NEW YEAR SERMON.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 5, 7 January 1899, Page 6 (Supplement)

NEW YEAR SERMON.

(By - the late Canon Bates.)

The grace of our Lord JesUs Christ be with you all. Amen.—Rev. xxii. 21. ... _

These are the closing words; of the Bible —its parting blessing or prayer. The Bible sends us on our way with the thought of Christ, and of the grace of Christ fresh in our minds. "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all." Cheering, hopeful, strengthening words these — words that we greatly need to have stamped into our minds and hearts, that they may stay with us in the wear and tear of this struggling life. There can "be no mistaking the tone of the New Testament in speaking of Christ and of the grace of Christ. It consistently speaks of them as realities. No hint of uncertainty on this point can be detected by the most searching analysis of Holy Scripture. Christ is a real living person, and His grace area.l active force, if I may use this word. Let us start with this idea firmly rooted in our minds. But, granting this fact, it may very properly be asked, how Christ can influence and help .is in this age, and in our circumstances. What is He to us, and what are we to Him? Some suitable answer to these questions may reasonably and fairly be expected. The full answer can hardly be put into words; it is rather to be sought in experience of the Christian life. Still, a few thoughts are awakened in the mind by these questions, and it may be well to give them expression. One of the many great conceptions which mark our generation is that of the dependence of man on man. Alan's despendence on nature has now passed into a commonplace. But we are learning by the help of many teachers the extent and the a.vthority of the dominion which the dead exercise over us, and we ourselves are shaping for . our descendants. "I- hold it truth," says the poet, "with him who sings to one clear harp in divers tones, that men may rise on stepping stones of their dead selves to higher things." Influences from the past are'forever entering our souls, and we, in our turn, are scattering abroad that which will be fruitful in the distant futureIt is becoming clear to us that we are literally parts of othetrs, and they of us. No true Word is spoken by us, no right act performed by us, but will bear good fruit in the future. "My word shall not return to me void," is the assurance of Holy Scripture. TCo-sv, if this lxe> so in reference to mere human beings, what shall we say of Him. in whom all excellence finds a perfect embodiment? The character of Christ, and that alone, adequately represents to us the moral character of God. In Him we. see perfect wisdom, perfect sacrifice, perfect love, perfect truth. Surely this perfection has borne, and does bear, fruit in human lives. It is a fact, attested by an immense amount of human experience, that Christ lives in His faithful followers. We discern the signs of His presence in all who show His gifts. The grace of Christ still abides with His people, and is mighty against evil. We see in Him simple human love in its greatest tenderness. This loving- kindness is one part of the grace of Christ, Was it not a power during His earthly life? Can it be denied that it led men so different as Peter and John and James were to love one another, and bound

Christ's personal followers together tyl a love that death could not quench* I llt did this, and far more than t_& I 119 centuries ago, and it has not'j-3 j lost the dew of its youth. The loving kindness of Christ is still a migfiS power in the world; and men still pray. "Let that mighty power bea^ in life; may the grace of the 1^ Jesus'be with me." And when % 9 pray thus what is it we ask? Weaslq simply that Christ would call forth. strengthen, and ennoble all that -»8 know is beautiful in our nature, aafl most likely to commend us to oinj brethren. *This is something woflif living for in this New Year. There jg also, so to speak, a charm in Chrfe^ arising in part from tbe harmony o jj: His character, and the perfect agrfi^, ment of all the qualities and poweta of His nature. His sensitiveness 6{ feeling was one of the ways in which ' thi._ harmony showed itself. In tha case of Peter, for example, who had) sinned by a threefold treacheiy. Christ saw deep down in his erring disciple's heart some remains of goQa« ness, some motions towards repent, ance, so He but turned and lookedj upon Peter. And, even as He hung, upon the Cross, He provided for friend and Apostle S. John a mother, and for His mother a son. But noj}: only in the words of Christ are irj conscious of His charm, we feel iiiijL His words. In directness, in temper-/ ance, in wisdom, there is nothing which matches the parables of Christ. The parable of the prodigal son is thought to be the very gem of ill literature. Consider such sayings as/i these. "Consider the lilies of the field! how they grow; they toil not neither do tbey "spin; and yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory w&s; not arrayed like one of these," on "Come unto me ye that labour and ara heavy laden and I will gi\e you rest.'' The charm of these sayings and others like them is simply perfect. We cannot define to ourselves in what the chart* consists; we can only feel it, Wa might go on to speak of the manliness of Christ; His calm, unflinching courage. His sympathy for suffering/ sinful man. Harsh and disagreeable! tasks never deterred Him. He soughf out the diseased, the wretched, tha. stained with sin. Among them Ha moved, for them He worked; yet nothing1 which was false, or impure, otl unjust did He wink at or leave un-. rebuked. This is but a rough, imperfect estimate of the matchlesa grace of Christ—that grace so guarded, so complete. Let us pray that ii may be with us this New Year. It will bless our lices and make us a. blessing. It will make us active sympathisers with all that is good in human loving kindness. It will make na at one with moral good, just, and true, and pure. It will link all that is of. "good report" among men to the love, of God, and to God's love for all men, and thus complete human morality, If this be accomplished in any degreeis us during the present year, it will go far/ to make men feel and acknowledge what has been happily called the sWeeti reasonableness of the religion o_ Christ, We look back to-day on thaL year which has just passed away. Ifi may have been to many of us a happy) year. For this happiness let us thank "God, and cherish the memory of i V/ and link it on to the grace of Christ. To some, no doubt, if not to all, a_ year-of trial. Death has been among us, and removed from our sight L friends and neighbours. Some homes have thus had their sorrows, som<_|:|| lives have, thus been darkened. To aM who mourn the grace of Christ comes,, and, let us hope, is welcomed and received. Its tender, mighty influenCM will raise the mourner out of gTie^S and will give the power to lead a. * higher life. Let us all throw ourselves into' union with the grace of? Christ, and seek the blessedness of a, life with Him. ■_. (To be Continued.) r\ ••-;- V- «"•'..- • : '' Preacehd in the Holy Trinity Church? Devonport.