A SURVEY OF THE FIELD OF BENEVOLENT LABOR: A SERMON, Delivered to Young Men on New Year's Evening, 1857. "There remaineth yet very much land to be possessed." There is the sublime in the moral, as well as in the natural world-sublimity of thought as well as sublimity of noble deeds. Who can look upon the gathering tempest-see the vivid lightnings play as they shoot athwart the blackening heavens-listen to the hoarse murmur of the deeptoned voice of the Almighty-and when the gathering storm spreads out its dark pinions to sweep along, burying alike the forest and the cultivated fields in the deep shades of night-who, I say, can look upon warring elements like these, and not drink in the full emotions of the sublime? Who can stand upon some safe, but high pedestal and witness contending armies in the fields of death below him, see the flashes of musketry, and the cannon's more vivid light, amid the dense volumes of ascending smoke, hear the clash of arms mingling with the groans of the wounded and the dying, the trampling of the furious war-horse, and the bellowing of the heavy artillery-the furious charge and the shouts of victory or death-who, I say, can witness all of this, and not feel the full power of the sublime? Who can stand upon the deck of some well-manned ship, amid the mighty waste of waters around him, while the sea-fowl sails aloft, the sails hang loosely down, the wind hushed, and the waves still, and all around serene as a summer's evening--and then cast his eye along the line of the distant horizon, and see the dark and portentous clouds rapidly rolling up in thick and heavy volumes, skirted and crowned with livid sheets of fire, then let him listen to the low, but hurried commands of the officers, the quick and rapid movements of the sailor-who, I say, can witness this, and not feel the high and almost overpowering emotions of the sublime? Who can ascend the mountain of holiness, and in cloudless and prophetic vision, witness the rapid evolutions and movements of the sacremental hosts of the redeemed of the Lord, all marshalled and equipped for the last conflict, and see their banners streaming over the long line and the gathering hosts, and not drink in the pure sublime? There is, then, emotions of the sublime in morals, as well as in the works of nature, or the physical energies of man. But it is to the morally sublime in the great and magnanimous enterprises of man, in this latter day, that I wish to invite the attention of all young men of this city this evening. And permit me here to congratulate you, that you are permitted to commence another year, under circumstances so peculiarly favorable, and in the delightful anticipation of the same kind and munificent mercies-permit me to wish you a "HAPPY NEW-YEAR." Though you are now in health and hope; and comforts smile around you, yet, alas! against some of your names it may be written, "This year thou shalt die." And for others of us, the blessed Saviour may now be interceding, saying, "Spare them this year also." But how changed the scene with some of you, since the last new-year's day. The bosom that was then rent with anguish and sorrow, has now become calm and tranquil. Some, who were then dreaming of happiness and long life, have, alas! disappeared from among us for ever; and not a few present, who were then without hope and without God in the world, are now rejoicing in hope of a glorious immortality beyond the grave. And, O, it is my constant desire, my ardent prayer, that the blessed God may make many of you heirs with his dear Son, before the close of this present year, to the transcendant blessedness of the heavenly felicity. "There remaineth yet very much land," &c. These are the words of the Lord to Joshua, admonishing him that he was now an old man, and must soon be gathered to his fathers. It is thought he was at that time not less than one hundred years old. He had been a warrior from his youth up, and renowned for his military prowess and zeal. Joshua and Caleb were the only two then living, of all that came out of Egypt. Joshua, with the infirmities of old age upon him, could do but little more in the field of conquest; and yet there was much more land to be subdued. But it was left for the young to accomplish. God had, amid signs and wonders, with a high and mighty hand, brought out of Egypt his ancient people, the Jews, and by a wise decree, he determined they should wander forty years in the wilderness, until all the old and idolatrous men should die, and thus be prevented from corrupting the youth. God gave the Jews all the land of Canaan for B |