The New York Herald Newspaper, January 9, 1871, Page 6

~ RELIGIOUS. Pulpit Lessons on the Finding in the Temple. ‘Tho Neglect of Sinners to Abandon Evil—The Goodness and Love of Christ—The Privi- lege, Neglect and Doom of Capernaum, Sermons Yesterday in the Metropo- lis and Elsewhere. The Israelite’s Prosperity and Adversity. Discourses by Rey. Dr. Armitage, Dr. Pot- ter, Messrs, Dunne and Carpenter, Rev. Fathers Wayrich, Pratt and Others. Yesterday was the first really wintry Sunday of ‘the season, and the result was that the churches were rather thinly attended. The sermons secined wo partake of the duiness of the day, but certaialy not of the stormy character of the weather. Those which were of more than ordinary interest will be found tn the following condensed reports. TRINITY CHURCH, The Fate of Capernaum—A-Serm Rev. Mr. Duane. In spite of the bitterly. cold weather with which yesterday morning opened, and in spite also of the threatening promise of storm held out bv the dull, leaden sky that hung overhead, the chimes of Trinity church drew within its beautifal walls & very fair congregation. After the usual exercises of the Episcopal Church had concluded the Rev. Mr. Duane, of Canada, ascended the pulpit and preached an eloquent discourse on the fate of Capernaum, naturally taking as his text eur Lord’s prophecy in regard to the coming ruin of that ill-faied city. He said it was not often that Jesus syoke im accents of STERN WRATH AND UPBRAIDING, and we might well believe that He never uttered one unnecessary harsh word. There were three by the points for consideration in the subject he had taken—the privileges, the neglect and the doom of Capernanm—but, for the sake of brevity, be would enlarge only upon the first and the last. or al the cities of Palestine none was in respect of rehgious privileges more exaited than Capernaum—not even Bethlehem, Nazareth or Jerusalem—for it was spoken of by Jesus as emphatically His own" city, For the three most eventful years of our Lord’s life He made it His home. Either within or jast outside its gates miracie followed miracle im rapid succes. sion. Bodiiy diseases, sickness, blindness, palsy, even death fled uffrigiited at the coming of the Lord of Life, while the very Waves that wasued its port had beep made the velicie for a new display of power and murmured their tribute to His divinity. Favored Capernaum, indeed nonored for three years us the abode of GOD MANIFEST IN THE FLESH. It was, then, no wonder that over this Hits adopted home the heart the Saviour should warm with deepest emotion, And was it a far-fetched comparison if we saw tm the privileges enjoyed by this city of Gen- mesareti a refiection of our owny What the region of Gennesareth was among the Hebrews—a region im the shadow of death—this beautiful American land was some centuries ago to the Vid Worid—a land of savage barbarisin aud superstition, and to Us, 18 Lo Laem, Who once sat in darkness, light had sprung up. I we cast our eyes over the map of the habliable earth it is impossibie to mark a nation any Where in THE TWO HEMISPHERES more favored with wuth than ours. He spoke not of our worldly prosperity, national glory or enter- prise, our science, our arts, our commerce, our 1n- stitutions; though regarding these in their place we have reason for honest piide. But He spoke of our spiritual privileges, which might well be praised as ap American’s noblest birthright—the security and the preserver of the rest. Looking to other coun- tries, on which the Sun of Heaven shine as brigitiy @s on our own—sucn as India, Africa or [taly—we could realize What a blessing it was to turn from the sickening spectacle ol a benighted world and a BENIGHTED CHRISTENDOM, and gaze upon your own land, where every fetter had been struck from the limbs of thought and acuion—a land shining like another Pharos—a spirit- ual lighthouse in the nidst 0: darkness. It must be neted, also, that our Lord referred to no mere tem- poral judgment when He spoke of Caperaaum’s ruin. Sodom was already destroyed, and it was to @ fuiure eomparative judgment afier death that He must have reterred. And now, in conclusion, said Mr. Duane, I would remind you that in that impressive parable of our Lord describing the condition and the torments of the lostone ef the saddest erements in THE FATE OF DIVES is invoived im the reply of Abraham, beginning “Remember."’ Capernaum, remember! Memovers o! the Church of God, remember! The water of baptism sprinkled on your brow In infant years is an outward sign that at last you have been inade a member of the Church of God. Remember, you have been signed with the sign of the cross, in token that in after years you should not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ and muniuily to fight under his banner. REMEMBER that you nave promised to raise your voice and use your handsia the Gefence of the solemn truths of Fehgion. Remember that, in your parish church, the holy communion has been administered, taat prayers were offered trough Jesus Curist, the only mediator between God and man, and ‘that the ordinance of Christ were passed before you as the only sacrament by which We can enter heaven. And, remember now thy C:caier, in the days or thy pile grimage and youth, aud in ail thy thoughts ac- Knowledge iin and He sliall direct iny pats. 8T. MICHAEL‘ ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. A Gorgeous Tempie—sermon by the Rev. Heory Prati‘ of Sinners to Aban- don the Devil an ura to reed Suge gestion by the Pastor—Rell ELmbiems and Christian Words—Devotional Flugs to the Breez: pas Among the many temples of Catholic worship in this city there are but few so splenaidiy surrounded with ail the gorgeous ornamental accessories to reh- gious service as is the Churen of St. Michael, in Ninth avenue, Tairiy-first and Thirty-second streets, ‘The church extends the entire length of the block between Thirty-first and Tuirty-second streets, and 4s at present undergoing some repairs, but these do not ihterjere with the service or mar the rich ap- pearance of the ornamentation of the interior. The walls above the gallery are hung wiih pic- dures illustrating Scriptural subjects, some of them being very costly, aud, as works of art, of the nest description. The gallery railing is panelied ali around with devotional pictures, set in rich frames, while the altar itself is decorated sumptuously with all those designs commonly used in beautifying the sanctuaries of Catholic churches, and is enclosed above with three large pictures of rare excellence and beauty. High mass was yesterday morning at half-past six o’clock celebrated by the pastor of the cburch, the Bev. Ariiur J. Donnelly, the music being from Rossini. The chureh is so large that the music falls upon the ear as if it came from a dis- tance, and by te constant, sofi, solemn ioues, Which Mil the bouse in every part, and are heard hike A SWEET, WHISPERING SOUND of prayerful meaning, inust have much todo in ex- citing we religions feeliug of worshippers.