The New York Herald Newspaper, March 18, 1872, Page 4

NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, MARUH 18, 1872.-TRIPLE SHhHET, RELIGIOUS. Christian Worship and Christian Utter- ances in the Churches Yesterday. WR, BEECHER AT STEINWAY HALL, | Fom?Y-sueonp ‘Very effective, ana tne various ena Sgpmareg im the first verse were personified, and shown be utterly powerless in the triumph of their depend. ance upon merely external graces, Thep Mr, Beecher came to the last clause, * Let not he man jown the “Why, that 1@ last glory in his riches,” he ‘ot house with laughier when he would UPSET NEW YORK In twenty-four hours.” He concluded by a fine. per- sonal appeal, In whicn the command wo know the “love ot God in Christ Jesus, our Lord, which asseth knowledge," was asgeried to be the know- ledge that would abide when all else was shrunken into a molien mass, STREET PRESBYTERIAN AU An Eloquent and Effective Sermon | Sermon by the Rev. Dr, Thomas 3. Hnatings— on the Knowledge of God. “New York Upset ia Twenty- four Hours.” UR. HEPWORTH AT PLYMOUIM CHURCH. What He Thinks About Philosophers. The Rev. Dr. Thomas S. Hastings delivered the sermon at the Forty-second street Presbyterian church yesierday morning. He chose for his text:—«I will make men more precious than fine gold.” He stated that it was his intention to show that man was not what he was painted. s¢ sald poets, philosophers ana theologians all combine in calumniating man—they pamt him in the biackeat colors imaginable; they deught in fingiog at nim ali the filth that they can with propriety cover in their rhetoric. He 1s the false creature of the day— Men, Poots and The New Pastor of the Broad- | ‘tte worm; nes me ciod of earth, animated and way Tabernacle. Father Tom Burke on the Wor- ship of Saints. 4 Discourse by Dr. Hastings on Men, Poets and Philosophers, Dr. Furness on the Roman "Catacombs. Vather Fransioli om the Persecution of the Catholic Chureh. CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES. Dir, Beecher Exchanging with Mr. Hep- worth-A Greater Crowd tian Usual at Stelaway Hall—Sermen on the Knowledge | Wilules \uat were wasbed on shore; aud the scien- of Goa, Steinway Hall was never more densely packed | ali swith a living throng than it was yesterday morning. ‘The scene, as viewed from one of the stage boxes, Was of the never-to-be forgotten Kind, Lookiug down on the platiorm there was Mr. Beecher, the ‘central Dgure, surrounded by an audience that com- Pletely encompassed him, aad who left him but Aitue room to enjoy that oratorical promenade in ‘which he so frequently indulges while preach- ing in bis own churen, Stretcning before him on the floor end in both galleries ‘was @ crowd that wedged itself into every available and into every unavailable situng and standing place. Judging from the crowds that came to the doors, and finding that they could netther see or hear, and who went away lamenting their lost op- portunity, there must have been, in the opinion of the ushers, quite as many who falled to obtain ad- mission as were admitted. The congregation was largely representative of the more substantial pop- ‘ulation of the city, and inasmuch as, under a new arrangement, tho regular atiendants on Mr. Hep- ‘worth’s ministrations have certain designated seats Feservea for them up toa certain hour, there was discernable here and there amid the sea of faces many a countenance that is FAMILIAR IN WALL STREET, in the Exchange, on the bench, and in political circles; while the long line of private carriages, both in Fourteenth and Fiftécath streets, testified to the substantiality, as far as this world’s goods are concerned, of many Of the vast congregation, Mr. Beecher was more than usually happy in his @ermon. He played upon the emotions of his con+ gregaticn. uke a skilful musician; ever and anon, in a strain of pathetic minor, fliling the eyes of his hearers with a liquid brightness: and then, by the Carol of a talk, brimfall of wit, or by bis inimitable mimicry of some representative character, ae os | p+ Quite a chorus of laughter irom all who hear m, The text selected was the twenty-third and twenty-lourth verses of the niumih chapter of the prophet Jeremiah—*Thas saith the Lord, let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neituer let the mighty man giory in his might, jet not the rich mao glory ia nis riches; but let him that glorieth giory this, that he understandeih and kuoweth me, that Tam the Lord which exercises loving kinuness, judgment and rignteousness on the earth. for in These things 1 delight, saith tue Lord.” Mr. Beecher set out by sketching the Gag condition of humanity and the uniform tepdeacy the earliest times vo seek to know God; how mant- fest this was in (he deification of the varied powers: ol Nature, and how men bad come to worship incarnations that they called by varied names, Impossible as tt was to Know God In any sense of fulness 01 Knowledge, yet the race had at ail times sought this knowledge. alter Cres! this thought, oriefly, hesaid that wouid prepare bim to say What, probably, would have Leen miunderstood nad be said it at the outset, which was, thatevery ‘wan had 11s own CONCEPTION OF GOD, and that conception was, of course, dependent upon the temperament and characteristics of nun ‘Wao formed (he conception. For example, @ stern, just, unytelding man would poriray to himself a God of 1nMexibie yustice; while u ian who was full of benevoleuce, disposed to take a bright view ot everything, would pave quite an- ower conception of God, and would regard Him as a being of boundiess benevolence, Now, in the progress of the men’s couceptions of the Deity widened with their imcreased knowledge, their growti in spiritual ule and the capacity they possessed of taking In a wide view of the range of buman life. So inatin fact the more we knew of God ine more we were enabled to judge of Him im accordance with the periection of His character. Bul then the text says that “the man 1s to glory 1n this, that be undersiandeth and kooweth God.” “Well, tnat is true ana it isn't,’ said Mr, Becener, and, putting tne littie bible which ne nad heid im lls hand, to the improvised pulpit, he stepped to the front of the platform, and with an earnestness, a facility of speech and power of portrayal that he vas seldom surpassed, he pro- ceeded to illustrate this aua kindred truths, That, said he, 1g no more true than it would be o say that the alphabet ts si THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, ‘and yet that alphabet contained all the letrers in Witch the English language is speil, and which made up the wondrous store we call the English literature. Men say they kuow Gou and plume themselves on their Knowledge. ‘The wisest of nem ouly kuow just enough to begin to touch the hem of 44s garmeit, Let us look at the limitatiois of our knowledge o: men here. 1 go 1uto a pigture gallery and 1 see @ portrait that is a iace madicative of beauty, or comcliness, or that has Iitile in it that 1s Indicative o! either, but may be the representative ‘Of cnaracter in one of iis many compiex jorms, some One comes to me and says tliat 1s a portratt of Goethe. *Goethe,” Tsay. I look and look, and I say again, and “ihatis Gove.” 1 knew Goethe, J nad read his