The New York Herald Newspaper, May 27, 1872, Page 4

is H ary a e ouW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, MAY 27, 1872. RELIGIOUS. Trinity Sunday Proclamation of the Gos- pel of Great Joy and Glad Tid- ings Unto All People. AFRICA FOR CHRIST. Livingstone as a Christian Pioneer, and the Herald Enterprise Diseoursed On by the Rev. David Mitehell. 2 ee eee HENRY WARD BEECHER ON LIBERTY. Bishop Bowman at the Brook- lyn Academy. Bishop Wiley on the Power of the Gospel. Father Sheridan on the Foundation Stone of Christianity. Father Kean at St. Pat- vrick’s Cathedral. OHUROH OF THE MESSIAH, The Nature, Authority and Mission of Christ—A Complete Exposition of the Unitarian Belicf—Sermon by Kev. Dr. Stebbins, of Ithaca, There was an unusually large attendance yester- day morning at the Churca of the Massiah, corner of Park avenue and Thirty-fourth street. Rey. Dr. Rufus P. Stebbina, of Ithaca, N. Y., occupied the pulpit, He chose for his text Matthew xvi., 19-18— “When Jesus came into the coasts of Cesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, saying, ‘Whom do Men say that I, the Son of Man, am?’ And they said, ‘Bome say that Thou art John the Baptist, some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the Prophets.’ He said unto them, ‘But whom say ye that I am?’ And Simon Peter answered and said, ‘Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered and said unto him, ‘Blessed fBrt thou, Simon Bar-jona; for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which Is In heaven. * * * And upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’’” So we believe. We accept Joyfully the confession of Peter, which received the approval and blessing of the Saviour. We take but little in, terest in the speculations of men respecting \ CHRIST'S RANK IN THE UNIVERSE. We are more anxious of partaking of His spirit, of boing enlightened by His truths, of being raised from the darkness of sin and death into the light of holiness and the hope of life everlasting by His re- generating power. Jesus is to us a being to oo loved, trusted, followed, obeyed joyfully ; not a per- pon to be submitted to the crucibles of a subtile | theological chemistry de analyzed according to the most approved methods of our metaphysical Lieb! have our opinions of the person of hrist and of His relations to the Father, although we do not exalt them to the first place [n our articles of belief. That He eld peculiar and intimate relations to God, His ther, is evident in almost every sentence of our Saviour's teac! ing, in almost every act of His life. Ho was the Son of God in such a sense as to distin- “distinct, intelligible and scriptural. ofle man to God, to bring the prodigal back to nis father’s house ; not to reconcile to man, not to persuade the Father to open His door and let the shivering, starving wanderer enter. It was not to ‘od’s wrath, but men’s lust, that the Sa- viour came. It was not to.bear the punishment of the jrodigal’s sin, but to win him from its commis- sion, degradation, shame and ruin, It was not to satisty justice, but to show mercy; it was not to vind cate the law, but to reveal pardon, proclaim forgiveness; it was not that God might be just in pa doning, but that man might be induced te ac- cept pardon, that the Saviour came into the world; it was not that God’s wrath demanded a victim, but that man’s wrath sought one, that Jesus was crucified: They did not believe that Christ came to rescue us from the hands ot an angry God, but to lead us to acom- passionate Father. He insisted that there is not a passage in the Gospel or Scripture teaching any such doctrine. He enlarged upon the parable of the prodigal son, and in eloquent and forcible lan- guase unfolded its teachings. Their bellef as to the nature, authority and mission of Christ, as Christ the Saviour—this he en.orced at the close as clear, Tn this faith, said the reverend speuker, we desire to live. In its strength we can bear life's burdens—relish life’s blessings; with serene trust we can meet life’s trials und sorrows; with brightening hope we can awalt the future; and when the day darkens and tne eye grows dim we can render “thanks to God, ‘iveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus GREENE STREET PRESBYTERIAN OHUROH. Africa for Christ and Livingstone a Pi- oneer=The Wonderfal Enterprise of the Herald—Sermon by the Rev. David Mitchell. cS In the above church yesterday forenoon the pas- tor, Rev. David Mitchell, preached on the subject of the Alrican misston in connection with Dr. Living- stone, taking for his text Revelations xi, 16. ‘The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever.” He said that to his mind Africa possessed an all- absorbing interest. It was once taught in the schools that the vast interior of the Continent of that country was an arid desert, The travels of Bruce and others have shown the fallacy of that teaching, There is one name connected with Afri- can exploration that needs only to be mentioned-to call forth our gratitude and admiration. It is the name of Livingstone, one of THE NOBLEST OF LIVING MEN. We regard him as