineans Possibie penny to pay’ on his di . who suya ‘I recognize alt L receive sta comin, from God, and, after setting apart a tenth, 1 will pay ail L ‘can save. any mun of wide ex- venues WIL lend to the last yuickor thin tho i dv not doubt it If nimun was owing mo, T should expeut tho debt discharged sooner If he conscientiously wave a tenth of ail he re celved to God before he patd a cent touny one elso, I should expect be world be more pris dent and careful; would by the systematic bublt make mine-tenths go further, even if suds promiav of specini favor were not ful- tt, It is for lack of system in uso of money that multitudes of youny men and women and fan- {fea ure alwuys In debt—or difficulty. The very habit of once nt weok conscientiously reckoning up one's recelpte, and sacredly setting apart n dotinit percentage, a tenth or more, would be the Hnanclal oulvution of multitudes, Mr. Arthur cites the experience of a business friend In London, of high position and Influence, who when starting {n life, poor, adopted (ue rulo of tonth-giving; that be never knew a man set ting out on that prinelple, and following It, who folted a life. nnn of this city addressed 5,00) let- to pastors and othors, and says bo Ans not learned u case of failure ta {fe of aman who systematically give u tenth, Jt le right to have syatein In giving, Reason tod's word acttles It. ple ix fale thatevery ono should atatenth. The better oif, “according 8 God hath prospered them. Tho prinelpte Is 0 unilier, It will Increase reapect Cor one another to feel that ench ia giving a regular portion, 18 Got hus prospered him. Jt would do away with the unplensautness arising from judging one another in tho matter of giving, WH isa check to vavetousness. It will dissipate the delusion that we are generous when now and then from an incomo of a thousand or more we give niol- lur to famine sulferers,or 25 a your to tission causes, We cnn sco thata tenth is nota lure shure of our income to give the Lard. Huta tenth of 2,000 is 200, "Tho principle would con vert giving into a source of pleasure. It would be a check to Ostravi ances Ww safeguard ayainst. dishonesty In business. It would stralghten out the greatdificuitics of the money question of our lives, But if tuere should be those results to the individuals, what would be the case with the churcties and Chris! Instl- tutions should tho Bible rule of giviug pre- val Why! A careful estimate by, scale of living and known income shows that if tho inembers of this church and: conyregntion ahuuld uy formly: give 5 per cent of sulary, wayes, cou mission, business profita, Nving Income, $5,000 sroullt io anguaily pluced at tho disposalof this ebureh, Five per cent! A twentieth of aur onrnlngs geeins Not too such for an institution whieh dovs 60 much for us, uur families, our property, good order, und upbuilding ebarncter tor God and iniinoreaticr. Yet it would meet our pres- ent expenses, with no deficlency, or perplexity, or special subscription, besides enabling us to put into the Held much-needed.tomperunce and ghurch workers; while 10 per cont, thu approved Serfpture rule, would yiold £10,000, And would 8 tenth, what the Jew gave for his templo worship, boexcessive for tho Christian Church? Indications are butng scen that there ia 4 call for our churches pinoning, giving, und working: on a écale hithorte unknown, Tho facts brought out by Mr. Little three. weeks ayo suggest in appailing mass of beathonlem in thiselty. Tho Superintendent of 4 neighboring Germun Sub- bath-sehool says that u recent canvass shows that four-fifths of the Germuns are not attend- ing church. How many more are there [n our churches this year, when the population of this ward 1823.00) moro thin ten years ugo, when 1t was 7.0W, And, with God's tenth for this church, what might we do toward discharging our obligation to those thousands of church neglectersand the fnterosts they threaten; in providing the best supplies for this vital Sav- nuth-dehoul work, an wdequnte, pouerous I+ brary,—books of reference, Bible helps for the teucher, maps of countries, the Stute, the city,— cuubling us to seo What Christians of this auon must do for Chicago. for Tillnols, for America, for Franco, und China, and the world? With an income of $10,000, what workers wo could put iuto the flo, open now mission schools and centres of Christian influence, We