poetry; I knew something of his phi- dosophy; | have read is dramas, his criticisms, and say, ell, well; thatis Goeine,’? “wells” are so mauy indicauons that [ am thinking about Goetie. ‘he man who has pomted out to me the portrait says to me, “You knew Goethe?" “No,” did nol koow him,” ‘how cau that be, you seem w ‘know all a@toat him. You tell what he did, and ali about 7 “No, 1 tell him, “1 did not know ry 1 had not lived with him—the only way to know men. I had not been with him when he ‘was cue counsellor of princes, had not been with him im his study, had not been wit him in nis | any favorto auy one form of religivus thougat or home, seen bim with his friends, seen hin with his | speech to the exctusion or Offence of all other ; what really did I know about Guethe? It | modes oi religion. Every man—Jew, enemies; ig 80 all through lite; we think we know peopie, and then something occurs that lets us see the arcana of their life, and we find we dida’t know them. For Instance, you go to see ° YOUR WIFE'S RELATIONS, for the first tiiné—(laughter)—well, you nad heard them described; you were pret knew all about th found out that you didn’t know a great deal. remembrance of a husband and wife, whom I once knew—vhey are both in beaven now, I hope, and Lf ‘am sure I earnestly hope know each other better in | Where the name ‘heaven than ever they did on earth. She was & queenly, serene, happy, bright, intellectual woman, noble im character, wondrously inielligent. a » Yalu. weak morial, @ kind of suspicion that he thing, but happy about in the beli C that tek ow all belief tha lus wile, How blinded he was! au it was a y Lituduess, If there was any creature under heaven that he didn’t understand 1 was that wile. There was a glance at aud a characteristic descrip- tion of the attributes of God, in which the side of Jove and mercy was greatly exaited, and in which | man is going to Mar, Beocher laid stress upou his own conviction that it was the side of the love and mercy that was supreme over wat of justice, in opposision to theHigh and all these | | “why, he re- | impregnated by pride in their eyes, which, | must Say, are ovstinately blind. Can they close their eyes to the fact that he nas rec-ived from God the im- preasion of His Divine nature? . SHAKSPEARE telis us that “we are made of tlie same stuff as dreams."’ Did he torget that we were imumorial, or did he disbeileve the truth of immortality? Auother, and truer poet has said, “We are never so proud as when looking down upon ourselves,” ana it we ae- cept his assertion for truth we must beitevo that the. | moment when the former poet wrote of us as “tne stuff of dreams’ was the proudest iu nis iife, There is a divioity about man that the rhetoric of the poet or the reason of the philosopher canaot dis- pel. The Gospel, which is the reason of philosophy and the poetry of poetry, stands like a solid editice and is unharmed by the gentle breeze of Poetry or the stronger wind of pnilusophy. It teaches Us that man has ao immortal part, and that that ‘mmortal part nas veen breathed ito bm by our Lora, our (iod. Man, the Clay of the earth, has been made immortal by having an immortai part breatned into wun, aud by having (no Image Ol his eternal and infinite God stamped upon mis soul. dean is not only the creawure o1 Gud, but he 18 the Child of God, it bas been said toat when Australia Was discovered te iniabicauts of ie Continent Were found steeped in tae most disgraceful and de- graded STATE OF BARBARISM, ‘They lived like anima.s; wey dug jor and ate roots like swine; they devoured the carcases ol dead ust in whose works {£ read those taings con- sidered ue subject of is work m and ever; Way superior to the primitive man, ‘this assertion 1 brand as false; @ud my authority is the Scriptures, vider by cen. turies and wore wuthentcated by a thousand proois than ihe upstart issues of to-day. Cun men who promulgate such aoctrines as these haye con. Selunces, or do they believe they nave souls—imn- morial souls—wiich are to float forever on eternal bliss or writhe ior untold ages in inde- scrivaole tortures? if they believe they gave tin- wiortai sous, and still promulgate their untounded Teiutallon vf God’s revealed Word, 13 well bot enough or eternity iopg enough to puniso thei? 4 POE: iT, in speaking of a certain person, said that “nota floger vouch of God remained’ upon him.” This is what‘ cali profanity. A man may be a murderer, an aduiterer or aropber; out lis pelug such does not take irom him the image engraited upoa him vy nis Maker; though seeped in vice aud crime Le is stili a man, @ iellow being 01 Ours, With @soul as Valuable and immortai as ours. Doviciy and ine State, when they do not recoguize and be- ieve this tact are tu imminent, danger, ‘the muases Which society holds in bondages or refuses to ackuowleuge their rights are as a Vuicano ready at any moment to expiode and eruvt and destroy and shatter ihe weigot that huids them down. ‘Tue State wiicd reiuses to acknowledge tue rights of each individual soul ander its jurisdiciion 1s at any Moment havie to be revolutionized. A friend of mime the otier day told me that whea in Berlin @ poor man tell on wae icy sidewalk and broke nls leg, and that in tour hours alverwards gangs Ot men Were sent ito ine Gifferent districts of the City lo break up we ice, Theiact of the government going to this expense on account oi, pernaps, one Ol the hampiest of 118 citizens, 13 suilicient to account ior the reason why Prussia to-day uolds che sepire of kurupe. lt was by such measures ay this tnat tue preseot king has been enapied to restore again the “empire of Barba. rossu” lo ius former limperial granueur and gain for bhimselt the respect and uouor of all the worid. In speaking Of patriotism @ short time siace toa clerical frend and questioning bim as to bis opinions ui patriousm, ne said:— “L AM NOT A PATRIOT; 1m & cosmopolitau,” fle turtuer said that he did NOt believe 1¢ Was right to be Patriotic, inasmuch as 4 Wok from one poruon of munkind Waal grt belvugeu to it, 1 tolu ulm that bis idea was & goo One, bul that the true patriot loved nut only his own country, but ali others, and bis own in a special manner, My dear oreturen, it ts tius which 1 wish to Impress upon you parucularly this mozning. I hope with ail my beart tuat you will do your utmost im a pecuniary Way to assist the missionaries Wo are now trying to teach aud bring to the heatheu a their birthright as men, the Gospel. CHURCH OF THE MSS! men evenin | True Spirlt of Christianity —ihe United States Constitntion Religiously Coasidered—Moral- izing on the Roman Catacombs—Sermon by R Dr. William i. Farness, of Philade:- phin. Judging from the Increasing attendance each Sunday at the Church of we Messian, corner of Park avenue and ‘Tnirty-fourth street, it 13 evident that there is a growing interest in the series of ser- mons io progress of delivery nere by prominent Unitarian clergymen upon the leading tenets of their Church. Rey. Dr. William H. Faruess, of Phiiadel- phia, occupied the pulpit yesterday, and, despite the day belng so unpropitious to church golag, there Was a large congregation to attealance, It 13 un- necessary to add that his discourse, one of the most eloquent and impressive of the serics, was