@ The choir consists of Miss Mary O'Ne.ll, soprano; Miss Mary >mith and Miss A. Stuith, contraitos; Messrs. see and J. C, Covnoily, tenors, aud Mr. Simon Walker, basso, under the direction oc Mr. Ca} ua, the orgavist. After the ere the Kev, Henry Pratt as- cenéed the altar, and, having read the second cuap- ter of the Gospel of St. Luke, which was the gospel of the day, proceeded to explain its meaning. Wnen Jesus Was tweive years vid i418 parents lost Him, and, alter an absence of three days, found Him ip the temple at serusalem disputing among the doctors. It was the custom at that ume on the occasion of a great festival to visit the temple at Jerusalem. make the journey 10 each other's company, and tne children weat with either father or mother as cir- cumstances suggested. It was in Unis way that Jesus Was lost, Mary thinking that Joseph had taken aim, wie Joseph believed that Jesus had gone with | hig mother. ihe jessoa tanght to Christians by this oveurrence jn the lite of the Saviour was weil worth | carefully heeding. Man by sin loses God. but hav- dng lost Hun, does he seek after Him till he finas Hin ¢ ‘This neglect of seeking for God concerns every Christian who hae sinned. In worldly aifairs men are solicitous about what the’ pss or What they rave ost Esau, whey he heard dus father bless NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 1871. ie was Jacob, and knew therefore that bis birth Jost, roared 1 son out in desperation. The p ‘was wept ever because he had SPMNT ALL HIS INHERITANCE. ‘The shepherd jeaves the ninety and mine aad follows the ane that 18 lost, The woman in the Gospel, be- cause she Aad lost @ mite, never rested Ui she had recovered it, The sacred pages give many examples of the natura: fecilag of weeping for what is lost. But while all possess this feeling, should not all equaliy so sorrow when they have lostGod? With the ligt of faith gone how is salvation to be worked out? But without supposing that any one is foolish enough to mean never to seek God, how does it happen that men continue to live on in sin? reasen 18 that they are always put- ting of to some future time the care of their souls. They do not to mean die im sins buc whey mean to live im sia. Death, they forget, comes like a@ thief, and they suppose that when at last they ask for the help they so often refused that God is Dound to give it. It is hke the conduct of the gambler, whe, though losing con- sianuy, 13 ready vo increase lis risk, Novhing 18 more true than that “As you have lived, so shall you die,’”’ Tbe secoud reason why men neglect Beek God 1s because they make a god ef their money and worldly possessions. ‘ihe most beautiful works of the Supreme Being, nature dispiayed in her choicest and tairest forms, scenes so lovely that they seem Created to invite an acknowledgment of their Creator, never MOVE THE WORLDLY MIND except to make It more woridly still, The posses- s10n Of all the wealth inthe worid cannot cure the sick nan of an hour’s pain or keep him one heur longer In the wor.d he worships. Tue prophet said, “Seek ye ibe Lord while He may be found,” The Saviour said, **Ye shail seex me and ye shall not find me;” aud again, “Ye shall seek me and ye shail die in your sins,’ This story of Mary peng. her son, without any fault of hers, and finding timin the tomple, shows in the example of the dingent search she inade for him, in the anxieties and Nan hy Joys which again finding Jeans typify that consolation and happiness which the sluner recetves from the sacrament of the Church. Before the Rev. Father Donnelly resumed the mass he read a brief address to the congregation concern- ing the advisability of putting fMagstams on the turrets of the new school house and procuring ban- ners bearing mottecs of @ patriotic or religious characier, He wished it to be unders ood tat he took upon himself the responsibility of this idea, and the congregation were lo say Whether or not it should be carried mto efiect. He thought it would be a commendable thing to HANG OUT THEIR BANNERS on such a day as Friday last, bearing words which would remind the passer-by of that star that led the wise men to the criv of Bethlehem and of the iwiant Saviour they came to adore. Few weuld object, on the celebration of Si, Patrick's Day, to see an appropriate flag floating in the March air irom the turrets of a schovlhouse raised by so many of those who ever deiigat to nonor that great festuval; and he Would like to think that on the 25'h of March, the Feast of the Annunciation, away up along the river and around in their own crowded locality there vould be read by thousands in the manuer he pro- posed the beauuiiul words, “HAIL, FULL OF GRACE." Other festival days, religious and patriotic, so fre- quently occur that there would be a sufficient Variety of them to make the plan, if adopted, ex- tremely interesting. the fands of the cauren, how- ever, Could not ve used for such a purpose, and, to test Lhe opinion of tue parishioners in regard to the matter, he proposed to ask them when the coilection Would be Wiken np that day and next Sunday to ada whatever lore than usual they wisued to give jor the purchase of the flags, und any money more than che ordinary collection received would be de- voted to thar ovject. He thought if flags bearing patriotic emblems were caiculated to excite patrios- sui that flags bearing religious emblems ought to aid im promoting religion. In Catholic ceuntries flags and banacrs were carried in procession through the streets; but though, of course, that could not be done here, a simular eifect would be likely to follow, thougi in a jess degree, from the customs he desired to introdace, ‘The schoolnonse alluded to by the Rev. Mr. Don- nelly is one of the finest buildings Of the sort.in this cuy. The vurrets can be seen for several miles around. it will accommodate 1,500 children when compieted. It has been a long ume in course of erectiou, but it 13 to be fished 1 Sepiember next. ‘The nuwber of children now attending the parochial Schoo! OF Uns charch 13 400, ALLEN SIREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. Discourse by Presiding Elder Hart F. Pease— The Israclite’s Prosperity anc Adversity— The Bounty of God’s Works—His Un- adaptability. The services at the Methodist Episcopa} Church in Allen street, over which Rev. Wilham McAllister exercises spiritual guardianship, were yesterday morning of the usual impressive character. They were conducted by Rev. Hart F. Pease, the presid- ing eller of the district, After prayer, and the sing- ing of the hymn commencing Father of Heaven, whose love profound, ‘A ransom for our souls both found, the preacher took for the subject of his discourse Judges, vii., 2-3—‘And the Lord said unto Gideon, the people that are with thee are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against Me, saying mine own hand hath saveth Me, Now, therefore, ge to pro- The men and women did not | cist in the ears of the people, saying, whosoever is tearful and afraid let him return and depart early from Mount Gilead, And there returned of the peopie twenty and two thousand, and there re- mained ten thousand.” The history of the nation and people of Israel, the minister said, is the most interesting histery extant. Init DIVINE PROVIDENCE ILLUSTRATES in @ most beautiful manner the fundamental principle of divine government. No one can read it carefully without being deeply impressed. It presents tne nation of Israel in diternate abasement and grandeur, according to their obedience to the precepts of God or their disregard of the comimanus oi a Supreme Being. it is the direct interpretation of the Divine hand, At one time we see the nation enjoying great prosperity and the surrounding nations standing in awe of It. Look agam, aud the whole svene is changed. The clarion of war, the din of batuie are heard, Whe the nation is chained w the wheel and DRAGGED IN VASSALAGE. The land had been for seven years under Midlani- lish oppression, aud the Israelites sougut tie caves and mountains from which to escape teir foes. In their wibulation they called upon God to send them succor, aud ile sent them an angel who appeared to @ young man Of Do distinciion to show hun that le was A MIGHTY MAN OF VALOR 4 who was to deliver his people from the foe that be- set them. 1t had never entered Gideon's mind that Le Was Valorous, but when he had brought a kid and jaid it upon the rock, and the angel smote the rock apd fire issued forth to consume wis oferimg, be beueved im the words of the angel and ed the mission. God gave Gideou a to Kuow who of the warriors to select. Ti Who of Cuming to the stream of water fell do upon their knees and drank were to be seut back, While tiose who lapped the water up in their palms and drank were ty be chosen. 