The New York Herald Newspaper, January 30, 1871, Page 8

RELIGIOUS. Sermons and Services Yesterday in the Metropolis and Elsewhere. FREE AMERICA AND UNITED ITALY, Faith and Works—Formation of Christian Character—Our (Children in Heaven— Our Relationship with God— What a Man Must Believe. “The Beautiful Snow” Coun- teracting Piety. Catholie, Episcopalian, Methodist, Sweden- borgian, Universalists, and Other In- terpetrations of the Scriptures. ‘The unusually inclement and severe weather yes- terday prevented many of the pious church attend- wate in the various parts of this city and Brooklyn from occupying their accustomed seats in their re- spective places of worship; tonseqnently the general report was that the “congregations were thin,"’ though probabry not a whit the less earnest and de- yout. It is a matter of consolation to those who considered it a duty to defy the storm and the un- Pleasantness of travelling in order to be present to receive spiritual comfort, that the discources were Bot affected In the least degree by the dulness of the @ay or the biting cold. As the great Saviour of mankind instructed His servants to make known Hie salvation wherever “two or three were gathered together” as well as to the multitude, it may reason- ‘ably be presumed that many wno had strayed from the paths of rignteousness were brought hack tea sense of the love Of virtue and truth, while some of Shose who had hungered and thirsted after saving grace found their wants supplied in the sermons of which the following reports are a faithful represen- tation. FIFTH AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. @ur Relationship with God Under the New Dispensntion—Sermon by the Rev. Thomas Armitage. Dr. Armitage preached yesterday morning to a slim but earnest congregation. He took for the text of his discourse the passage, ‘John was the great- est Of the prophets, yet the least in the kingdom of God was greater than he.” Aftcr commenting at considerable length on the dignity with which, under the eld jaw, God invested the prophets, and especially in making known to them His direct reve- Jation and entrusting them with the great duty of enhgbtening and directing the Jewish people in Fpiritua) affairs, he proceeds:—But so far as direct revelation is concerned, we are EQUAL TO THE GREATEST OF THE PROPRETS; may, greater; for has not Christ himself said the Yeast in the kingdom of Heaven is greater than 2obn, ‘who was the greatest of all the prophets?” We must distinguish between natural force and Sreatness of character and spiritual holiness. We cannot but admire the magnificent force of Isalah, the genius of David and the stately dignity of Abraham. But these qualities which we admire in them do‘not constitute holiness. The least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than they were. The Spirit did not with them as it did with you, bear testimony that they were partakers of the Divine nature. This was the SPECIAL FEATURE OF THE TESTAMENT. What is the teaching of the New Testament? Under the old law men had hope from the promises which had been made to them; but we have the romises and their fruition. In the invisible worla ‘he prophets have perhaps heen made ene with us; but unti} God had assumed human nature they could not be made perfect through that human nature. The lives that we lead spring from our unity with God through Christ. “Prophets and kings desired to see the things that you see and have notseen them.” No dvubt in the old days the saints comprehended that they were servants of Ged, but Bot sone of God. Christ came that we ht be made sone of God and the title has been given us, anc this marks the greater dignity we occupy. The prophets were from the firat Adam, but we from the second. John was THE GREATEST OF MEN Dorn of woman; bui he was only born of woman, Dot of God, through water and vlood, as you are. Why do you are yourselves and think yourselves aemere walis, Instead of regarding yourseives in your real character as sons of God? God was not everywhere present to the prophets as he 1s with us. Ae a rule every special manifestation was given in Jerusalem. John wanted to leave tne desert in rder to ve nearer to God. We need not go to erasaicm with a bullock, or the ashes of heifer or @ turtle dove. THE GOOD TIME COME. Does not this truth so impress you that you can go home and thank God you did not live in the days of John and of the prophets, but in those of the Son of Man’ Christ promises you a nebdier inspiration than cver Jelah had. “You know ali things,” say the pagee of the New Testament. Christ offers yon a greater sanctity than that of Daniel, and a more intimate and dignified relation With God than Moses had. If you do not become one wita God through Christ it is not because there Je not access enough. NOT & BAD WORLD AFTER ALL. 1 do not think so !ighuy of this world as some do. desne Christ thinks moré of this globe than of apy Otner in this universe. You hear MEN GRUMBLING AND GROWLING om saying they are tired of life and of this world, forgetful that they ave such favored beings. 1 think this a delicious world, aud J MEAN TQ STAND BY IT til I find a better one. ‘ ST. PETERS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. Sermon by the Rev, Father Allon—The Em. cacy of Prayer—The Intercession ef the Virgin Mary. In epite of the falling snow, which rendered the ePosslngs almost impassanle, St. Peter's church was Hiled iw all its parts by a devout congregation, Un- 3tke the uplown resorts of the fashionable pious, the imclemency of the season cannot keep the flock of this cnurch from their devotions, after Yeading the lesson of the day Father Allen, of Halifax, N. 8, @igcoursed on the efficacy of prayer against the ilis and tempations of the world. Hie articulation was, however, so indistinct and his voice so thin and ‘weak that very few persons beyond the centre row of the chureh could at all hear him or make out the drift of his sermon. In alluding tothe lesson of the day Father Alien suid:—Our blessed Saviour, who was accompanied by his apostles, fell asleep in a boat on the ocean. All of a sudden there came @ storm, and His disciples, who were net yet altogether confirmed in the faith, gave up all hope. Our Lora appears quite unconscious of the storm. as the boat is tossed about by the waves like a nut sell, all the confidenc? of Bus followers vanishes, At last they roach Jesus and at out, “Lord, save ‘Us, or We perish!" Bat He, like a loving father who rebukes nis children, chides them thus:—“‘Oh! ye of Iittie faith.” How snail we apply this parable to our lives? We have but two aiternauives—either to in- berit the Kingdom ef Heaven by our virtues or TO UNDERGO ETERNAL PUNISHMENT Where is there one, who, amid the nd tempfations of the world, does not some- find it necessary to cry out, ‘Lord save us?” We ought to seek in prayer. No one can be savea Sithout prayer, Our dear Bedeemer telis us “Watch and pi ray, lest you enter into ‘eunptaton i and did He net practise what He preached? Mat oue particular metance in His |; After having formed faithfully the behest of iis Father, He 1s aad the world, He ie te be scourged—te « THY SON OF ARELZERUB, Sud tedie the most igpomiuioas deat! Antici- yung All tis in Mis mind, our Lord goes to @ dis- mount, and there, in the siiness of night, pro- OO, wimeelt In prayer vefore the Father. Drops , noel Jftream ‘from His id bod. ehiecngiM@e cries, rr tt be D be dene,” arl’aes 5 ank the pitt oole Weim ANd COS” rhe cross for Our NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, JANUARY 3U, 1871.