liatened to with earaest attention. His text was Galauans iv, 6:—“Gol hari sent forth te spirit or His Soa tuto your hearts,” It was very strange, he said, ia beginning, that there snould be so much dificuity in diacover- ing what religion 1, while the Book to which alt appeal as the supreme authority, avounds in defini- tions of it, being comprehensive and perfectly intel- ligible. ibe Wuole thing 18 siinpie. A love for the mysterious and sensational showed itselr bere. hat reiated to THs INFINITE UNKNOWN was Ly many supposed of necesgity tivoived tn mys- ucism, Most of Spr Follglons grace 3 cater to the sove of the marvellous, Bible fy full of simpie deflaitions establisning the whole rei:gious duty of man, d has not creed or rit or puase or orm, but the spirit, Herein lav the whole essence o re- ligion. heterodox. = im nothing todo with 16 ry point Le proceeded to the inquiry spirit wanted. He held forth che spirit mantfestin, self in the itfe of Jesus—tis childish simplicity, tiliai duty, his large beartedness, ula idellty to ail bis Yelations—in short, the spirit of God as shown in Him. Heaven jell pot its ebiidren to the s0ie care Of Clergymen, creeus and Churches, A higher min- istry surrounded them, It was sad w see how insensibie 1utelligeat, educated inen, Judges of our Supreme Courts, nord and ‘ ex-Governors, mem vers of vougress, and no eud of clergy uy bow lusensibie taey are tu this piain (ruth. Agato, Uhere is tak of an attempt to po made tu iniroduce te pane of Almighty God to the CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED SPATRS; as If there could be uo recogatiuva of tue Supreme except by name, aa if it Were uot one thing to cry Lora, Lord, aud another ty ao His wil, a8 i ia Him, Because the pame ot God dees Dot appear in the consutuuion that great loswrument dots really, and in the best manner possivie, render homage to the Most High, in that it 80 reverences equal justice, ) € He waa | professions ure ing avout having | mosthenes, that not by uw singie Whisper or ayllavie does i show Seana, Pigg radiate oath oy Aa | never sworn toand never br. tact Was, | religion had everywhere become _ A SUPERFICIAL FORMALITY, Av consisted of but Ititie elaethan temples and statues, pompous ceremonies, cial oserings, processions and holidays, Such things as these ab- sorbed attention, burying the conscience with petty es and chil superstitions so exclusively that, as Pintareh telis us, on one occasion a religious procession in honor of somv Owing to some tri- fling violation of the fee forms, siarted thirty six times. Their religion was a mere exteriority. Hardly anything deeper than the love of sight-see- lng Was appealed to, Ana yet those ancient geuera- hons—those old Jews and Greeks and Romans— they were human beuage like us, ‘They bad human perry p.- bosoms. They felt the sym- countless occasions discharging the good oinces of our common humanity, In the mnidst of all that superticiality the good God has sent forth a spirit—a petty? an aor spirit of final and fra- THB TRUB LIFR to be not an artificial routine of formalities, but a Sphere for allcommon sympathies and deeds. Of Course that spirit, one wita the iomost nature of men, went straight, like the lightning of God, to the very centre and beart of the world, breaking Vhrough all the hardness that had grown over tt, subduing, melting the soul, prompting men to leave their corrupt and barvarous ways and do to one another as dear brotners. not as servants cow- ering undor the lash—as che sons and daughters of Heaven that they were created to ve, Is tt any wonder that a religion which has no form at aa, but @ spirit Of mind coming in such an intelligible way through Jesus and His early tricnds, snouid nave come like a gratciul shower to the parched and thirsty earth, and that men, women and chilaren should have caught that spirit and cherished i as dearer {ian life, and to preserve it that tney gave uD their poor, irau vodies to be consumed in fire or torn in pieces by wiid beasts? Such was CHRISTIANITY AT THR PLUST; not at all like our present forms of it—a creed or an observance—but @ lite ol- which the Romau Cata- combs bear most touching evidence. ‘They tell us of the simple humanity of the primitive religion of Christendom. We see how the bard and barvarous character of those warlike nations Wassottened and humanized by tae spirit whicd God sent into the world torough His son, On those tombs are found none of the symbols of the Roman Cataolic Church nor uny allusions deed to the doginas in which the religion of Jesus lias since been made to consisi—Do Host, no adoration of the Sacrament, no Immacu- late Conception, no Holy Rubric, mo ‘Trinity, no atonement. ‘fhe epitaphs are briel, being words of hope and truth and undying love. it has been es- timated that the number of those Lombs amounts to miltions. What @ fragrance of sanctity breathes from that dust. Wheu, when eiall # lice odor of heaven surround the living | ‘Come to us, come to us, O our God, Let the trees, ove thee, aid the sod trees move | ‘And the water and tue aif, THE RUSSIAN CHAPEL CLOSED. a 1 has been known that Rev. Father Bjering, the excellent chaplain of the Russian Kmbasay im this country and priest of the Greek chapel in Second avenue, intended to bulld a regular church bere at some time not far distant. <A very great de- mand has heen made for the erection of such @ church eaidce since the visit of the Grand Duke Alexia, Lots ha been purchased on Lexington avenue, near Fifty- first street, at a cost of $20,000, wherevn to build, but no step can be taken in the matter without gutnor- ity of the Patriarchial Council of St Petersvurg. That body has recently invited Father Bjering to visit Prussia, that they may the betier understand the wants of the Greek Catholics in this part of the United States. He has, therefore, taken passage in tne Holsatia for Hambut and wul sail from this port next Thursdi renoun. Mrs. Kyering and vaby will accompany her bByer- ing as far as Stutigard, were tuey will remain while he travels north Lo the Kusstan capital, ‘hey wul be absent wovut three months, dur- ing which period the Greek chapel ser- vices will be discontinued, Yesterday morn- ing the last service was held previous to nis departure, at witch tue lite chapel was crowded, and the reverend fatuer received tne hearty good wishes aud “God Speed" of his parishioners and friends. The Holy Communion was admimistered to several persons present, including some chil- dren, The Russian General Gorlon, M. Botassi, the Greek Chargé d’Aljaires, aud oiher notables were paesenk Father bjering expects to begin the erec- jon of his church on his return trom surope. Mr. Bjering has the eatire respect and esieem of the clergy of all denominations in his neighborhood, Goipe, , You ought ta accept this Gospel, dist Centuries bas om . ” STOOD IN THR WITNESS BOX, and stood the cross-questions of the ablest examin- ers without ® waver, ray! make light of the Gospel because they think that they musé cast them- selves upon the of God. They say to the preacher, “God 1s merciful, and we may sately leave our Jate in His hanus.”” You cannot expect mercy while you are making light of His mercy and saiva- tion. Others look upon the Gospel as a thing