1 GIDEON CHING THEM until only three hundred stood the test of valor, and then he led them against the hosis of the enemy. He had, he said, seiecied this subject for the moral lesson tt teaches us, It is that our Lord 13 a jealous God, that uo man can appropriate to himself tue glory tiat belongs to the vivine Being. Jeaiousy in tne Diviae Leng 1s DOL a passion; it 18 @ principle with Bim to watch THE POINT OF THE DIVINE HONOR and giory, Heis the une God supreme. In all He bas done for nature He has taken care to show His works. Everything He has done in nature He has taken care to leave the imprint of His own finger upon. Man may attempt to imitate the Divme work, bui he has never been abie to doit. The | more we nify te works of God the more beaut ful they appear, while those of man under the mi- croscope become less beautiful the more they are scanned. This is the method of Providence to mag- nify His own glory. God does everything by un- adapted means. In this case he sent the three hun- dred men upen an errand of warfare without arms. Just as he delivered them then by unadapted means He delivered them from the Red Sea. They smote the water with a rod, but tmis had no adaptation in it, Man would have attempted to bridge the gulf. He works different from man in all things to show BIS OWN DIVINE POWER. So it was when the Israelites were famished. They struck the rock and Water flowed. Man wouid have vored into the rock. The breaking down of the walls of Jericho 1s another instance of God’s work by unadapted meaus that we may see HIS UWN ARM UNCOVERED that the glory belon; to God cannot be appropri- ated by man, So it is in the ordinance of the sacra- ment. There 1s no adaptation to bring about the result that 1s produced. Some believe that a little sip of wine and @ parucle of bread have no virtue, and they (iscard the means that God has provide agasource of grace. You may take the ordinance of bapusin. [ cau see no adaptytion init. The de- sign 13 the induence on the soul. It indicates the necessity of PURIFYING THE HEART and cleansing from sin. Jt shows that God works by unidaptation. So with preaching. There is no adaptation 1u preacning. I can ilustrate this no better than by supposing there is held a great poli- tical meeting. The speakers adapt their remarks to their hearers, and you witl hear them saying ‘You | are the noble sons of worthy sires; we want you to come and vote for our candidate.” No matter if their hearers be ihe riff-raif of society, their whole aadress is in praise of the audience, to get their support. There is adaptation, Does God adapt Nunself thas to his creatures? No; he says, from the crown of your head to the soles of your feet you are covered with bruises and sores. YOU MUST REPENT or yon will be Jost forever. God uses means without respect lo purposes, as He did when He seat Gideon forth with Unree hundred men agatust the Midiauiies. Cue muh Wild God op big side is enough to put to means we must adapt means; but when He provides means we must only carry out His will, * Tae means a by God to glorily are arbitrary. He a8 GIVEN US THE PRESORIPTION, ‘as He did the Egyptian captain who had the leprosy, and it 1s ours to obey, that all the glory shall be given to Himself, where it belongs. Let us use the saoena given in the Divine prescription, and God will show that He can work for our welfare, spiritually and temporally. » ST. BR'DGET’S RONAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. Solemn Mass of Father Mooney—Sermon by Father Meister. ‘The fine old church of St. Bridget can boast of as large and respectable a congregation on Sundays as churches in more aristocratic quarters of te city. There is @charm about the time-honored, famiuar name of its patron saint that fills the nearts of the Irish congregation with zealous love for tnis old edifice, in whieh the memory of her upon whom they look as the virgin Apostie of Ireland, and espe- cial example in her chastity of the purity of@n Insh maiden, 1s 80 nobly enshrined. It 1s no matter of Wonder, then, to find that this temple bearing the name of the first great irish nun, and the great founder of the long hist of virginal cloisters that has since followed in her footsteps, should be especially attended by the women. As usual, every available seat within the church was occupied during the solemn mass yesterday fore. noon. Father Mooney, the pastor of St. Bridget’s, oMeciated. Father Meister preached, taking for his text the gospel of the day—secona Matthew, from the first to the t verse, He said:—The portion of the gospel just read to you opens up much cen- tempiation upon the birth of our Divine Redeemer; and the festival of the Epiphany, ballowed by time and all the wonderful surroundings which belong to it, surely can claim something more than a passing iverest in our love and afford much to edify us and be worthy of our imitation. The Chureh to-day cele- bois the manifestation of the Jews to the Gen- tiles. HIS INFINITE GOODNESS AND LOVE of mankind were not to be circumscribed by the narrow limits of Palestine. 01 up the trea- sures of bis boundless love he was pleased to em- brace In one great, God-like clasp of mercy and favor the whole world. Two thousand years before the compietion of this mighty act of love He fore- Yold it ihrough the mouth of Abraham and the pro- phets—ioretold that the wail of separation between Jew and Gentile snould be broken down; that no longer would 1s divine justice be exercised, but that His mercy would be powerful and strong to overcome, even against the baseness and ingrati- tude of man, the prescribed limits which, in His eternal wisdom, he nad hitherto put te it, as it vere, in confining his communication, his graces an favors to one chosen people. And thus, in the gospei of this day, do we receive the first great lesson of this universality of Jesus’ love; here we find that Jews and Gentiles participate in adoration of the | infant Saviour, for the wise men were not of the home ot Israei, and yet unto them Was granted the special favor of beholding the Son of God, to obtain Which precious right uney were led through dilticul- ties and dangers by a miraculous agency. There 1s much cause for us to rejoice in ali this, for we wno are of Lae Gentiles had the great privilege of betug called into the presence of Christ through the wise men out of the East. These three men, kings they are supposed to have been, Jett all the luxuries of their regal state to follow the Divine inspiration which had come upon them, and told them A MIGHTIER KING * was about to be born. We can picture their suffer- lugs as they journeyed from their distant homes, following the light of the miraculous star on tts way to Betulehem, Considering the state of