—WITH SUPPLEMENT, es BB ALWAye PRAYING matte will ts that we satormity prin that diving 10 Got, and aa aculate Mother. p er from heart to the sarne God on ray i! Wri! ease your overburdened mind, At night, whe! you yey examine your conscience whether an wi to Vax YouNe win Wao TRAYS” UNG MAN A Pesist all wondie wh Because he is @ child of prayer, Ye its who have the tne ie Pa fiery Never let a day without parting, the provecgoa the holy Mother doubt the efficacy of your own prayer or to your saint, Oh, do Intercession of the blessed Virgin |, She is great. ehe Is powerful 0 ; ay itn oeeience vo Mary. ask of her every aay Of oir lives the grace and blessing of God, that may live happy lives, die peaceful deaths and re- ceive a iavorable judgment. THE MUSIC at this F. Pec! God. If you church, under the direction ef Professor W. her, is always of a high order, The mass yesterday was, a8 usaal, sung wiih much effect, the ‘eMiserere,”’ especially, being worthy of notice. THE SWEDENBORGIAN CHURCH. Our Children in Heaven—What They Are Taught—The Heavenly Schools. The Rev. Chauncey Giles, of the Swedenborgian church, Thirty-fifth street, continued his léctures last evening on ‘The State of Children After Death." He wished not only to state some facts about their education, but to show that what Swedenborg says about it 14 founded In the nature of the human mind, The laws of mental and spiritual growth are not changed by passing out of the body and coming consciously imto the spiritual world. On the con- trary, we are breught into better conditions for their exercise and d:velopment, Life in the spiritual world ts a continuation of thia. WHEN WE RISB FROM TIE MATERIAL BODY, which we do when the body dies, we are the same beings we were before we left this world, The in- fant, therefore, has everything to learn, the same as if it had remained in this world. It must have teachers and schools, aud implements of instrue- Uon; for nothing can be done in any world without means. Instraction is more excellent in the other life than in this, because the mind 1s in a better State to receive than in this; the teacners are wiser and the means better adapted tothe end. THEY ARE TAUGHT TO BE USEFUL, to love the Lord and the neighbor, ana to carry their love into practical effect by doing all they can to,promyte the highest good ofall. It may strike some persons as a novel, if not an absurd, idea that we are to Jearn to be useful in the other hfe, because the idea 1s so prevalent that the rest of heaven conststs in doling nothing. But this ts a mis- take, Happiness does not consist in idleness. If it did we should be happiest when we were asleep. A ceal log or @® mummy well embalmea would be a perfect type of rest and peace. Rent for the mind is varied anu orderly activity. Rest for the affections 18 ove embodied in act. Instead of being less active in the other life our activities will Jncrease and our employments become more numer- ous. Truth # infinite. Gaining ideas does not exhaust knowlege. ‘The more we know the more we shall sce there Is to be known, Heaven ts a life of active use. It is the outflowing of heavenly aifec- tons into EVERY BEAUIIFUL FORM, into speech and deed. The more excellent the speech thé more lovely the deed, the more lively wilt be the joy. The activities of heaven will be the perfection of happiness, because they will be the play of pure affections and not the servile labor of compulsion. Children are taught truth in doing it ana by avowing it. Precept and practice go hand in hand. Education is something more than instruc- Udon. It is mot cramming the memory with words which have no meaning. itis callung all the fi ties into play by processes of delight. it is the Wise direction and eieee, gratification of awakened curtosity, and not its euppression. Our children in heaven are NOf GHUL UP IN CLOSE ROOME, and compelled to sit hour after hour in dreary con- finement, over repulsive tasks. Their schools are like bi excursions, without their fatigue, in which new. yecis are continually a] pg to call forth their aifections and to in- struct their minds. A common and most del methoa of instruction is by representations. In the spiritual world everything which surrounds the in- habitants represents their states of love and intelli- gence. Their outward world is a Ce picture and symbol of their characters, Their furnt- ture, clothing and the scenery are a r, in which they can see their own natures, Everything axe ernal 18 the exponent of eome internal priociple, an am ae SELL as —" 7 perception o! meaning. If an angel wished to give the children he was instructing an idea of innocence tnstead of compelling thei to commit to memory a description of imuocence in words, or of trying to expiain it In an abstract way, he would ci a liv presentation of innocence and cause it to pass like @ vast panorama before them. It might be a beautiful landse: filled with every lovely émvodiment of Innocence In its various forms and iganisestations, The most delicate and lovely flowers Spring up around them wherever they go. mbs and every beautiful and harmless form of animal live act out their natures in sportive gam- ‘boils; lovely birds fill the air with t] GROUPS OF HEAVENLY CHILDREN, clothed In beautiful garments, singing heavenly songs and engaging in innocent ‘sports, are seen on tue Velvet lawns and In the beauuful groves, Their very sports are an exhibition of innocence. Their garments Illustrate it, Innocence speaks in the tones of their voices; it is expressed io pantomime in thetr gestures; it Anines in thtr faces, and 18 dis- played t6 the life in every act, As the little pupils enter into this scene innocent affections become awakened In their own hearts; they have a percep- tion of the meaning of the whole scene; they sce in- nocence itself inform. After an hour or a day of delight they return to thelr homes