for consideration at death—that in life it 18 of no moment, They , “Why speak to us thus? 16 will be time enough when we come to die to think of it.” They think the Gospel merely to be to BUILD A BRIDGE OVER THE RIVER OF DEATH. Death isnot tne solemnest of all things. It it ever has any soley, it is dependent upon the life the subject has led. It 1s not terrible in iteell, except It introduces us into @ state of being in which we fear (Lo meet the retribution we have merked in lie, We should be able to realize that we can meet death when it comes without pain. Paul does not say, “For me to die is Christ,” but “for me to live 1s Christ.” What we need on earth 1s to get that which will belp us in death, The life determines the death. and to live well we need to live up to the help of Christ. This we can only secure througo the Holy Spirit, who will lead us i the way we should go. Let us accept JESUS AND HIS GOSPEL now and receive it in life as well agin death, as necessary to happiness here and beyond the grave, Let us hot make light of the Gospel, for it Is our stay and s‘af in this world and in the world to come. My friends, I recently read in a newspaper an incident that I wisn you to profit by. It told of &@ lady 1a Switzerland woo went out to gather flowers on the edge of a precipice. She remained absent uatt her iriends, becoming alarmed, went 1 search of her, and found her mangled remains at the foot of the precipice. You Will say how foolish to risk so much for a few FLOWERS THAT WITHER IN A DAY. But, sinners, how foolish and heedless are you in rejecting the Gospel effered by your Masier and friend, lest you lose a few pleasures of nia world | Have Care that your beedlessaess don’t bring you to the abyss of destrucion, What, indeed, ‘1s a man profited if he gain the whole world and lose his owa soci.” NEW ENGLAND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. The Necessity o! Going Forward=Sermon by Rev. Wiliam Edwards Park. The pulpit of the New England Congregational church, corner of Madison avenue and Forty- seventh street, Was occupied yesterday morning by Rev, William Edwards Park, of Lawrence, Maas. The attendance was large notwithstanding the un- towardness of the weather. Aiter the usual intro- ductory exercises—singing, prayer, reading the Bible—the reverend yentieman commenced his ser mon, His subject was “Move Forward,” as based upon Exodus xiv., 15—‘Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward.” At the time when these words were uttered, he began, the children of Israel nad commenced their fight from their persecutora, ‘The plagues Egypt nad suffered had overpowered Pha- Taoh, not softened hia savage heart the slightest. Under the leadership of Moses the mighty host pre- pared to depart, ‘he last and most fearful prague of Egypt was appointed for the day of departure. THE ANGEL OF DEATH ‘Was cominanded-to slay the first-born of every fam. ignal for their own safety eacn @ lamb, and to sprinkle the door posts of their houses with its biood, The houses thus marked would be passed over. ‘Tne events of that dreadful night are graphically told, “Pharao’ rose up in the night, be and al his servants, and all tie Egyptians, and there was a great cry in Ezypt; for there was not @ house where there was not one dead.” The haughty tyrant now begged his captives to depart. The Egyptians gladly lent them gold aud silver, not expecting to et it back; aay price waseheap that could buy off the dreadial strangers. When, however, they jound that they bad irretrievably lust the labor of the Israciites their conscience relapsed @ litile, Pha- Taoh saw that the Isracutes had committed a great muittary error 10 leaving the istimus. of Suez and going toward the sea, He remembered that we host was encumbered with women and children. He had cavairy and chariots, He determined to pursue. The israelites had encamped carelessly on the shore of the Red Sea, Suddenly in the dis.ance they see a cloud of dust and hear the siouts of the vindictive pursuers, Already they héar the clank- ‘hey have visited him and offered their congratu- lations on the success of bis mission here. Drs. Svnat, Beilows, Frothingham and others have ex. changed views With him, and some Roman Vatholio priesis have also paid their respecta to him, Mr, biertag has studiously avoided ail disputadons, lived at peace with all denominations, has v@ited the difforent churches around aud heard sermons from several ministers; has had several ministers to listen to his own sermons irom time to time, and thus tne warmest {ceilings of iriegdship and good Will have veen cultivated among: them. wih aiscourses are thoroughly evangelical, treated religiously or scientifically. One that was Publisied 1 the HERALD a short time ago on the “Immortality of the Soul’? was a complete vindica- tton of that doctrine from the standpoint of reason Q@ad phulosopny. its sphere of useiuluess will be enlarged on bis return, bon voyage, 45 THE BROADWAY TABERNACLE. Tre Parable of the Fenst-God’s Love for His Children—Making .Liaht of Dis Ine vitations—Discourse by Rv. W. M. Taylor. “But they made light of it, and went their ways—one to his farm, another to bis merchan- dise.”—Matthew Xxil., 5, Such was the text chosen yesterday by Rev. Dr. W. M. Taylor, the newly chosen pastor of the Broad- way Tabernacle, upon which to address one of tho largess congregations that has ever assembled within its walls, After referring to the PARABLE OF THE MAKRIAGE FEAST, from which the text is taken, the pastor said the parable was applicable to those to whom it was originally addressed by Jesus. ‘The feast repre- sented the provision God makes for men’s spiritual wants aud necessities, The invited guests were the Jews, to whom the Gospel of Christ was preached and who rejected it, and Christ spoke in parables to those belore Him. Parables are like MANY-SIDED PRECIOUS STONES, cut 60 as to throw their beauty in more than one direction, The guests in this instance disregarded an invitation to the feast which symbolizes the abundance that God has provided for us, the salva- tion of the soul set free from sin and doubung. The feast comprises also the renewal of the soul; so that, whereas it was in rebellion against God, it 13 now at peace with Him aad agrees to do Him hom. age. There are multitudes who think the Gospel is a melancholy thing, to take the joy out of ite, They have formed the impression that it 1s a subject Wrapped in gloom and misery, The Gospel reme- dies tnis very evil. Jt is begua, multiplied and endg in love— - LOVE OP GoD. Tt_prodaces in the heart of the sinner love for the Creator, aud love is the very sunshine of our lives, Yet the true Christian does not 10se his joy in earth’s biessings end beauties because he ioves God. The saddest soul in ali the worid is the soui in which there iy no jove, When man can say, “1 love the Lord ve- cause God loves me,” he has the proper spirit with- im. The Gospel lightens the whole horizon of nee if men make light of the Gospel taey are making light of their own nappiness. There is A caees IN THE FORBGROUND cause the soul feels itself to be im harmony with ing of their chains; already they feci the TASKMASTER’S WHIP, and in their frantic despa.r and terror accuse their