the worid at that time their faith deserves the greatest praise. All men saw the star as well as they, and yet they alone of all mankind followed it. Here the learned preacher gave a succinct account of the state of learning in that age, ef the different sects of philosophers, of their inability to direct man on the way to TANGIBLE, TRUE HAPPIN! and drew thence an argument to prove him much greater than were the wise men who sought tne imlant King—than ali the disputatious stoics, who, puffed up with their scholastic vanity, were yet unabie to add one impetus to the true advancement of man. Ca pass pee an ene, ae ¢ preacher, they found that nobody knew anyt or tue great King’ just born. They went to Herode at that time King of the Jews, and surprised him much by asking where the mighty Lord of All was to be found. He became alarm summoned his learned doctors of the laws and others to @ consultation, but they could not teil. The three kings went on their way, and lo! the star stopped and poured down its most brilliant light over the stable at Bethlehem. So they went in and offered to the Babe in this lonely place gold, trankin- cense and myrrh, God is emblemauc of that charity which we ought to have one for the other. They saw the Infant Redeemer poor, without a shred of clothes to cover Him, and debasing him- self for us; yet they believed Him to be the Son of God and knelt down and adered Him. Frankincense they offered; this is embiematic of prayer; and, lastly, they offered myrrh, a sweet perfume, with which dead bodies used to be anointed and enbalmed, and hence isit explained to us here as AN EMBLEM OF MORTIFICATION. Thus we see titat the prophecy was fultilled. “He came unto His own and His own received Him not.” On the contrary, Herod wanted the wise men to return and tel. him when they had found the new- born king; but they were told by supernatusyl means to depart home by another road, Thus, continued tne preacher, briuging his sermon to a close, we may learn a noble lesson from the conduct of the wise men and from all the mighty Christian emanation from the gospel history o1 the Epiphany. Let us particularily profit by the great a aun good works of the Gentile kings. Let us ave the SWEET GOLD OF CHARITY for all the distressed, offer up the frankincense of prayer to the throne of the Almighty and mortify our bodies here by subduing them to the spirit, re- membering that they are temples of the Holy Ghost, so that in the world to come they may shine in the face of God on that last dreadful day. FORTY-SIXTH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH, Twenty-fourth Annual Address by Dr. Ar- mitage to Young Men—The ‘Pursuit of Happiness”? Under the Constitution. It was a great pity that a greater number of young men did not attend the Baptist church on Forty- second street last evening to hear Dr. Armitage’s twenty-fourth anneal address to their erring class, The wind-biown snow, perhaps, induced dn idea that the pursuit of happmess—which was the doctor’s theme—could be moré fitly followed ina comfortable parlor. Whatever the cause, the re- spectable mufled-up, befurred congregation extibited but three or four (one a darky) of that branch of the genus homo, albeit there Was not wanting rosy cheeks and cherry-tipped noses on young faces of the falrer sex. The text Was from the 128th l’salm—Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord and walketh in His ways. For hou shalt eat the labor of thine hands. Happy shalt thon be, and it shall be well with thee.” It cannot be denied that men to aceriain degree are generally unhappy. Diferent estimates may be formed of the sum of human un- happiness; but we know that the spectacle of a man perfectly nappy has never been seen in the world since the fall. Philosopny opposes to it a lofty superiority and treats it with a studied scorn; philanthropy tries to lessen its ex- tent. The former, though succeeding in giving a hard fortitude, has never achieved @ complete Insen- sibility to it; the latter has only ameliorated its pressur@ upon some without diminishing its entire sum, It is stul THE PURSUIT OF EVERY MAN. Our happiest hours are disturbed by some un- easiness, some sorrow of the past, some fear of the Tuture. Wesit at the banquet of life, with the sword above our heads, and it would seem, as says the poet, “Man never is, but always te be blest.’ We may say with the Athenian gage that the events of human life are uncertain, but we can say, with @ greater than Croesus and % wiser than Solon, “I have seen ail the works done under the Sun, and ail is vanity and VEXATION OF SPIRIT.” It becomes, then, an important question with every young man, “Can be happy inthis life:” “I wish to prove that he can. Now, if we know that man cannot be enurely happy has God created man to unhappiness? The assertion bas been advanced that He has. A poet has written that “Man was made to mou but this I dispute. By the means of reason and revela- ton must we treat the case before us. Assuming, then, that’God, in bis infinitude, had the power ot making man entirely happy, why did he not do sof Man’s happiness is a circumstance wortby of His notice and its bestowal cannot be derogatory to God. What is there to make Him happy in making you unbappy? ‘There 1g tue same reason for ‘thinking that He inciines toward our happiness as that He inclines to oider us against confusion; to harmony and not discord; to virtue and not to vice; for happiness 1s not only the antithesis of misery but is superior to It. MISERY CREATES HATE and a feeling of bondage, Were we created to the jatter we should have a right to think such @ crea- tion an unworthy one. 11 God were in action sim- ply iualiferent to our happiness or misery we know that inwardly he wouid lean towards our well being. God is benevolent, and what is benevolence but a weil wishing’ He 1s called in the Bible the blisstui God, and this, in plain Anglo-Saxon, means THE HAPPY GOD, God, who is just, holy and wise as well, uses these qualities Wo reguiate the exercise of His benevolence, and God rousi have created man to a perfect: happi- ness, although it is nevererinetess true that misery Js possible. The creation \ appiuess 18 told to the Zone man tn his constitution, ‘In this Itake the ly and the soul. There is . A POSITIVE PLEASURE in the exerense of al! faculties of body and mind, and we use them and take pleasure in them, though sometimes wrongfully. ‘This is true of the corporeal functions, but more so of those of the mind, whether in the exercise of the will, the nse of the affections or of memory. There 1% something in that which creates, which shows &@ Man that in his complex being he has in some way departed from the natural law. It God designed us for misery He could have given a frame fitted for agony, and thus we learn that the eviis of our constitation are not essential but incidental, The preacher adverted to the cond: tion of obedience on which Adam was acee Mi ae , Horsemen of perfect happiness, how hen glowingly painted the infinite inverest of the Godhead in our happiness when He sent down His only begotten Son to redeem us from the fruits of THAT FIRST TRANSGRESSION, Yo men, you are offered freely happiness if you take the truth, live in the truth and obey the truth as in Jesus, Happiness is a proper human pursuit. If you are a miserable wretch, turning wilfully away trom happiness, then neither God nor man 18 UNDER ANY OBLIGATION TO PITY YOU. Take these truths written in history, in the Holy Boog and in your