with a perfect image of innocence indelibly impressed upon their minds in the most lovely forms. There is no labor in giving or recelving instruction in thia way. Sometimes a single object will appear which is the symbol of some idea or truth of which they wish to know more. It may be a flower, whose color and fragrance teebly express the {dea. ‘It may be a bird, whose plumage and song and graceful motions re- present it. It may be an animal or a garment or some charm in the world around them, ‘This is THE PERFECTION OF TEACHING, and we can all see that it lies in the direction of all improvements in the art of teaching in this worid. A map or diagram or picture will give a better idea of many subjects in.a minute than can be communicated by words in an hour ora week. But they are not only taught have a by better methods, and learn more readily, but they are led to the Lord by everything they see, hear and enjoy. Their food and garments and beautiful habi- tations and all the lovely objects around are the its of the Lord and tokens of love. Their af. fections are newly awakened by new and beautiful surprises, They find new flowers in their gardens; new birds sing new songs; the new.and more beau- tiful garments appear in their wardrobes; new or- naments adern their rooms, and the world shines with @ new brightness. Seeing thie, their hearts open more fally to the Lord. EDUCATION 18 NOT REPRESSION; It is what it truly signifles—the drawing forth of all the faculties into harmonious and joyous play. The most of the commandments in thls world are negative. They begin with ‘nou shalt not.” In the other world they are laws of life leading to good. There are no negatives in the heavenly language. There are no euch expressions as “ioust not’ and “do not.’’ All the faculties of the spirit unfola from within like ablossom. Thus, y heavenly methods, they learn truth for heavenly ends; and they use it as they learn It. Knowledge 1s simply learning how to live, and every step is & distinct and clear attainment. ST. STEPHEN'S ROMAN CATHOLIC (CHURCH. Generali’s Mass and Sermon by Rev. Dr. Howley. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather and the diMiculty of pedestrianism yesterday there was & goodly congregation at this beautiful Catholic Obureh at high mass. Generall’s mass for four voices, No, 6, consisting of the Ayrie, Gloria and Credo, and the Sanctus and Agnus of Mercadante’s three part mass, formed the musical services. The choir consists of Madame de Lussan and Miss Bailey, soprani; Miss Jacobs and Miss Sanger, contraiti; Dr. Barrowes, tenor, and Herr Wein- lich and Signor Carlo Mancini, bass. The organist is Mr. Henry B. Danferth, a clever, well trained #¥d painstoxing musician. Of the mass of Generali, the Domine Deus, a terzetto for’soprano, tenor and bass, the Qut Zollts the same, Cum Sancto ana a fine bass solo, Bt anam Sanctam, are the chief features. Tho singing of the choir re- fects great credit on !t admirable conductor and evinced a degree of spirit, religions fervor and u banimity which is very scarce tn church choirs nowadays. At the Gospel, Rev, Dr. Howley, oi St. Johus, Newfoundland, preached the sermon, taking nis text from the Cospel ef the day:— Matthew, chapter vii. He spoke of the necessity of eaon Fou JSTING THE INTEREST OF 11 alf, and obtaining from vcaram tat spe- rdunship requisite to lead on safely to the nof the good and faithful Christian, He next referred to the virtue of bemauce, Which nowadays very little thought of, We are aptto confound the th ma the sacrament of the the virtue of penance: with same name, Yet the ent is useless without ‘that necessary | of the soul which makes it fitted to receive Unreugh the c cwithont some exertion on our part. Sptall the ter and quiet the waves” in our souls im as did the disciples, ‘we must nie ab SAVE US OR WE PERISH,” From this preacher enlarged the Bynicct by Breate i genera ‘are towards salvation the pt it makes no effert to prepare his soul by the n acts of eppnance and prayers f lot oat Paal the sacra! c ‘When the soul 1s become insiruments ef vation. The virtue of mental re and religion. The very instruments and incentives of sin become the means & Ponlcaeis often in this life, and nothing in the causes there poignant remorse an sinner thad the Ma Age which once. i im to trans- gress the laws of God. Rev, Father Griff was the celeprant of high mass, : SOUTH REFORSED CHURCH. Free America 4alutes Free and United Italy— Sermon by the Rev. Pr. Rogers. The Rey. Dr. Rogers, pastor, officiated at morn- ing service in the South Reformed church, corner of Twenty-first street: aud Fifth avenue. Atter the ‘usual prayers and lessons the choir sang the 156th hymn, which was a most appropriate prelude to the sermon. The preacher took for his text the words—‘They of Italy salute you,” Hebrews xill., 24, and having explained the circumstances under which the epistie was written, and enumerated tne glories and ulumphs of ancient Italy, and sketched the early history of Christianity in Rome, he continued: ONSLAUGHT ON THE PAPACY. Here, too, was the scene of the rise of a corrupted Christianity, the seat of the vast dominions of “The Man of Sin,” where for many centuries he wielded supreme civil and ecclesiastical power over kings and kingdoms, arrogatng té himself lordship over the conselences and souls of men, claiming atvine authority and infallibility, and long wielding a des- potism which, for the superhuman craft of ita policy and the bitter malignity of its spirit, and the mar- vellous energy of its movement and the unbounded extent of its success has always EXCITED THE WONDER OF MANKIND and has no parallel in the history of the world, Such is that Italy from which, eighteen hundred years ago, Christian salutations were sent by men who were believers in Jesus Christ and His pure re- ligion to those who sympathized wich them in other parts of the known world. Hew littie they knew, how utterly hidden in the bosom of the future it ‘Was, that, eighteen centuries after this epistie was written, from @ land unknown to the world, from @ land to be discovered by a native of tneir own Italy, from a land settled as an asylum for all the oppressed of the earth, whetner by POLITICAL OR ECCLESIASTICAL BONDAGE, aland great and respected wherever the name of freedom is a householé word, and great and re- spected only because her history and institutions recognize and illustrate the grand principles of civil and religious liberty, which are inseparably connected with Christianity in her purity and power—how little, I say, aid the Italian Christians Of apostolic times imagine that from such a land, in these later days, hearty Christian salutations would be sent back across the