deliverer... Because ihere were no graves in Egypt hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness” Moses expostulates With the people and calls on God, Amid ali this confusion comes the calm, clear orders, “speak unto the people of Israei that they go forward.” The rest of the story is soon told. ‘she multitude went forward into tae Waves of tne Kea Sea. The waters divided to give them passage and they pressed forward to freedom. A cloud of fire cast light on the path of the Hebrews, while it showed nothing but darkness to tue ‘pursuing Egyptians. Waen THR LAST ISRABLITR had safely crossed Moses stretched his wand over ‘the sea, the Ude turned, tue wind changed, and tne Egyptians were overwhelmed by te dreadful wa- ters. Having thus explained the circumstances under whicn the words of the text were uttered he roceeded to sliow that to induce men {o act it 13 ne- cessury to inspire hope ahd rouse enthusiasm, Tell @ man in didiculty to go forward ana half the dim- culty isover. ‘The order to go rorward chases away alltear, If men gained grace by knowing about re- ligion the wisest men Wouid be the most religious, In tis sense 1 1s that God chosen foolish things to confound the wise. One may be @ babe in intellectua: calibre and a E in faith, He has just enouga knowledge to light him from point to point. In guing into the Ked Sea there was great danger; but in staying more, When Napoleon, with an army tired out with aday’s march, came up to @ bridge guarded with fresh soluicrs he Immediately atvacked them. Lo have delayed were ‘Tne enemy would receive reinforcemenis, AS it was ne gained the day, In the affairs of this world he was the man who went rae ‘Tuere are Limes Wien We are on tue shore of the 8 DRATH. go, The raitio of death ts be- ing induence of death 1s benind us and sia has such a destroying power it will con- sume us if we hesitate to go onward. After enlarg- Ang on this part of his discourse he proceeded vo show that as the Israelites went iorward the diiil- cullles disappeared, in all vemptatrons there 1s a path through or around, Laaiel’s course was directly Uirough the LIONS’ DEN, but the angel of tie Lord went before him and closed their mouths, sacobd was called upon to sacrifice his son, bur God did not intend levting num do it, Ho merely wanted to see the extent of his faith, The situation of men in tie path of duty is similar to that of Christian in the “Pugrim’s Prog- ress.’ Chained lions are all around him. He, how- ever, cannot see the chains, Christ said to nis ug. ciples, 1 wili make you equal tothe danger, He does ‘not ‘say I will clear your path, remove all temptations. A half believing Christian 1s like a timid traveller going through = the mountains. He sees from alar the precipice and the abruptly rising side-of the mountain, and thinks destruction inevilavie; but when. he comes to them the precipice 18 passed around, the wall is tuanelied yurangiy When we fo one ja the patn of duty We find oursel "e masters of powers until then un- kuown to us, The character expands with the occa- ag Water takes the Jorn of the vessel in which it ig held. Tue command oi the Christ sa 4a, always go forward. Are we on the conflaes of hulidess o1 STEEPED 1N INIQUITY, the mandate ja stil the same. ‘The only soll Chris- tianity needs is the human neart, whether it be congealed at the north pole or soltened at ths ‘he cannon equator, Great things are silent. » with @ crash, sends the bi t the rate of 20,000 feet @ minule; gravitation noise. lessly hurls the world — nineteen mics @ second; small brooks are boisterous in their lue channel; the Mississippi is silent. If you move for- ‘ward inthis life the golden gates will open for you, God. It men only knew of this how few among them would pe found to make lignt of the utterauces of the minister of Christ! The minister proceeded to consider what it is to make light of the Gospel, The text shows that those who went to their farms were careless and indifferent, while those who siew the king’s servants were in direct antagonism to God. ‘vhose who make light of the Gospel think they are in less danger than those who openly set them- selves Up against it. Both seem to be mistaken. He who neglects a warning as well as those who refuse to bow to God’s command are alike to biame. The pastor illustrated tis by the narrative of three soldiers who, in their dranken recklessness, Would not be warned, and last sum- mer were hurled over the Falis of Niagara, Their desiruction Was no less horrible because . THEY MERKLY NEGLRCTED A WARNING, So it is with toe sinner; lity responsibility 13 no less because he neglects than if ho resists the Gospel of Pagan, as well 48 Chrisuan—lias @ right to lave aot only nis own | Tellgious ideas respected, but lis own religious sy m- bols, plirases, NAMES OF GOD also, That being tue case, tue constitution, as the Charter of equal rights, 18 sacrediy bound to tae sure that you | profoundest silence ia regard to all religious names em, Bur when you got ap G4 cate Some a they haa characteristics, bad or otherwise, that you | OUt His name with tue tongues of men never dreamed of. ‘This brings to my mind the oo the silence of the constitution U Bnd phrases, aod its sileuce 1 tus respect is more truly reverential o1 the spirit ot God thaa if) nm expressive, the iutroduction of tue name Daal aud becomes Torunality and esot. Heodlessly used I te pro faned, and there 14 reason \o lear tu, 1 meditated when omeauing “religiens made, Aschines “said De- who was fond of embeushing hte orations With oaths, “Tis man never calls the gods to witness with more confidence than woen he is aiirming what is notoriousiy false.” In an ecete- stastical convocation @ certain «divine, rising to justly himself, laid his band upon bis breast and tige a ata, “Now du" I kaow ther this hee digaitar, 0 ry man is. goth Teta lie; for thie s his usual pre. face on such occasions, realies ex: by despots, and by which nawons have been bought and sold like morchand: have aiways been Goa Paiviniue view. The aplication of tne subject was | ratified in the oalne Of tha Most Holy Trinity, aud Obrist. Tht is the Corist of whom you are making tent of. Jesus comes knocking, Knocking at the door of your bearts through parabies and stories, And, like the guests, you disregard Him and stand there im the cold Faln as if He was veneath your nouce, Oh, my vrethren ! thus you resist and make Nght of the tuyitation of the Lord of Glory, who died on Calvary for you and L The pastor next considered how mea make light of the Gospel. ‘They say, nO matter how they deal with tue Gospel, it will all come \o the same thing im the end; it will all be the same ONK HUNDRED YEARS HENCE. If God were the creation of the I ‘ination there might be some for tis indifference on the of Wwe sinner; but if conscience be true and there is a God, then the Gospel ts the most linportant subject tnat can eogage a man’s soul, Who Is there that Bas ever prove. conscience, that tells us @ od, false’ Who has proved there is no God? Who is there that bas shown that the Gospel is a lie? If there ve & probaoility that these things aro trae then the Sober course 18 to act as if they. were @ do so in our every-day life, You do not WILL BE BURNED DOWN, probability of such @ catastrophe, and you don’t know that your oes ui not salely £ - <| tue | ner of evil against you faisely for my sake,” @ golden crown will rest upon yoar head, siuging and benediction closed tho services, CHURCH OF THE HOLY INNOGZNTS. Popular Objections to the Catholic Charch— Lecture by Rev. Father Damen, ®. J. » Since the erection of this new temple no congre- gation ever assembled within its walls more numerous than that which thronged therein last evening to listen to the great orator of the Jesuit Order in this country, Father Damen, with five other priests, has been giving @ mission among the parisbioners, and night after night crowds have been attracted towards him, Members of all denominations frequented the sacred edifice each successive evening, when 4 most striking spectacle was to be beheld. The vast throng of all ages and conditions was alternately bathed in tears and convulsed with laughter, some- times spell-vound by the grandeur of the preacher's imagery and the energy with which he appealed to them to cast off the yoke of sin and return to the one fold and one Shepherd. Yesterday ofternovn os Diessed! Lota Jesus nas soretold that those (ho are Of the true religion shall be persecuted, axa all manner of things shall pe said against them, Hts- eae ae wen of this saying. Scarcely bat aren to existence when Rome, Soran, the were of the emperors, magutzates, of death we ee (ne philosophers an ‘uments to smother her in her Tnranoy. iy mney millions wero Gatise rata tne space ‘of Sap years for. ine hen t rsecution Cc began whten”, mn that pel another has been prolonged ever to ourown times, Like her divine Pfouuder she has li - jou nd in many puipits (BFoughout the Union, she is Teviled and ‘columtinatsd. ‘Y object to us because ‘they don’t understand us. They teil us that Catholics are not allowed 10 read the Bible. “Ii those poor, a ro the Bible they would immediately Bot bey? TURN PROTESTANTS’? Now, you ali know that this isasiander, Open the Catholic Btbie and you will find a lever of Pope Pius Vi., exhorting the fatthtul to read God's holy book for edification and ssnetification, Why, it is by the Bible that we convince all heretics of their errors and prove the truth of our belef. The Bible 18 our buiwark, our sword and siield of — defence. They tet that us we object to the introduction of their Bible into the public scuools, This 18 true, because even many eminent froteatants deciare that the King James po) isa very faulty one. be anxtous to THE BIBLE IN THE SCHOOLS, fet them put the right Bible in them. “Another ob- jection m: je against the Catho.lc Church 18 that she 13 opposed to the education of youtn. Now, the fact is that tuere 1s Bo Church which displays more ‘sol- icitousness and regard for the education of Us members than the Catholic Churcb. ‘Tnere are 100 orders in the Church, sworn tu devote their euergies tothe elevatioa and enlightenment of the masses. And those ulembers can receive no pay but board and clothing. None of. those religeuses has liberty to spend tive ceuts, Examine every Cathone college, University, nulinery and academy, and you wil find that one-third of the! inmates. are Protestants. Why do Protest- ants send their chiluren there to be Kept in ignorance? secause thev know that the purity and virtues of their daughters are safe in the good Sister’s hands, and the moral tramin, of their sons 1s well attended to by the Jesuits ai the Christian brothers, A few years ago, THE ENGLISH GOVERNMENT sent agents abroad to make out statistics of what was being done ior education by the various na- tonalities, and the agents on their return swore that-im the Papal States—don’t be uneasy about their bemg taken away, the Pope will get them again—more was doue for the Iree education of youth than In any other country. A Provestant minister recently said:—‘‘“ivery reader of history should know that the Catholic Church has been the educator of the whole world and the promoter of civilization, There was less ignorance in England 500 years ago, when she was vatooitc, than to-day.” Protestants accuse us of being to the cuiti- Yation of the fine arts, whereas the fact is that they themselves have.done everything TO TAKE THE BREAD Outof the artist’s mouth. Neither do men go to Protestant countries to become artists, Merca- dante, Beethoven, Mozart and Kossint attest tne encouragement the Church has given to music, and others could be mentioned who have excelled in painting and sculpture. Still another objection Made to the Churen is thatshe makes imazes in isobeulence of God’s command, aad that we wor- ship them. Nevertheless, Protestants keep in their houses 1m: of departed friends, whom they be- Heve to be in heaven, and pyeunes of things on the earth and things in the waters. Nor 13 this wrong. We don’t worship images; we simply pay reverence to those whom the images represent, just as they and we.would honor George Washington's motner were she to come to New York. They dis- like our use of the “Haul Mary,” yer that sam? ex- Pression 1s found in the first chapter of Luke in ner own Bible, ntleman continued at length to ‘The reverend answer other objections such as those made against indulgencies, objects of veneration, in a character- istic manner. He will close the misston on Wedues- day. ‘ue beautiful editice was illamined by hun- dreds of gas lights, the altar was abiaze amid the glare of wax candles in rich candelabra, and the , arrangements for ventilation contributed ‘much to the comfor¢of the audieno> ‘The pastor, Rev. John Larain, who 1s already endeared 10 all Ris parish- loners, has been made the subject. of eulogium by men of various sects for his zeal in instituting so success/ul ‘a mission and having prepared for his people a Golnic church unsurpassed in magnificence, benediction of tne blessed sacrament was given at the close of the sermon yesterday, REV. GEO. H. HEPWORTH’S NEW CHURCH, A. T. Stewart has subscribed $5,000 to the churcno SEVERAL CONVERTS to the Catholic falth were baptized by him in the presence of a large concourse of persons. Upwards of eleven thousand individuals nave approached the holy Communion during the mission, At halt. past seven yesterday evening every available por- tion of the church was filled with devoted members of the congregation—many could not obtain en- trance—and Father Damen ascended the pulpit and digcoursed in @ manner to which @ written account can do but little justice, He took his text from Matthew v., 11—~ Biessed are you when mon shall reviie you and persecute you, end say all bo ur tobe built for the- Rev. George H. Hepworth, on Fifth avenue and Thirtieth street. The total amount Of subscriptions received up to the present is over one hundred and ten thousand dollars, BROOKLYN CHURCHES. PETER’S ROMAN Persecution of the Ontholic Osarch—The Remedy Aguinst Scandal—sSerm: by the Rev. Father Frausioli. The fast falling snowfakes that greeted the eye yesterday forenoon and caused the more timorous to shrink from facing churchward through the storm, cast No apparent aamper upon the zeal of the congregation of the parish of St. Peter, judging from the goodly numbers seated in the handsome edifice of divine worship, corner of Hicks and War- ren atreets, South Brooklyn, at the principal