might have a powerful auxiillury to the church, it hospital with trained uuracs, angels of mo: oy with menns to minister to the sick and por anngency which Christ and the Apostics ever put foremost, und found potent in disposing peos ple forthe Gospel. With such an lucome wo could meet Romanian, where we canoot without the meang and workers we now luck. ‘Tho work this church might do ina year with a revenue of one-tenth of tho Incomes of its members would bo astonishing. And what, on the sume scuie, could ail the churches and nll tho missionary souloties accomplish? low would the agonclea tor disseminating the Uight multi- ply? De. Morgan anya that some such change ng was offectei In scicnce by the discovery of yrav- Atation, or in mechanics by that of ateam, would effected In the powers of tho Church, It would be but tho fulfilment of tho promlaa that tho windows of Heaven should be opencd, And how is thig to come to our obristlinity, to tho Church? Not of Itaolf, Not to Christians in tho mass, But by the action of tho Individual Christian. Though the possibilities are xo apand, tho prinelple so right and helpful, it will umount to nothing unless porsonally adopted. “It will cost struggles. When you eoine down tu It, take it to be your own mutter, to reanivo that, with tho boginning of the new yenr, you will dedleato the tlrattenth of all your curings to the sup. port of God's work here, and, if you will not be chin the Jow, sot apart a second tonth for inlaslonary, temperance, Cheisthin assoulutions, and othor causes, You draw buck, say you cun= not do it and moet yourexpenses,—that you willrun bohind. So L'felt once. But whenes comes the word, * Brliy be tithes inte the storehouse"? Itia Go Your Father's ohullonge, He says: “Do it. Dedicate tho tithos, and prave Me if 1 will not pour you out 1 Dlesainy thut you shall not have roaul enough toreceive it.” try it" fora year, “Try tt" ig the Import of the Verve, and sce whether Gud will lot you auffer, Thaye tried it, at the cost, to begin with, of ono of tha sevorest struggles of fife, Take n day of fusting and prayer before hourtily cone we tott Hut if © could tell: you bow over wheltningly God bas tulfiled hls part? Had 1 tho car of every young man, overy young woman, every boy, every girl, overy Adult, all who handle money or own anythtiug, 2 coutd not bring you a subject frauuht with more pructical butielits, more comfort, nore Hfe-long Joy, than this making it rute af your: We tose adelinit porceutayo of your tugume 0 Ge The money question {s tho great question of our life, Our thought, ourenersy, oie vitality: £2, forit. It stands botweon us and our tiving, wtweon us and plousure and comfort, t of things wo deairy, And If we can get aire selves right in tho matter of money, cin tise it #8 God Would buve us, what evils we shall nyold. Hy consccrating & regulac portion ty God, wo shall find we take Hitn into partnerditp in suck a way that we can realize It, We will find tt foes tng into partnership with God. Our tyes will be toned up at avary point, Ourhomes will buve a Renwrous atmosphore, hy tragrauce of the Wuburtorsbox.” One lives wil have a generous, wibligeouted spirit, and a bonediction tur every ong, Monyy stands between our Gospel and the worid his to lift up. Consceration of adegunte means involves consecration of tives, of fulth, of spirit agencios, With tho genaral adop- tion by Christians of Hiblo peel ples‘in the nse of money, how would Christinn ty aweon Ue world? Porsonanly anuy we bo on God's ground: may we do our part toward securing tho opénting of the windowaot Hea ven and the pour- ing out of that blessing whloh there shull nut be rouin chougls ta roculve,’ Ussks, Reward, Wowll payton charitable juatitution $1) casa ofan Taeutint Hlarola that cin ioe Kotation |S the, BAe A, oa anna rou mh as bata ES in ite hina DAlrLinis HUMAN esta Pa =f DR. PARKER, the pateuteu, bas i w sears 6 perience, the last yuare with Marine Hospltal, Ar Bye avy, wad Ponslonun, the Goverouvat having {Spied Gur appliaucs 86 tie bostio uae (Casus that can be cured wo nevor fail to cure, SEAMLESS TEL ELASTIC STOCKINGS, Putcatcd Murch #6. 1576, Inbehalf of the Anite Clab I take pleasure in ans hovincing the compleven ntrangements for the an= tt CURISTH AN TOLIDAY reeaneataone WEEK MESSIAH To-morrow Evening, Nee. 24 when the full chores ofthe Tresda: Ni elit. Wn. 1, Tomlins, Conductor” WII be naristed by Miss Annie B. Norton, Soprano, Miss Emma Cranch, Contralto, Dr. (. 