mighty ocean to their own land, congratulating the Italy of to-day upon the triumph of these same principles and the establish. ment of civil and religious freedom tn the city of the Cresars and the Popes? As in apostolic times, those times of danger and persecution when the disciples of the new religion needed the Meral syrupathy and support of all their fan —— oe en shed oes fo ts hearty salu to verywhere, Who bilge the cause of Christ; 80, in thls day, it is all tm accordance with the spirit of the Gospel that American Christians should send back to Italy and to Reme their hearty congratulations and their ear. nest prayers that inesrimabie of CIVEL AND RELIGIOUS FRI iy yed and that their fair gael cursed With & political and ecclemastical of the werst sort, may be thoroughly reacei and regenerated, and take @ Ug Place among the free Chnstian mations of the earth. The great assembly which lately gathered In our city to CONGRATULATE THE ITALIAN PEOPLE upon the new unity of their nation, showed by its enthusiastic feeling and its eloquent ntterances that the hearts of the people beat in harmony with the friends of Italian tr It 1s Just as proper for the free Church of Jesus Christ to express her senti- ments of pathy and tender her offers of moral support, e Church of Jesus Christin this coun- try holds as cardinal doctrines that God alone is — of the conscience; that every man has a right 0 that christ ia the high priest of tue Church, and th a st ie the o lurch, and the of ods wil Bible a revelation o} Open to all, Aad the Only authoritative rule of faith and practice; that re- enfor yy moral ncies, and that m2 18 not of this worid; ana it ig her y toexpreas sympathy with movements that favor of these principles, which are essential to the best welfare of men and nations, Having re- ferred to the meetings held here in ee to Trahan unity as @ f of the value of this Mpetey of speech, liberty of science and liberty of the pi which they would deny Italy, the preacher said the sympathy. we feel for the aged Pope bidding fare- well to his temporal greatness must be modified when we remember how false he hag been to the | olden opportunity within his grasp twenty years The ene concluded a very: eloquent ser- mon as follows:—We, of Christian America, salate those of FREE AND UNITED ITALY, We congratulate them upon that great event which has so happily and so peacefully occurred in their interestmg land, From our W of view we see more in it than a p rather that advancing on We salute our Italian brethren, and say to thi “Stand fast in the Nberty wherewith Obrist made you free, and be not in en- tangled in the yoke orbondage.” Eighteen red years or they of Italy saluted those who re in Sympathy with them in their faith, and to-day we send to them from the great Christian land the salu- tations of millions who sympathize with them in their civil and religious liberty, WE BID THEM ‘GOD SPEED,” and extend to them the hand of cordial fellowship. We welcome free and united Italy to the sisterhood Of the nations, and we do it all the more cordially because we believe we shall yet be permitted to con: gratulate her people on the attainment of that higher freedom which is the fruit of spiritual Chris- uanity, and welcome them at last to the fellowship of the citizensbip of the Kingdom of Christ, movement, We see in it a al i of our Lord is stead! the Kip; the Ea BLYECKER STREET UNIVERSSLIST CHURCH. “He, Being Dead, Yet Speaketh?—Discourse by the Rev. Mr. Powers. ‘The usual services being concluded the reverend gentleman read an announcement of a social gather- ing of the Young Men’s Universalist Associat}on, and urged upon the JadieS the necessity of showing their interest in the affairs of the church by being present at the reunion in large numbers. “No organization could succeed,” he said, ‘without the ladies.”” Mr. Powers, taking his text from Paul’s Epistle to the Hebrews, x1, 4, ‘He, being dead, yet speaketh,” sald:—I could baye no better preface to the remarks lam going to make than the hymn we have just sung—a song of cheer. Around about us in every direction lie thousands of our dead in their beds of rest, If we go to Paris—gay, frivolous Paris—and visit the famous GRAVEYARD OF THE CAPITAL OF FRANCE— a8 we wander amid the marble monuments and noble tombs erected to the filustrious dead—we read how virtuous and exemplary were the lives they led, how dear to the relatives and friends they left behind, but not one word of faith. We hear nothing of God—everywhere our dead are Jying. Everywhere that men are found are found the dead; yet they are not dead, but have passed into an eternal life and now speak to us from their narrow beds. We must not then look to what the living may do, but at what the dead have done, The first great pain of the unbounded mother’s love was felt by the mother of him who did the firat murder, You would say, how can one remember so long back? But sti! tne record is kept, not Jn the old story, but he re in the New Testament. Is Abel dead? ana his mother wourns over him and weeps for hus loss. 48 LAFAYETTE DEAD? That brave young soldier who left behind him all the brilltant and attractive life that surrounded bim to fight for our country—is bis name dead “Is that noble son of America, George Washington, dead? He lies amid the beauty and classic shade of Mount Vernon, but bis spirit isabroad, Are we not what we are to-day because Washington lived and still lives in the hopes and aspirations of his country- men? Asthe great poet said, “There is no lie.’ God 1s the life, and in Him alone can we truly live. God is not the dead, but of tne Myimg. “I am the God of Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob,” cried the Lord, 10 Jim then shall we find rest and life, Let there not then be a breath of sorrow, for does not the Jesson of this morning teach us they will come back to us, our beloved dead ? ‘he reverend gentleman, after explaining that he Ws Not @ Spiritualist, went on to say:— LOVE IS ETERNAL, Impertshable; it Springs from the beart and is an ateribute of dod. If the particle of wate that falls q ¢ ground shall know resarrection, how much more, then, of the soul? All slong ‘he, hine of those who have departed from us—the child, mother, father, brother, Jover—all whom loved erished, or honored and revered—they are gone before us to smoot our. path; they are enediators between us and the Lord. In the sense of finality, tl there is no death. We should, indeed, for the Ilfe, death and resurrection of Christ ra ve ked of death. God is the Lord of life, and Chr! imself has said, “Believest thou Pe t IT am in the Father and the Fatber 1s in me, or belleve me for the work's sake?” Christ here speaks of a miraculous