service, ‘The sacrifice of the mas3 was offered by the curate, Rev, Father Murphy, and the pastor, Rev. Father Fransioll, preached a lengthy and ad. mirable sermon, reading for his text and ag the text of the Catholic Christian’s duty the gospel of St. John vil, trom the tnirty-third verse to the end of the chapter, The Sertbes and Pharisees challenged Christ when He Was approached by Mary Magdalon, the woman who ‘was caught in aduitery, as they interpreted from the Law of Moses, He should not have hearkened to the poor sinfui creature’s penitence. But when He said “Let he who 1s without sin throw the first stone at her” they all leit the temple and did not dare to molester. ‘Which of you convicteth me of sin? * * * Very, I say unto you, before Abraham was lam. Then took they up stones to cast at Him.” What is the meaulug of the calumny we hear agaist the Church every day? Are wo not the cliildrea of a sinless motuer? And yet we stones cast at ner, How cau we STOP THE STONING OF THAT PURE AND HOLY MOTHER, the Catholic Church? The reverend speaker sald he would eadeavor to show them how, a3 good, prompt and affectionate children of that mother, they could come forward to her rescue, She was always sub- Ject to abuse and persecation it istrue, But at this period there 13 @ sort of a general revival or combination of evil machinations at work against her, She is vilified by the press, by pamphiet, at able meetings fo oficial assemolages and by in- dividi at is the provocation tor this oul- burst of animosity against so holy amother? Is the Catholic Church recreant to her country or her God? Ah, no, my brethren, said he, but the Phari- sees are jealous Of its sirengih. 1¢ must bo the fauit Of the Vathole momvers, then, that so much calumny and mdignity is cast at hér, It there be & arankard, a ‘thief, a conspiracy, rings for plunder, do not our enemies point to such ani say that they are Catholics? Aad will they not preiend, aiso, that the Church 1s responsipie for the acts ot indi- vidaals? But tmscannot be, The Church stands to-dlay on the same bright piatform as sho did when estanhisned by Christ Himseli, and is, therefore, witnout sin, Her doctrines are clear, pure ‘and holy, and her sacraments are [ree to nourish her children it they but HEARKEN TO HER VOICE. We beljeve that the Catholic Church has alone the wer to bring persons to Heayen—not, of course, attempunz, however, to measare the infinite mercy of G Her sacraments, which forms tue saci! it life of the soul, are for the distribution and 8T. CATHOLIC CHURCH. @dilication of her memoera, and we assert taut ANY CATHOLIC CAN BZ A HOLY MAN, Great, then, 1 the scandal uf him who hearkevs not to te teachings of the Ca arch, People who meet and know of them as 1 the Uhurch 1s rotien ; suoh and such persous who are Lt we comply with the precopta of the members.’ Church we will present such a body of novie citizens tnat no possiole ground cad exist calumpy against us. But there are some minds so Aguorant by prejudice against the Catholic Chuch that they would always bave some fault to find and some excuse to denounce us. fhe Church de- nounces drunkenness, impurity, sensuality, tn every hase. lies, calumny, detraction, anger, hatred and cheating, stealing, ana every vice that goes up tue catalogue of the chuins of the devil. She tolls surely, im a loud Pn ‘that there is a God of justice above and that He will hold us to a stract accountability foreach and every violation of His law and judge us accordingly. How can the it- ful child of such & mother become a scandal and a sinner? Te may not ve free from venial potats; but the perfection of ihe grace of ircedom from mortal sin y by him atiainabie, All should then be free from grievous sin and scandalous acta, und no sig ee ST OF THE CRIMINAL. ON THE Li ‘The trae children of the Church must reach - baad of perfection, not only in faith, but ia acts, i Will challeage respect and admiration, ore the Speaker defied any man in creation to = vd + roles of the Church and-say that ite ohildren Coury not be perfect, Let us then remember, u ny On God Himself to the Prophet Jeremian, hee.’ Elias, Isaac and the Eee, A am with U os In the moment of remptation, ho matter How dazaing the ailurement Ww S10, nana: nerve abd strengthen us to keep His boly com s, = ment tf we but seek His atd. Tne reverend gentie. man then ae attention to the necessity of im. ic. education 10 children and impress- jug them with the love and grace of God, which is Eee ee ud Weta The Cutitcnioa should see to (heir schools and should Generously matntain them. Parents should ha move care in pl ing their children for minis'Ty. Those who have means appear to think that tin? greatest qualification wul be afforded them in instrocting their boys for the acquirement of the things Of this world—a mercantile \ile or some other bosivess, While listening wo learned priest who now creating such interest and earning sucit Commendation in thts part of the country, the spaker sald*he could not but wish ae et intents aerate nate abchntey presen| and trate. Could Ca gmother desire greater glory on earth than this? ‘Tné er classes should edus cate more chilaren for the priesthood. Alluding to the intermarriage of Cathotcs ie Protestants 3 the cause of dissension and leading to religious in- difference on the part of their offspring, ihe aker exhorted lis flock to honor the mother, tue Courch. PLYMOUTH CHURCH. Mr. Hepworth at Plymouth Church—Ho Preaches on the Inscription on the Cross. Yesterday morning Mr. George Hepworth sad Mr. Beecher exchanged pulpits, and, consequently, Mr. Hepworth ocoavied, for the first time since his confession ‘of faith in orthodoxy, the platform of Plymouth chureh as preacher to Mr. Beecher’s con- gregetion. There wasa very large attendance. ‘The text was, “This is tne King of the Jews.’ Mr. Hej Worth said that a deep significance aitaches to the text, The ‘tragedy nad ended, and this was the inscription put by’ the Jews upon tne cross, Th> whole sentence expressed concrete contempt, The words to us are true, Christ is not only the King of the Jews, but to-day He ig tne King of the whole world. I want, this morning, to look at the picture # moment, and then learn not so much to admire, but to love and worship Hin whom we’ call our Lord. Yet, onp word in excuse, perhaps, for these flerce Hebrews. ‘Their nature was our nature, and their acts was the expression of bigotry and pride against pure good- ness, They nad been longing for @ ieafer, &” miiita . The promise * been fiven thom orn Messin AG, Bethe race. crept dowa lower and this romisé of a deliverer urew, and mad the janatios of the world, Whenever a Roman soldier Passed by clothed with power, they set their teeth togetner and said, : “WAIT A BIT; it will be our rurn by and oy.” “The Jews hated the Romans above all things, and they lived but tosee the rehabilitation of their nation. At last He came— the long expected Messiah, He stood up and said, “1 pr to break your chains sud set you tree.” Then He proved iis assertion by His miracies. But one day He spoke it was the Sermon on the Mount—the inauguration sermon of the new dynuaty. He said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” ana the Pharisee aad the pudlt- can iitted their Ueuds and wondered. They were proud of their righteousness, ‘hen Ohrist, seeing ‘these, Pharisees, said, “Woo unto you; you cleanse the outside an‘ care nothing for the 1uside.’’, Ther forming to tue poor, crouching at His feet, He said, “It is the HEART THAT TELLS,” and thus He made Himselt the friend of the Poor, and the {f0e of the oppressor to tne. en of time. Then He sald, “If & man amite thee on the mgnt cheek turn to him the osner also."