1. Barnes, Tenor, Mr. Alfred Hill, Bags, HU. Clarence Eddy, Organist, AND A FULL ORCHESTRA, Completing an army of musical talent which will Ins surea Grand Mollduy Feattynt porformanco of this nobis Oratoriv. ‘The most popular pricesever offered here for adeh 8 Grand Concert will enable all who desire to be prea- ent, the price of tlckeia, Including reserved seats, bo- Ing only 40, 75, #1, according ta location, GEO, BK CARPENTER, Manager. CENTRAL MUSIC-HALL. 1 tako pleanure tn announcing tho complet rangements for the appearance uf the blokes ey TROUPE wit MARVELOUSLY sane HORSES, On Thursday and Fritny evenings, Dec. Mand a, and Saturday titernoun and eveulnkedan. fin We CENTRAL MUSIC-HALL, ‘Tho sale of Sente for these novel and exciting en- tortninmentn will 1 Monday morning, Due. 2, atthe Hox Otic rved suatn being auld at Gen. rag ter Loe eye Os hy CARPENTER, Manager. MWYICKER’S THEATRE, Bernharit Season!. SALE OF SEASON. SEATS Will commence Monday, Dec. 27, At Wa, m,, and continug till4 p.m. Munday, Tuesday, ‘and Wodnesday, at ROOT & SON'S MUSIC STORE, .° 18 Htato-st. Sonsin eats, RH, KO, Ft, and $12, ac6 cording to Iocution, Vrivate Box, 80), ‘The season will eonsist of twelye perforwances, five nithte each: anid Saturday Mntinee, ‘The irtulre wit) bes “10 phinx,” nnd Frouek rou.” “Adrionng, re. * Conley” "Le Pussant.” NO SALE OF SEATS FOR SINGLE NIGHTS will take place tit! Thursday, Dee. 30, at? aan. GRAND OPERA-IOUSE, Clurk-at., opposite new Court-House. ‘The Greatest of All Huliday Hille! Commencing with a Grand Ualn Atatince this Mons day afternuon, Dee. 2, and continulng avery ulter- noon and night througtiout the week, 1L C. Jarrutt’s European Spectacular Upera, CINDERELLA, With all Original Music, Powerful Vocal Cast, Chorus, Muxniticent Ikitieh Guryeous Conunic sploudent keenurs, aud Brilliant Paraphernalia. Golden Fairy Charlot! Fairy Pontes t Kememibor tho Holiday slatinees every’aftemoon. ein tho sehnot-ehidrunl “ho andy evey, comtort- cunnt theatre tthe ely: < SINEILICOK TILE CORINNE MEVERY-MARERS, NexuweukTiLe Con NEW ACADEMY OF MUSIC, Saree, Mala nestoly Propristor. Every Evening and Matineos this wook, GARDELLO and VICTORELLI, POLLY DALY, PARKER Swters, PRED LEVANTINE, FIELDS and LESLIE, SAM DEARIN, MURPHY and MURRAY, in specialties, ca W. DARRY, Supported by the Htock Company, In tho Drama, “ESCAPED FROM SING SING.” Adwisston, 18,265, and 30 cunts. HAVERLY’S THEATRE, 3.1 HAVERL Manaxer aud Proprietor THE NEW YEAR TREAT! Toemluht, Wednenday und Saturday Matinecs, ‘The exhilarating and publledrawing attruction of Mirth und Melody, THE NEW EVANGELINE! Glorlowsly Mlustented by Rice's New Extravaganza Combloation. CIAL Haverty's ZeTAt Muvorly‘at WVICKEIUS THEATRE, ‘e TAS OF 5 THE GREAT AND ONLY HERRMANN! European Specinity, Company. ENTIRE ANG ly et OG: AMME. AQ The Wa Merrmann's (ui Siturday, Ged XL WwoUk—SL nid cunesday. Now Vi Mnitieo. OOH GHANGER in TWO NIGHTS THE. habottys unable to gain " Mundreds Turned Away ails Monday, Dee, 37, Evory Ei hb Saturday Touat Week of the Gre Fun. on the Bristol! Hecelved nightly with roara of Inuahter and applause. Monduy, dnu.3—Nat tinvdwin's Froliques Comblnas ton in HOU: SPRAGUIS OLYMPIC THEATRE, neat Monday, Nucsday, Word HA MAN OF TE PROPLE Thuriday, Meiday, Saturday, and Bus Aveda urday ond Sud CES Wad US1— Manta nuing anit Wedoesdey and Malinees, i Nieceer, Jarrett and . “ Monday. Jan. GOLD MEDAL, PAnis, 1878 GERMAN SIWERT CHOCOLATE. The most popular swoat Chocolate inthomearket, Lt ig nutritious and palatable; ry particular, favorite with childron, and a most excol~ lent article for family use, The genuine te stamped Se Germun, Dorchester, Massy Beware of initations, —* Bold by Grocers orerywberq, W. BAKER & CO. Dorcheater, Mas as db Nuositevat. ist,—The follow! EAR tN ea yeu, cot casuuunt uf twenty por gent uno thy, subseripions for tho sew "Cephal Riuck of this, Company (authorized by thi Special Blockholdurs’ Muvting of Uct. be and tha auuiu le hureby ordvcud payable Jan, dy jst. at tho Company's alice in New York. wkholdura ure reylustad to present of wall Wet puters pili Sore cals with shots, Phects, Inorcer on eee aT OIA Wilt Le DENNNYLVANIA MILITARY ACADEMY, Cll bite ter, Pa; ciytl eogtuvoring, chemistry, cl ity rey tuteunrrs eT eee i