work. These are the i MIRAQLYS THAT CONVERGE. Asthe focus of faith Mr, Powers described the Poetic faith of the savage, who beileves all the great men of his race are assembled in that Nappy Spirit land to which he hopes vw come, and, having en- larged to a considerable exerat pony the memory of the dead, cont nein know many good men Who do not believe in a future state. OW ONE, A most estimable man, who would givé all tiie wealth he Finge could he believe in the immor tality of the soul. How many men aré there 1n thi great city to-day revolving round the lestal of seli—who live ares their own philosophy—their 0" gt They have no form of worship. no faith, but TRY TO ACT UP TO THEIR OWN ESTIMATE of what is just anc per. A man washoupretietan he com) toa Rpt upon the ocean “4 a fturious tem) at 18 a ship without Palos When the pilot omes On board and Focal ves ol of the vessel the captain goes below and the bark steered ipjoa haven of safety. We must give up ourselv we do not take on board the Great Pilot Life. When Christ comes on board every sail is filled, and though we may be tempest-tossed, Chriat ‘will guide us through. Men endeavor to steer their own course and start Upon the voyage freighted full with hope, scnd- ding along under a blue sky, and all confident, but 5008 you ind them WRECKED UPON A QUICKSAND, and all is lost. If we puta bird into ac sing; but tf we wish to hear the 1 of his deepest = ody he net set be oe cee it ee eon ‘when set free eal gage and gon the presence of its raken Then it 13 joy anh glory, What, hays is death? [t is like thé poo) man in th cit} yon would move him from miserable hovel to the palace of Stewart—the pri- soner at the Tombs awaiting sentence, and the Gev- othe pastor, aiteran urxent to his congre © pastor, alter an urgent appenl - mM lift up their hearts to tod, terminated his The music at this church is an especial feature, The quartet is composed of the following ladies and gentiemen:—Miss M, Barnett, sopra: 8. Sutton, alto: Mr. Allen, tenor; C. B, i], conductor, an: Mr. Jeseph Pozanski presides at the organ. Mise Barnett, besides being a skilled musician, is an authoress of seme pretensions, having written somé capital ballads. e attendance, in spite of the weather, was very he will ‘| should see clearly an fair. ST. JOSEPHS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. The Falterere in Faith—Sermos by Rey. Father Clancy. At St. Joseph’s Reman Catholic church, in Sixth avenue, the Rev. Father Clancy preached yesteraay morning toa large congregation, in condemnation of the course of Catholics who, though well meaning in the main, are se absorbed in affairs of the worid as to disregard preparations for the future, The reverend father said, in substance, that with Catholics religion is not a mere sentiment, no mere poetry. it embraces a set of principles which show us our duty to God and to man, The good Catholic who performs his duties toward God is ever a helpful neighbor, but whatever of good he does it is with the expectation of reward in the future, To him THE TREASURES OF THIS WORLD are valuable only in proportion as they enable him todo good to his family and fellow men, but ne prizes far more highly those treasures of the future which neither rast nor wear can consume. Death is not terrible in bis eyes; he may regret the dear ones left behind, but he knows he will meet them ‘whither he 1s going in a sunnier and happier clime, Many Catholics there are who do not live up to their fessions; many who are keenly alive to the betty interests of the present, but to whom future appears eXtremely vague. They May at times wake. from the sleep which is on them, but only to glance at things which they then relapse, Would they have the future, and all that mars our prospects in it, duly supra $hey must earnestly practice RELIGION IMPOSES upon them. First among these Is to sacrament of penance. rr those who this ig the road to a ant peppy Tt will not do to say to the Almighty; I have sinned; I know I have done very 4 am sorry for it and will do better in the future. There is no obligation on Him to for- give you. It willmovdoto say to your credit I Row recognize my folly in contracting debts to you which I cannot pay, and then rest secure. The past sing, the past debts must be forgiven before we can claim favor from God. [sit then wonderful that He puts a condition to our forgiveness? That He re. quires our confession of transgressions to another man? Is it not rather wise that He takes this meang of allowing us to feel that our sins are forgiven, and poh eg reat secure of being restored to His ip TRINITY M. E. CHURCH. Importance of Troubies in the Formation and Elevatien of Christian Character—Sermen by Rev. Dr. C. D. Foss. . ‘The faithfal few who faced the storm yesterday morning to hear the Rev. Dr. Foss preach were not disappointed, as, indeed, they never are. His text was John, xvii, 15—“I pray not that thon shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep tnem from the evil.” The worst possible pic- ture that could be drawn efthe evils of this life was Presented, and then the query was put, why the Saviour should have prayed such a prayer as this for his disciples. There were many reasons why he should have efered upa far different prayer. The griefs and the risks, the sorrows and the trials of this life are such that it would scem the Saviour should have beep anxtous to take His followers as speedily as possible to Himself, The smallest community on earth 1s not free from physical and mental pain and anguish; and who can compute the sum of pain and suffering which tne one billion two hundred and fifty millions of earth’s inhabitants endure from day today? The inheritance of this lire is AN INHERITANCE OF TWO FOLD RISKS— the risks which await us here ana those whicn await us nereafter—risks of the body and of the soul. But the Sayiour knew ali this, He had passed through them all, and yet knowing, as He dia, the full measure of human anguish end suffering, He prayed not that His disciples might be taken ovt of the world, but that they mignt be kept from theevil, This World is @ good place to live in, sinful as ic is, and while as a rule Christians should not die early, bat should live on to show to the world the beauty of the Gospel and the religion of Jesus Ohrist, tngt men may take knowledge ef them that they have been with Jesus, there are many and noble ex- ceptions to therule, The early martyrdom of the Saviour has ttself been the inspiration to lead on many @ young saint to labor and suffering ana mar ne. and glory, John Summerfield, who died at the age of twenty-seven, having burned out h oung life in the service of the Master, might not Rave done more for Him had he lived to tne of three score and ten. And for us who love God it is blessed to live and labor and suffer on until the Mas- tershall say “IT 18 ENOUGH; COME UP HIGHER.’ ‘This world is a good school for virtue. There is many 8 man Whoin God cannot get to heaven with- out leading him chin deep throt tribulation. And though we do not understand the discipiine and do not like it the Saviour knows that it is best for us, and He therefore prays not that we should be taken Out of the world, but that we should be kept from the evil. Without the trials and afflictions of life virtue cannot be produced and nourished, of every Christian in the pursuit of holiness is more or Jess surrounded py difficulties, which bring out in him the traits of meekness, ypatience, endurance of wrong, &c., which he could not show had he not thoee trials, §8t, James pointe to the example of Job and calls it an example of suffering patience, which manifested the goodness and coped of God, Foe in the trialg of human life we hav facilities for the display Of qualities to which the apgels must be rs, Man’s sin has been the UNVBILING OP GOD’s GLORY. and the means of rounding out and,enrobling that very character which shall make ys meet for heaven. The temptations that we meet nere are favorable to our greater sharing of the glory that shall te re- vealed r. St. Paul can hold more of heaven than the penitent thief on thd cross, Eeriony, ry ness 1s relative our individual capacity to enjoy, }0 that while we may be all pertood PRY, in gory may ma es as happy as another. They that win souls are wise, and they that are wise, that 18 ,Who win souls shall shine as the frmament, with @ general lustre upon tke brignt Bta light night, bot they that turn many to righteousness as the stars—particular stars the prightest of the bright stars—forever and ever. Every trial is God's chisel stroke to fit us for the nicnes of His great sculpture gallery jn glory, but atevery surose we wince and wish ft were not so, Ley ua step a litte higher, and With St. Paul rejoice In tribulation, knowing weil that our Leht allicuons which are but for a mument will work out for us a far more exceeding and eter- nal weight of glory. ST. BERNARD'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHU What We Are’ te BelleveSermon by the Rev. Father Kearsecy, This ttle church, dedicated in honor of ‘the meliiduous Doctor,” is situated in Thirteenth street, near Tenth avenue, in the westernmost part of the city. The parish was formed some two years and & half ago by une present pastor, Rev. G. A. Healy, and has increased to that extent that ground has already been purchased in Fourteenth street on which to build & larger and more com- modious edifice. Yesterday every pew was filled. High mass was celebrated by the assistant pastor, Rev. P. J. Healy, @ volunteer choir singing with fine effect Hermann’s mass in C minor, After the first gospel the Rev. J. F. Kearney ascended the pulpit, taking for nis text Matthew viu., 23-27. He satd:—Why are ye fearful, ob, ye of little faith? Faith 1s the virtue we must all have tf we wish to enjoy heaven, Our faith must be firm, active and entire. St. John says, “God has given power to those who believe in His name.’ St, Paul says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Christ Himself has said, ‘He who does not believe will be condemned,” We wish to pieee God; w do not wish to be condemned; bs refore We musi have faith. How aré we to know the THINGS WHICH WE ARE TO BELIEVE? There are two parties in the Christian world—the Protestant party ont the Catholic party. The former gay that the Werd of God interpreted by any man of sound acgmens, ig the rule by which we are to know the truths revealed and Lig we are fe be- lieve; the latter say that the Word of God, as inter- boplerd by the Church, is the rule ee which we are know what has been revealed. Which rule are We follow? : THR RULE OUGRT TO BB PLAIN, easy, Universal and certain. The Protestant ruie is not “aga is not certain. It does not accommodate itself to the ignorant, the unlearned, 8, Peter says thas “the Werd of God is hard to understand,” that ‘the unlearn and unstable wrest it to their own destruction.” It is not a comprehensive rule. It gives us no authorit: for Keepin Los vgs ( the first day of the week, lace of Saturday, the seventh. It is not certain, for ih individual gives his owo entation. and never ss 8 it to be the true sense of Scripture. The f a olic rule 1s plain, easy, Camprehensive and cer- It is plain for ail, young and old; Mares its authority for all its doctrines and for Scripture being the Word of God, each pastor giving, not his own view or opinion, but that of the whole churen, the church being the infallible authority of God, COLLEGIATE DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH. Pauls Discourse on Mars Hill—Sermen by the Rev. Dr. Chambers. An antique, yet withal stately, puilding is the Col- legiate Dutch Reformed church, at the corner of Fourth street and Lafayette place. Ite outside ap- pearance of antiquity, however, gives little mdica- tion of the old-fashioned appearance within. Every- thing but @ magnificent organ which, perched in the gallery, seems to tell of innovation, has the air of a Period tully fifty years ago. The high-backed pewa, lined with light brewn cloth, worked in flowers, sweep round the church in a semi-circular form, while the platiorm for the preacher is at the farther end of the aisle, in a capacious vault-like recess, its only canopy the roof, and In the centre stands a huge block ef white marble, which scems like an It 1s covered with acrimeon velvet cushion; and this is the pastor’s reading elegant tombstone. desk. The gennine antiquity of the place was more apparent during the morning service yesterday than usual. Even the sturdy descendants of THE OLD KNICKBOCKERS who worship here were deterred by the severity of the storm from venturing ont-of-door this Sunday. Accordingly the church was very thinly attended, Rot more than fifty worshippers, including about a dozen ladies, being present. Thus it was that the ancient and somewhat sombre characteristics of the building were more than usually apparent, nearly the entire fashionable congregatton being weather- bound. After singing a hymn ana prayer the venerable Talbot W. Chambers, announced as bis text Acts xvil., 4—God, that made the world and all things therem, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dweilleth net te-temples made pastor, Rev. Dr. with hands,” being the first propostsion of PAUL'S FAMOUS DISCOURSB at Athens, which was pronounced in the Areopagus, where the most important questions of religion and law were decided. Dr. Ohambera characterizea Paul's discourse as 4 