? That was telling the Jows, “It a Roman sirike thee do not strike back.” That Was too much, and the whole Jewish nation decreed Christ’s death at that moment. ‘hen the moment comes when the cry, “Crucify Him!’ comes trom the crowd, Then He goes to the place where male- dactors have been crucified for tdotges ‘There te is ruthlessly litted into the air, that the worla may look on and see the end o! this iatce, asthe Jews considered the pretensions of Christ. Then He bowea His head and dted, and the veu of the temple ‘Was rent in twain, the rocks on the old Judean nila were burst asunder, and ihe earth shook under the fees of a recreaut gace. Why did He die thas? Our hope of heaven hes in the faet that Jesus went up to God and leit the door open for us. Jesus died fcr you and me. Beuring the bur- Gen of the world’s sins He bears our sina. Oh, young men and maidens, there stands your ‘Saviour beckoning you w_ bimselt, 1, strong man, here 18 truth to interweave with Piehed buying and selling, to make your lie grander and your future certain. There are so maby peanons, that | can’t solve, so many things that I jon’t Know anything about, that I come to Christ and rest in Him. How biessed the relation between the tired soul and the Saviour! This love shat make, lile nobler and lead us safely through tha duture. ‘ SOUTH THIRD STREET METHODIST CHUROH. ‘The Lessons of the Transfi ;uration—Sermon by Rev. W. T. Hiil. The Rev. William T. Hil!, pastor of the South Tnird Street Metaodist Episcopal Church, preached yes- terday morning an instructive sermon upon the transfiguration of Christ and the lessons deducibie irom tnat greatevent. His text was Matthew iL, 11—‘‘He was transfigured before them.” He said that the transflzuration of our Lord, which oc- curred more than six months before His cracifixion, must be regarded in every respect as one of the most important in His history, It was marrated at length by three of the evangelists, and, no doubt, St. John had reference to it when he said, ‘We be- held his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, fullof grace and trutn.” Peter, James and John, whom He took with Him on the Mount upon this occasion, were also witnesses of the raising of the daughter of Jarius and of His agony mn Gethsemane. It was necessary that two “or three persons should witness any event in order that it might be lawfully testified to, and Jesus seemed to be pleased to have very few witnesses to some events of His life.” 1¢ was not caprice wmoh caused Him to Choose those tree, but for reasons satistactory to Himself He selectet them to behold His agony and to be present at the glorious event spoken of in the text. Join and Peter bore un- equivocal testimony wo the divimity of Jesus, aud James was the trst to sufler aeath for the aith of Christ. ‘The preacher continued to dilate upon the events of the transtiguration, remarking in passiug that heavenly objects were always spoken ol by all generations and in all lands under the image of brightness in contradistinction from darkness, St. Paul used the word twatsfigured to represent the glorious work that 13 Wrought in the velicver, who pehuiding in a glass tne glory of the Lord ts chauged into tie same Image Irom giory to giory as by the spirit of tod. If it were properto aivkle Cnrist’s life into three pertods—first, of miracles to artest His divinity; second, Of parables to set forta His doctrine; and tuird, of suffermegs, wich wero clearly foretold, His transtgurauioa was @ baptism into the third of these perious. Cruden said (hat the true trausilgaration ol Christ was whea he walked among men in a lowly condition, but op the mountain Le lald asile his trans. dga Qppearance and shone forth with iis proper glory. ‘tne conversation with the disciples about His death no doubt surprised as well im. structed them; but Moses and Bijan were not so astonisned, for 1¢ was a theme weil know tu the courts of heaven. Tue first lesson whivh Christ de- signed to teach by this great event was by tt to loosen the prejudices watch bound the Jewisa mind cerning the law aud the necessity of their obedience to the ceremonies and requirements of the Mosaic law. ‘The expiration of the dispensation of the law and the propicts and ihe commencemeut Of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ Was show; to thon by @ figurative and symbohe representatioc. ‘Tins could nos ve better done than by tne giver of the law, Moses, and the greacest of ail the propiets, Blijab, appearing and doing homage to Christ aud con- versing With Him, nut avout the Jaw, bat avout His atoning sacrifice. The volce ol the divine Father installed Jesus Carist as the law-giver ana the rophet—the Messiah who had lavored and, suffered fer mankind was now Insiulied as tae Lord and ruler of the earth im the presence of representatives 0. the eartaly aud heavenly world. ‘1his scene was aiso destzned to show Und aposties the superiority of Christ as a teacher, law-giver dnd meuritor to Moses and Elijah, who, thougn for muny yeurs were servants of God, were nut so great as the Son 4 God, but must give place to Him, and that the Jewish must give place to the Christian dispensa- tiun, This scene, too, was desigued to strengthen tuetr fatthin Carist. Heretofore the things that were trauspiring impressed them with the fact that Jesus had grown up in humbie circumstances und was & Inan among mea, but the vecurcence Of the trans. figuration showed that the Nazareth was the divine and glorious saviour. they would become reconciled to the sufferings and. death of Jesus, and they would become lortiied to endure toe spectacle of His craciiixloa by tue Tev~ elation of His glory on the mount, Luke, im de. icing this scone, states that while Jesus was Pray ae the fashion of His countenance changed, sess ‘was pre-emineally & man ot prayer, and if fis followers would be exalted and have wonderrut revelations made to them they must commune [re- th quently God in secte, When that ceiestu triumvirate from Heaven and earth met they did not taik of empires or of the great ests of )= Warrlors;. but they the death aad bumiatio of Chit, thus teaching the truth that ovefore honor 1a humility, 1f Chrisgans would be exulved tuey must numple themselves at the eet of Jesus. ‘I'he unique meeting Of those personages on tho Mount was oc- cupied With tho great theme oi Jesus and [lis crass; Dut there Were inany i this age who were asham to profess this giorious Saviour before the world. The transfiguration taught another lesson, which ‘Wes that the Ubrislian religion does not allow of contemplation, Tie followers oj Jesus must hot | load & monastic life, but alier preparing temselvos: by Closet communion With God they must go into the world and speak of His wondrous power to save. 1 Finally wie theme of divenasion demonstrated We