constitutions and you shalt find the truth of the text. 8T. FRANCIS XAVIER'S CHURCH. Sermon by the Rev. Father Ronan—The Life of Christ Not the Life ot the World. The Rey. Father Ronan preached the sermon at the high mass services in St. Francis Xavier's church yesterday. He took for his text the gospel of the day, which treated of the finding of the chiid Jesus in the temple among the doctors by the Virgin Mary and her boly spouse Joseph. Such @ life ea that of the Saviour, the reverend gentleman said, the world, if asked to decide upon it, would call a waste of time, for the views of the world were directly op- Posed to the views of God. It loved honor, giory and power. It revelled in notoriety, tne splendor of wealth, THE GLIMMER OF A NAME. These were the thoughts of the wor!d, and with them men were amused as children with toys. It wished to ignore the natural dignity ef man, to conceal from his sight the immortal destiny which awaits him, and to shut out from view the great economy of man’s redemption. Its great object was to bring the supernatural things of God down to its own level; to make men live according to Its own notions and principles. God calls to every heart, speaks to every soul and awakens it to the beauties and at- tractions of the life to come, enlarges the horizon of man’s mental vision, and, in the secrets of his heart, whispers to him the price that was paid for his re- demption, speaks to him of the work of life and asks him to reflect what he hives for, where he is going, and vo think of this life and to remember by WHAT A SLENDER THREAD he holds it. The life of the Saviour, according to the view of God, contained all that is great and good dn the composition of man; but to the world it was a puzzle, nay, a waste of time id a loes of labor. The Saviour, the Creator of all, in whom was cen- tred all glory, power and grandeur, was unnoticed and unknown in that littie tewn of Nazareth. No one talked of Him in the great Roman empire, as He lived alone wita His good, holy mother im Naza- reth. We, by observation and study, have to master knowledge, and ody similar methods have to acquire virtue, aided, of course, by the grace of God. But there was nv such need for the Saviour. At the mo- ment of His conception ail virtue and knowledge were infused into His soul, He knew everything and possessed a knowledge Indnitely greater than man could obtain, He could not commit sin because He was God. Yet he witndrew trom the gaze of man that great light which was hidden within Him, A child, He lived as a child, feeling the distresses and weaknesses of a ciid. dependent upen the care and nursing of His own immaculate Mother. When He became a youth there was uo in- describable haio of vircue, grandeur and obedience about Him—an unknown something that HALF REVEALED THE DIVINITY that was concealed within Him. Why did He tive alone in Nazareth: Certainly not without an im- portant objeca He came inw the world not only to redeem man and to give him a sacrifice by which could be saved, but w teach him the way of life. And just here, between the old and the new dispensation, rose His beaut. fatly sublime iife—the model life of the new era. It taught man what todo and how to live, apd im- pressed the nature of virtue on his heart. The life of the Saviour spent in retarement fer Mairty years is summed up by the Evangelist, who defines it as nething but obedience. Ask Him what He did dur- ing those thirty years, What works He performed, what were His manvers, how He spent His days, and tae Evangelist only responds “obedience.” ‘This obedience was the key to His whole life, and they who foliow Christ have to obey—obey the teach- ings of Heaven, to submit their minds and practi ce obedience ef their mteiligence, to obey the Church of God which was 1ouaaea by Hi to in struct mankind. Obedience being the sum- mary of the life of christ, obedience to moral principles, moral power promulgated by the Church, was the duty of every Curistian. ‘Tne reve- rend speaker then went oa to show that the Saviour had a particular object in view im spending the days of His hidden life with His mother and foster father. It was, he said, to give a lesson to all men of what @ true iamiiy shouid be; to give DIGNITY TO THE FAMILY CIRCLE. Christ was a model Son and He gave in His own lile a patiera to every Christian child to copy. From ‘Uns pot ine reverend father proceeded to argue as to the duty each Member of a family owea to tae other, and gave a scathingreouke to those ‘‘chil- dren of the period’? who, alter a certain age, al- jowed their aged parents to die m_ indigence, wile they enjoyed the best that life couli give, and to those parents who did not do their whole duty to their children, THE MUSIC of this cherch 1s always of a very high order ef merit, The choir 1s select and well trained, and tne organist, Wiillam Berge, stands atthe head of his profession in his intimate knowledge of the music of the Catholic Church and his skill m the direction ot @ bouy of singers. Yesterday his Turd Mass, a very elaborate, weil conceived and brilliant compo- sition, was sung. ‘The solos were rendered vy Misses Teresa and Mary Werneke and Messrs. Ta- Muro and Bacelii The characteristic of Berge’s Church music 3s 11s eminent fitness for the subjects it illustiates, The sublime wards of the Gloria, Creao, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei are expressed by music so aduirabiy that it may be calied dramatic in the proper sense of the werd. We are surprised that the worthy fathers of this church persist in keeping the antiquated Gregorian chant ior vesper service. It never was intended for mixea voice, and is suitable only tor monastic stitutions. Kell- gious music shoula be capable of expressing every variety of emotion, joy, fear, hope, serrow, vut the Gregorian chant certam!y cana never accomphsh Uns desirable end. The celebrant was Rev, Father Dor- thaier, ana Rev. Fawuer Ronan preached at the Gospel. CaURCH OF T4E NATIVITY. The Babe of Bethlehem and the Wise Men of the Fast—the Meaning of the Magi’s Offer- ings—Sermon by the Rev. Father Evereti. The Catholic churches of New York are always full on Sundays. Last mass in the Church of the Na- tivity, at the lower end of Second avenue, was at- tended yesterday by the usual large and orderly copgregation, who were treated toa sermon by their pastor, tne Rev. William Everett. The Gospel of the day is from the opening of the second chapter of Matthew, and describes the visit of the wise men of the East to the crib at Bethlehem. The com- ing of Christ was made known to the Jews by the angel’s appearance before the shepherds, Six days aiterwards it was made known to the Gentile world by the manuestations to the magi or wise meu of the Kast. Divinely led by the guidance of the star to Judea, they toquired where Christ should be born, and were told it was in Beth- Jehem, Which was siX miles to the south of Jeru- salem. Having got half way the star reappeared, which they had lost sight of when entering Jerus; saiem. it shone over the place where pie young. chud was, ‘fhey went m and found Mary an Joseph aud the infaut Jesus WKAPPED UP IN SWADDLING CLOTHES and lying in a manger. ‘They offered to him gifts, and failing down they adored him. ‘hose wise men from the East iollowed at once the inspira- Uon Of God, and they should be imitated by us. They brought w.th them costly and valuable presents as oicrings to the new-born of the Jews. When they drew near to Jerusalem and lost sight of the