calm, logical aigament on frat ve It stood alone—none like it had ever livered by himself or any of his associates, Inthe first line the elementary principles were stated which overthrew THE WHOLE SY8TEM OF PHILOSOPHY. No needless offence was given, although his own feel- ings wore deeply en: . He pone. with the con- of one in authority—consolous of the posses- sion of the truth, but uttered ne gel against the national worship. He (the preacher) de- duced three observations from the text:—The first Was that Christianity contains the true philosophy. It was a mistake to say that our mn is simply one of authority. It claims to nt principles which men who use their reason ly must admit to be proved, quite apart from the fact who it is that mem. Gospel gainsgmost of its success b, its excellent sillgcinnn x ri ADAPTIVENESS TO IIUMAN NEEDS, The disconrse on Mars Hill stands apart as a proof that the profoundest philosophy cannot impair or displace the nataral foundations on which re- uigion is based. The secone observation was that cultare is often a bar to faith. Never did Paul address a more cultivated tiie Never dtd he meet with so little success. Itis not because re- a OR oi ee least: ee to ey but be- Wi usually puffs men up and they re- fuge to. come down to te e f HUMILIATING TERMS OF THE GOSPEL, which not only proclaims one blood as the source of all men, but one Saviour as alike needed. Finaity, e observed that Jesus Christ was the turning point ‘ue pillar on which all turned. For His song ali 7 begins and ends with Him. The power of all jadgments is committed to His hands. Beiteving in His name they may hear at Jast the archangel'’s trump without even a moment’s shudder. For the Judge would be their advocate and friend, day of triumph would prea ssiace toa life ever- lasting. But if they had no hold on Him nothing Te ed but an undone eternity. ‘CHURCH OF THE ME3SIAH. What a Man Must Believe that He May Be Saved—A Sermon en Faith and Worke, by the Rev. George H. Hepworth. The Church of the Messiah, in ‘Thirty-fourth street, at the corner of Park avenue, was well filled yesterday morning by a congregation evidently very devout. The Rey. George H. Hepworth, the Pastor, gave asort of essay, fully of dramatic force and power, upon the cardinal virtues of man and the cardinal principles of faith. In bis intro- duction he sald:—We live on from day to day not daring to question, not daring to pull down and not able to build again. There is a wonderful laxity in regard to the training of children in religious and moral paths, We teach to them geography and arithmetic and leave them to follow their own methods of thought as we leave the ivy to creep at random over the trellis, We send them out into the world with the means to live, put without 4 STAR OF HOPE. We may know an honest mariner and one who is skilled in all tne lore of a sailor's craft. Yet, were we merchants and he should come to us with @ preposition to sail one of our ships to a foreign land over a trackless ocean, and that he woud steer her course without a compass or without @ chart, we might have every confidence in the honesty of his epinion, but we should shake our heads and refase te entrust the safety of our vessels and merchandise to one who re! the aid Ol ecience. Man’s life is infuenced by what he be- eves, and he is apt to soar high or P 1.0) OREE! : as his nature and the prinotples of his bellef may dictate, It makes a greet, ‘deal of difference what are ifves val Saat ae ety, tpt pa ald a one a faith 1s of little 7 Benet throws an aroma and a perful lite, and, though I have the highest respect To} the purity of his tought” yet canto! be persue e purity thou; that atheism made mm Dare. would not, how- ever, in this lead any one to beileve that my 1mpres- Bion was that the man who was upright and true, and yet was an atheist, was not better than one who a faith mm Obristianity and yet was @ Villain in his bout all @ ni 1 WOULD RATHER GO before the Judgment seat of God to-day, saying “I never believed in all this, 1t seemed preposterous to me, but | have never disobeyed your eternal laws,’? than to go and say “J am A tan; | beleved ell, but 1 gave the to all.” There are some People whe live in our age, Who prefer to ride on an Id-fashioned coach, chaise or verti wagon than on the cars, which dash #0 rapidly by them. The “whir-r-r-r” and the ‘hiss’ of the escaping steam are their salutations and tokens of the respect Which a great age, to which they have ceased to be- long, pays them. You must belteve mGod to he saved, and you Must believe in Him aa our Heaveniy Father, Jt is heaven and believe should believe in of Ohrist and not in the God of the Jews. It Powe s hacow over man’s whole hfe to such @ faith ae that of the dead ages, RELIGIOUS SERVICES IN BROOKLYW Brother Beecher Insinuatingly Apologizing t4 St. Paul—Religious Dissipations—Rev.? . ° - tridge Instructing the Wiliamsbun, * PLYMOUTH CHURCH. Geod Works vse. Doctrines—Religious Dissl} i patione—A Chance for Unitarians. | On agcount of the superabundance of snow the! was an occasional vacant seat in Plymouth chare | yesterday, but the congregation was very large, an 4 listened to Mr. Beecher’s plea for good works wit! commendabte interest. After the preliminary exercises and the reading @ variety of notices concerning lectures, concert charities and pew rents, the preacher an¢ nounced that his text would be fon in Titus, ii, 8, 14:—“This ts @ faitnful sayil and these things I will that thou a™irm constantly) that they which have believed in God might be care ful to maintain good works. These things are goo’ and profitable unto men.” ‘And let ours also leart to maintain good works for necessary uses.’’ In the three epistles of the apostie to Titus an@ Timothy there are not only expressions of Paul’ theology, but indications of his ideas of the mode 0: administering truth. In these letters, which ard written for the purpose of TEACHING TEACHERS HOW TO TEACH, ' there is great emphasis lata on the subject of goog works, Tnere is more said abont good works in the New Testament than in the pulpit, Men are afrai@ that a doctrine of good works will lead them away from the solid foundations. The text is not an acci+ dental passage. Good works are urged throug houg Paui's epistles, and by good works he means righ{¢ feelings carried out into right aetions. There arq | hints to magistrates, to subjects, to slaves, to huss banas and wives and children; to the poor and tha rich, the joyful and the sorrowing. And ali thid ¥ variety of preaching that Paul gives us a warrant for makes it seem strange to me that peopl should tell preachers not to touch this or that a cal subject, but stick to the Gospel. You remembe! how in the old