star they were not discouraged, but went into the city ana made inquiry, aud Were rewarded by obtaining the information Which they sought. So we should never be discouraged by the apparent withdrawai of God’s light from our path. When any vi God's myste- rious ways appear dark im our human, and there- fore imperiect, sight we sneuld not be cast down, but shoula diligently make inquiries from persous competent to lmpart ie necessary information. When the wise men entered the chamber at Beibie- hem whete lay the mfant itedeemer and King of the world they fuund noge of the magnificence of earthly courts and royai palaces. They saw only a cheerless stabe and a puor babe wrapped up in swaddling ciothes, a young woman, an vid man, an ©X and an ass. DREARINESS AND WANT were all round; but to the eye of their faith all was clear enuugi. They saw in this Child the Redeemer ol whom they were in search, and the pnysical miseries by which the divipe Tatant was surrounded aid not prevent them iroa’ bebolding we heaveny Yadiuuce of God’s own presence among them, Tue gifts Which they offered were beautifully significant. ‘They brought gold, irankincense anda myrrh. ‘The goid coin bearing tne stamp of the earthly sovereign Was embiematic of the royal place which the great Redeemer was to occupy in the hearts of men. Its Metal deing regarded as the most precious, the git of gold Was meant to signify that those who loved Crist must ve prepared co lay their richest treasures at His feet. Frankincense was used always im we Worship of God, and its being offered on this ocva- sion Was meant as a recoguiuion of the divine origin of the new-born Christ, Myrrh was used im the Gur balming of tie dead. It 8 emblematic of mortitica- Hon, and 1 tas iosance it was presented a8 a re- minder that while Christ was God He was algo man, subject to all the pams and sorrows of humanity, GRACE CHURCH. Sermon by Dr. Potter on the Advent of | Christ and the Finding in the Temple. The usually large and fashionable congregation | attended divine service at this beautiful church. | bei The fine music and singing, together with the sacredness of the surroundings, were conducive to | high thoughts and solemn meditations, After the | impressive exercises of the Episcopal Church and the reading oi the gospef of the day the rector | of the church, the Rev. Dr. Potter, delivered a brief discourse, He recounted the touching narrative of | our Lord’s advent when the Gospel began to shine forth to the Gentiles and payans were first per- mitted to kneel at the cradle of our Saviour. He said, we keep tnis season of Epiphany with less en> thasiasm than we eught to de. What was the nature of the kingdom which our Master came for? Was it a Kingdom of outward splendor or inward sanctity and power? His kingdom had not the charac- | teristics Liat may be noted by the senses. it was founded upon the simpie assertion of truth. His nee in the Temple of Jerusalem when ouly twelve years o! age was THE FIRST REVELATION of His kingdom which He voluntarily gave to the World, He was as much our Master then as he 13 ye rig a ae right Mand of pee ord gore mighty. Theugh young in years He spoke to the riestsin the {emple like @ master, and When they in elr turn pro} ded questions vo Him our Saviour’s answers were such tat they stood amazed at His haracterized by the Bributes surroundings of Rome, that has ui Tuled the uations for oanturice with the'tron imple. ments of jorce and Ceercion. But force may be overthrown by force. Am the nearest instauce we Ihave seen A MIGHTY EMPIRE TOP! Ong Dying, Mace, ja King of own merits, He was nos at His coming surrounded by the external splendor ‘and trappings of of the Earth. He was pty +3 born Ina manger, and companions were twelve eo men, and Bic! by His inherent power of birth, le has asserted His right to reign over the hearts and minds of men. Qur Lord asks for no external homage, He asks for the devotion of our hearts, and it is there; we ought to enthrone Him. It is a happy custom of the SOVEREIGNS OF ENGLAND to commemorate the season of Epiphany by carry- ing a golden vessel filled with frankincense to the Chapel Royal of Windsor, as the wise men of the East did to our Master, But the frankincense we owe Him is the surrender of our hearts to His power, He who comes to bring Christ this offer should say, ‘Be to me in this heart of mine King of kings;” so should we crown Him who ts the only true King and Master, BROOKLYN CHURCHE3. ELM PLACé CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. The Parable of the Sower—Sermon by Rev. Heary Powers. The attendance at this church yesterday morning was comparatively small—a fact which was pro- bably owing to the cold weather and the prospect of | @ snow storm, which commenced before the ser- vices were concluded, Those who did attend, how- ever, were amply repaia, for the pastor, kev, Henry Powers, preached a sermon based upon THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER. The occasion for the delivery of this parable was } when the multitude was gathered together to | listen unto the words of Christ. His heart Milled with sadness, no doubt. It we studied care- Tully the history of the life of Christ we would notice that when He came in contact with the masses ol the people in Pales.ine in those days He seemed to be filleu with sadness of heart, because He saw ‘what was the condition of these multitudes—saw it ‘as they did not, and understood the secret purpose ‘of thelr souls, That was the occasien, and there seemed to have been in His speecn a sort of economy of tne words of Christ, Therefore He resorted to this paravie, and on most occasions spoke in para- bles, for the reason, Mr. Powers supposed, which wctuated Nathan to speak in a le to David, David was practising A CERTAIN INIQUITY, and Nathan reproved him; but he knew that if he Said directiy, “Thou art the man,” David would be shut against that truth; 1t would be impossible to gain access to his soul. So he spoke in a parable, and David saw the truth that was illustrated to him, and condemned the wickedness of which he himseif Was guilty. So Jesus did, gaming access to the hearts of those by the Miusirations He made use of— o. the preseason of some third person continu- ally until the heart was opened and the mind was Wake and the thought was lodged, aud then sud- denly be turned and spoke, ‘The preacher then turned the attention of the congregation to the way in which the werds of heavenly wisdom are received now, and asked them to say whether these words were kept in tne heart ana brought forth fruit, or wether they were sown by the @uyside or in the stony paths. What was THE TRUTH CONCERNING OURSELVES ? Were we ready to honestly and devotedly give unto God the keeping of our souls? There were waysides—an outside religion. The truth was r ceived with the intellect and not transierred to th heart. It engaged simply the outward coniormity and the conduct of the ive and not tue affections of the soul. Such a man might be regular in his attendance at church and very respectable in the eyes of the world, but the seeds of truth were not lodged in good soil—in the very bottom of his soul. Ynere was no lodg- ment el the truth in such a heart, Then there were some STOXY GROUND HEARERS, said the Master. it was nota soil mixed with stones, but a tuin soil, with no depth of earti— an overlying surface, but beneath it the rock Was hard and cold, im waich there was no nourishment in which to piant. They were surface hearers only, because Lhere was no depth of earth. There were sunshine Christians in this world—those who received the Word of God gladly until He demanded a sacrifice, and then these stony ground Christians were of- | fended. {t was a thin surface of soil and then a hard rock. The basis of thew character was rock, and it was in these stony ground hearers that you would find hardness of heart—those who had no depth of character. In conclusion, the preacher | urged all to receive the Word of God in their hearts and keep it there until it brougnt forth truat, C.URCH OF ST. CHARLES BORROMED. Opening of the Mission of the Redemptorist Fathers—Sermon by the Rev. Kather Way- rich. The long-promised mission of the great and good order—Redemptorist Fathers—at tne Church of St. Charles Borromeo, Sidney place, Brooklyn, was commenced yesterday. The edifice was thronged to ; excess at the principal service, extra seats being furnished in the aisies without affording suiticient sittings for the people who were assemblea to hear the words of the Redemptorists, mass was celebrated, there being, besides tne cele- brant, Father Gross, three others, a deacon, sub- | deavon and master of ceremonies, in the sanctuary. | ‘The chotr lent its harmonious spirit to accord with the devotional inspirations of the occasion. After | the Gospel the Rey. Father Wayrich ascended the | pulpit, and, reading the usual atuounceiments, pro- | ceeded to inform tue congregation that mass would | be celebrated each morning during ihe week at tive | o'clock. Confessions will be heard until six o'clock, | in order to euable those Who have business to attend | to to be off early, Last mass will be at nihe o'clock each day, and tustructions in the evening. The tirst | week, the Father explained, will be accorded to the spiritual instruction of women, 80 that the church Will be exclusively kept open ior them during that period. Men can come to mass in the morning, how. ever, If 80 disposed. INSTRUCTION 18 NECESSARY to keep In view the commandments of God, that we may, by obedience thereto, obtain the iruit. In case @ Week should not sullice to Unis the confesstons tor females, two or three days further may be given, that all may enjoy the benefits which it brings, The object of dividm, the mission thus was tuat they might have a betier i (coer te speak the truth ‘With liberty and to tell people of their obugations to Almighty God. Then it is also desirable that the women have the tirst week, because they will ad- vertise It better than the men. ‘The men have often to be dragged to church. ‘Ihere are many who have indifferent brothers or careiess hustands who can be induced by the women to come to church. Taking bis text from Gospel of st. Luke, il., 42—52, for the first Sunday after Epiphany, the finding Jesus in the Tempie disputing with the doctors, and dwelling upon the words which Were addressed by Jesus to his Holy Mother, the reverend speaker pro- ceeded With his discourse by asserting that this was the COMMENCEMENT OF THE MISSION of our Divine Lord upon Earth. This was doubtless the first that His mother Kaew us tu the paticaar | means wiich Christ was to adopt in bringing man- Kind to a seuse of the duty which it owed to Christ. Here it was in the temple that He as a child, for the first time iu ‘angamens appeuled to the intelligence | of men, and imtdrmed his mother that He ‘was here | about the tuings of His Father;” that He was tirat to instruct mav, und then by the sacrifice of His body and blood (which he had taken of the Blessed Virgin) atoue for the sins of the world. = ‘Thas it 1s then tound in this Divine example that man should take up more Lime in tne fuitliment of the duties of | salvation insured to us trough the passion and death of our Lord, than to the care of the world and of kindred. He excited among the Scribes and Pharisees an adini- ration for His wisdom, lixened, perhaps, unto that | which we would eatertata for a precocious child, | and opened to their minds the great truth that re- | d was near at haad, Tnere isa striking | then, ‘between our Saviour as a boy in temple, disputing with the doctors, and tu lat- ter years as the Man God ong His aposties, lay- ing down to them the principles wich We uiusi ac. cept. He estabushea 18. TEMPLE, THE CHURCH, on Earth, where the servants of God must wor- de A grand high | sresent. In Christ's teh: | the Barth into the land of the shadow of death, ssecccanialieies ——_——_——— ship Him, God can only be sought in that templ ‘This has He instructed His aposues to teach to men, He came to establish an edifice to which H invites ail mankind. He gave to the aposu Simple men, out men of truth, the power to invit men to enter, Thus divinity constructed the Chure Of Christ 18 indistructible in the world, as it designed and constructed by Christ nimsel His church teaches the senses of the body by out ward 8 and sac: ifice that which strikes upon tht soul and diffuses the graces of God within Its men rs. It ts not enough to know what we must d but we must also do it, to earn the treasures whic! are stored in the Church forts children, Body ans soul, spirit and water, material as well ag spiritu: senses are appealed to by our Holy Church. Man’ soul must be RECONCILED TO GoD by the reception of the sacraments of penance an the eucharist, Hence the present miasion, “It left for us to be about the thiags of our Father.’ The reverend father continued to explain the dul of the mission, the necessity for our rendering , account for every thought and work and action 11 life, the sacrifices which God has made for our demption, the carelessness which many Catholic: exhibit in their lives as A STUMBLING BLOCK in the way ef conversions; the necessity fot approaching the sacrament, of penance and th eucharist durtng the present misston, which may the lost vouchsafed, Tue Catholic Church raises th intellect and the heart of man, despite all that inndelity may say to the contrary, under the liberty, Let lukewarm Catholics, wito cai seives liberal, blusn. If you are truly enlightenes you will be proud of your fuith, waik the street promi 0 hearers approach tl sacraments and attend the mission faithiully he ae seended from the pulpit. +e ‘POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE, Sermon by Rev. Hugh Smith Carpenter. A moderate sized congregation was in attenda: yesterday upon the ministrations of Mr. Carpenter, After announcing his text—“Go throngh th gates”’—the preacher sald:—In ancient times and 11 Oriental countries the gate had much sig: nificance, for not only the households but the cities were shut im by gates. Thera} K was no going anywhere without thi opening of gates. There is a point of entrance int the kingdom of heaven here on Karth where a goo hope distinguishés itself froma false hope. The: are steps of approach to this gate, but it is a mis. take to suppose that because the steps are cradi the pomt of demerkation 1s any the less fixedd There is a great deal of religion work in the human heart that is indistinct. Peo« pie spend years in serious consideration negotiating) with convictions, making spiritual experiments;¢ they read the Bible, pray, are interested in certains ministers. ‘These are preliminary stuges—outsidal stages, All this PRELIMINARY RELIGION is of moderate account. Many are near the king-; dom of heaven, yet they areas much outside those who are far away. Christ is the gate, an at this entrance man must meet God.’ N one pretends that men are all bad alike. ly’ makes but little difference whether one di of yellow fever or consumption, so thal he dies. Men who are outside of the Gospel ar without hope, bo matter What variefles of unbele! or of sin keep them away from God. The weal who distrust Christ, the wanton who despise Bil are widely different, yet they are lost alike unles they enter the appomted door. Many people try loog while to build up their own righteousnes before coming. “Iam the door.” Christ says it an He means tt. How unnecessary any mere req ligious experience, by which) we mean wiruggle between following Cnrist’s call and THE DOULTS Of THE HEART. There are diversities alter we pass the gate, andj here suould be recognized the principle upon er should be built the catnolicity of every Church. Ii must be believed that there are oiten’ weaker mem in the Church than some who are outside. In rebellion there may be olten found braver, nobler men among the traitors than among the} royal hosts. There are those wno go limping o: their way to heaven. But if these weak ones hav passed the gate, aud are with the friends of Carist, they are to be distinguished from those whe are 01 the enemy’s side. We believe, of ali the differen patterns of Christians, that we shail be saved alike. it ig enough that we enter im at the straight gal There is a gate of glory, but to enter this we m pass the gate of death. This gate we may not hhrougn tilt we ourselves ar ready to go through 1 finally. We know no more about dying after watc! ing the exit of the dearest one. Those who go mak no sign o: the glory into which they enter. That realm is kept closed, as the door of & house 18 kept clused, that when it is opened the hospitality may more apparent. é GOD KEEPS HIS ‘COUNSELS SECRET, e and in His good time opens the gaie of mystery—thed gate of devtiny—the gate of glory, On this sid shadow, on that side substance; here refiections,, there realities; struggling here, there free an sirong. Darkness disappears when it seems the deepest, We are only here to wait till Christ bias ud come. It 1s but a little way for most of us. G@ steadily and patiently, Go through the door. JERSEY CITY CHURCHES, GRACE CHURCH (EP:SCOPAL). Pastoral Letter of Bishop Odenheimer—Tho Great Necessity of Missions—Sermon by the’ Rev. Mr. Rice on Human Depravity an the Redemption of Man. ‘ The Christmas holidays are being celebrated with, unremitting fervor by the members of the Episcopal Church in communion with Grace . church,! Jersey City. The edifice presents a most, cheering and enlivening interior, festooned most) liveraily with evergreens, while the division betweem the sanctuary and nave is marked by an immense} aren of evergreens surmounted by @ cross, Tne! congregation was large yesterday and the services” interesting. Fi The pastor, Rev. Mr. Rice, read the following pas-/ toral letter trom Bishop Udenheimer:— Q THE CLERGY AND Laity oF TH Diooss oF NEw ERSRY : BRETHREN, BELOVED in THE Lonp—Amid the greetings of this holy season of the Christian year I give you aud your, children my blessing and saiutation— Peace be voth to thee and Peace be to thine house, and Peace be unto all that thou hast, And, that I may in some degree, according to my qpn~ science and my oftice, help you to increased efforts to spraad: abroad the good news of “Peace on earth, good will to mei I send you this pastoral letter on the subject of missions, diocesan, domestic, incuding the freedmen and the Indians and toreign. The 'work ot missions is the perpetual proct: mation to the world of salvation through faith in the finished redemption of Christ at His first advent; and the perpetual proclamation to both the Church and the world of the second advent of Christ “to give every man ac- cording as his work shall be." But how shall the world hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach exceyp they besent? The beloved laity, to whom God has given much or little, must generourly contribute teir that the ‘missionaries of the Lord, duly set for their sacred calling, may be supported in the ute and often perilous tields of labor to which they then, I exhort the pastors under ve the members of your congre- ¢ information as to the necessities Ky sermons, lectures a iy spiritual jurisdictio gation regular and detir Or each department o and pe circulation of the “Spirit of Missio1 ke papers let individual mei of your purishes be tuoroughly invormed on the whole subject of missions, In Christ's bebulf I say to each one of the jay members of the church, listen to the authori- tative istractions and appeals of your pastor as to the wants of the missionary field, “and the absolute ceasity of each one's doing his duly by ‘atemitic and conscientiously apporuoned contributions to tue missionary treasury. Let every godly agency for rous- jog the missionary spirit and increas! ng missionary gifts po adopted vigorously by the parochial clergy and their cO- gregations. Let the canonically authorized convocations of the diocese and the members of the general Board of Missions who represent tne diocese also give renewed diligence to further the same cau ue time is short and the privilege of workingfor and with Christ will not long be granted 1o- us. Let us, therefore, work and give, watch and pray more earnestly than ever that we and those over whom we may have infiuencemay be accounted worthy, for Christ's sake, to meet the Lord in peace at His second advent, and through His prevailing merits may escape all these things that shall come to pase and stand before the Son of Man.” Affection- ately, your bisho; es ?* WILLIAM HENRY ODENHEIMER. The pastor then preached from the text—~The people that walk in darkness have seen a great light.” This was a prophecy of the coming ot Christ. This season is @ proper one for remarkin; on the condition of tne people of the world previot to the coming of the Redeemer, Has that light raised the people out o! the darkness of WHE SHADOW OF DEATH? This 1s the great question that preseuts itself our coasideration. ‘The first period of human history up to the fleod extends over the space of two thou- sand years, and the second period from the flood to the coming of Christ, also two thousand years Some oi the customs of those times have been handed. down to us, as, for instance, the sacrifices made by Noah. The religion of the world has a common { origin with THE WORSHIP INSTITUTED BY NOAH. Nothing can be more apparent to the student of the early history of maukmd than that but for the advent of Christ and the regeneration begun by His saving gospel the human race must have been ex- terminated, THE RACE MUST HAVE PERISHED from mutual auiniosities and the corrosion of hu- man passions, Let us pot compluin of the present state Of society, for the most corrupt nations of our ume are as saimts and sisters of charity compared? with the people of pagan times, ‘ INFANTICIDE WAS AUTHORIZED and provided jor by law. ituman emperors fre- quently seut forth their soldiers to slaughter thou- sands of their subjects, wiilout regard to ae or sex. Human life wae considered so very cheap that men were turned out to encounter wild beasts tor tie tere gratification of the multiuue, At the commng of Christ suctety was TREMBLING WITH AGONY, Haman passions and humen vices had converted Ste b Paul says, “in the fulness of time God sent fo fits Son.” If Chest had watied much louger the human race must have destroyed itself, He came i the great crisis, Hai ne come sooner, we nevet could have known to what depths of depravity thy human race was capable of descendings o