times, if we put anything into o1 sermons but D ALIVE INTELLECTUAL STATEMENTS, ws sdeing told that it was o Teasons for this contempt of good works good Reonle. ane Was among the Jews at the of Obrist & spirit that led them to put their salvatior ‘Upon an outward observance of the law, They mad night living consist in eheand performances, not in character. Against this Paul argued that the Was no merit In good works; that they were merely instrumental, and were ONLY GOOD FOR WHAT THEY DID, But in thus denouncing good werks, Paul aid | mean the works which are the outward expreeeio! of benevolent feeling, When the reformers found men doing werks s1 Perstitiously, believing that there was a moral, pu: els power in certain lines of conduct, se muc cred fo ok 90 TAADY Braver OF | sis, oF penances, q mages, they up their voices against Tney naid that God loves the heart that is ane just, and loving and true, the inward motive, an not the outward expression. Here Mr. Beecher defined bis idea of justifieatt by faith to be a justification that takes place when — has a faith that makes the Divine navure a able in CLEANSING HIS HUMAN NATURE, When by faith a man puts his heart in con God’s heart, and so 1s purified, he is just faith. Another reagon for the baa He works ig the doctrine that a morality the,” ¢ in the Jowest ideas of outward soctai d* clent, ed Paying of debts and tax¢ as tl basis of character, wuarbe heart may be full of degrading 1,° P The ee met this dectrine of merality =e men it ee if not understood ri 2 ’ men te think that there was no value ing: The pulpit has preached against good 70: 4 counteract the influence of men who preach TASTE AND IMAGINATION ithe place of sound doctrine, The preaching sentiment may do for men Tefined, pelish men already enamelled, but it never d and never will get ‘hold of the comm the cons Beecher at large. It has no hold en science, mo power, no grip. Mr. paid he and §=hig father used ww pa ec een! SERS, SEN cate tap hay. ut to the olf i question—“‘If @ man should ride b; @river, and seeing & drowning man shouid at t! pert! of his life rescue him, wouldn’t the act Y) “There would be no virtue in it,” the elde; leecher replied; ‘it would be only 4 NATURAL IMPULSE.”’ “Well, said the younger, “if natural should spread 80 that the werld sho be full of them, what would be the dife ference between natural impulses and grace?® All aympath; uity, trath, magnanimit all that. goes 16 enti emooth and irradiate atte i good thafy { imple 80 far as it goes; but this will not sat Wrongdoing. A man may do 4 great many kin his yet the current of his life may be seltfis ‘ ig another question, and it is one that all wil o well to look to. But ifa man does a good, gener+ ous act to-day, tt is @ good act, though he was stingy og Da and will bé mean to-morrow. The thin; lor him to do isto keep on doing good ee t | the whole current of his life sets in the direction off good. Men do a great many SINGLE ACTS OF GOODNESS, | but it is the character that is the man. Tnere mu / be a continuity of good—good emotions should incarnated in geod Works or they are hurtful to tho: who Sle Se a People go to meeting an fee! refresh HAVE A GOOD TIME SINGING; they go on Sunday, they go on Friday night an they go every night, but what is the resdit? In pi portion as people go to meeting they should ae out of meeting. If you are stimulated and Il of ecatacy you are apt to be scl(-decelved. Ther, is nothing more dangerous than INTBNSITY OF PEBLING AND PAUCITY OF ACTIONS: There is a great deal too much going to meeting. Ii It contd be distributed, and everybody §o BOuN better. If ev sy nobedy go so much it would h ime the flail comes down there could be some wheat threshed out there would be more good done on th threshing fleor of Ife. It is better to indoctrinate col tion in the principles of good living thai in the philosophy of religion. Cnrist understuo: ‘this, and acted first and then instructed. His maxint was, “Let lige light shine before men, that they. your geod works, may giorify your Father is in ven’? andterzene conse of goad wrk more by deeds than by dogmas of creeds man is early taught to believe that there is no” GOOD AMONG THB QUAKERS, — .cey, and that a Catholic cannot by any possit, Cro- Obristian. He goes to the war and when » and sick he is ni yy some pure AF), Quakers or tender, loving Sisters of and mes after will allow no o, speak til of them. He has seen’ -. ood works, man who is tremendu. Srinodox drifts into a Unitarian family and fin. ) himeelf rebuked by their gmplicity and swectne. | and self-forgetfulness; he finds that he has z ‘A WANT OF MORAL TONE, i reconcile tI A loes believe that some Unt will be taved. tarians 5 What Christ soeks 1s the bullding up of manhoor ‘That manhood 1s obligatory upon everybody, Wh ig true, loving, of good report, that do, and pra, there works may be added the - that will make them involuntary. hood CHRIST CHURCH. “Holding Forth the Word of Li‘e?—Ser, by the Rev. Dr. Partridge. The services in Christ church, Bedford ave. Williamsburg, yesterday forenoon were wholly « ducted by the venerable rector, Rev. Dr. Paré“/ small congregation attending. At the com of the usual services Dr. Partridge preached : ven, ively from Philippians, xvi., 2:—-Holding Word of Life, that I may rejoice in the day « ‘or that I nave not ran in vain, neither labored L.. jew. In commenting on the text the learned rect an, that, DO matter how we are situated in thir bd ag OY poor, happy or unhappy, leary * unleat WE ALL LIVE FOR THE FUTURE, and hope for a better hereafter. As that futuré trols our happiness go tt controls our fears. Dast we have scen generation after swept away from earth, and no m has them. The sun makes his 00D Come been received a u Tors ke Le che ta travels, but bi and Pus yi} ir fs the world we are ail trave: og Serlptures alone inform us of thc gets, are elient as to BE 18 A YOOL WHO GOERS BEYOND THE SCRIPTUR 0 get information in regard to it and of the spir ting i ast give us coui yey . Nea! > Inhabit i} Faith m for infortation of the Oity of the Great . at ‘We reach it, ‘All knowledge concerning the fatw condition of man is to be fo in t Imiste of akepuiolnny and erousey” saver, light and The Bible contains allhas if Et 1 our happiness on earth, and ts the light that ug thro the darkness of death to eternal Ii ‘on Genesis to the Revelations it 18 al perfect guide, It 1s, however, dificult for persc read it hurriedly to understand all its myster) x but there is enough Plainly revealed to ail to lead) salvation. What Cannot be understood or reounct 40 no narm ABA May as Well remain s TAE POPULAR FALLACIES OF THR DAY have no support or authority in 1a Seriptyres, kecond coming of Christ 8 ¢ 2