the greatest missionary of mod- ern times. His whote life we may say, has been dedicated to missionary enterprise. He fitted him- self for the apostolic work of healing and preach- ing by studying medicine as well as theo'ogy. He went forth as an agent of the London Missionary Society, and has never turned to the right nor to the lett from the rishi ambition of his life. He is altogether a different type of a missionary from the common run. He can grapple with bodily wants as wellas with mental and spiritual. He is well learned fn the sciences. He studies the na- tional features of the country as well as its races and tribes or its men and women. His astonishing perseverance, patience and cour- age, allied with his genius and faith, made him one of the glorious few who do not know defeat or fall- ure. It was not matter of surprise, therefore, to find that after fourteen years of missionary labor and a brief visit to Britain he went forth again to his exile in Africa, determined on opening the whole field to science, commerce and religion. That is the right interpretation of his devotion. He is higher than any of the noble company of Af- Tican explorers, for he is like the dove of the ark returning with the olive branch in his mouth, bear- ing the message of God's love to sinful men, besides arduously laboring in the interests of civilization. This last journey possesses a deep interest from the fact that for two years Dr. Livingstone has been lost in the untraversed wilds of Africa, That he has been given over by many as the victim of his own devotion and self sacrifice, and that by the most unexpected means he has been brought to light, ‘There 1s hardly room left for doubt as to his present safety. And when we remember that all this has been accomplished not by the government of a powerful country nor by means of the Royal Geo- graphical Society, nor through the generous im- pulse of a Christian people, but by THE SAGACITY AND ENTERPRISE OF A SINGLE ORGAN oi the press, it certamly opens our eyes to the - sibilities of the future, and to the grandeur of individual as well as -collective and national undertakings. We trust soon to have further confirmation of these joyful We hope to hear of the safe arrival of the “old man with the white beard,” and we rejoice in the honors in store for him, And we are sure that the noble and chivalrous conduct of those who have engaged in the search for Livingstone will re- ce,ve no stinted meed of praise at the hands of all who are interested in the Christian civilization of the world. ‘The question arises in the minds of many, “What is the use of a man like Livingstone exposing him- ‘uish Him from all other sons. In Him dwelt all ‘he fulness of the Godhead bodily. He knew the Father as no one else knew Him. He was without in. He always did His Father's will. Whatever le was and all He was came from God. All His wer was from God; all His works, all His words, le laid down His life at His Father's command. Yet He was not the Father, but the Son of the Father— full of the grace and truth which the Father had shed on Him abundantly. In this grace and truth we delight; it is more to us than any ANALYSIS OF CHRIST'S NATURE F definition of his exact internal relations to God ‘e cannot patiently witness the dissection of Christ's nature and listen to the cold description of His spiritual organization. Are the immortal paint- ings of Allston or Bierstadt to be enjoyed oF an analysis of their pigments ’ Orare the tinted gio- ries of a summer’s sunset to be enjoyed by an ex- —. of the frangibility of the different rays of ight’ The ancestry, rank and nature of Christ are uot those subjects Which interest us most deeply. We are more anxious to learn what our Saviour has taught us of God, duty, destiny, life, immortality, its mode of attainment, the evil of sin, and how we may escape its power; the excellence of goodness, and how we may secure its treasures. These are the subjects which most wed Hh interest us, Does the history of the messenger from war, or his tid- ings from our friends, interest us most?’ How would our souls burn with indignation were a cu- rious-minded, self-constituted committee to sur- round the messenger and forbid all questions until they first satisfactorily ascertained his age, rank, ancestry, education and nationality ? Not in si- lence will We permit others to surround the MESSENGER FROM THE FATHER. They are impotent when they attempt it. The light of the Sun of Righteousness overicaps all their walls of exclusion, as the glorles of morning Re over the mountain tops and flood the valleys. ‘he sound of the Master's words will go forth to the ends of the earth, like the song of the stars. We behold the heavenly messenger before us, Tell us, oh, tell us, O Divine Messenger, of the great power which made and governs the world. Tell us, can sin be forgive cun the leprosy of wrong doing be cured? Do the dead—our dead—live ? Do they liye in heaven ¢ Shall we ascend those holy heights ? What is the way thither? Or shall we lie with the clod and perish under it, and think and enjoy and and love no more forever? Speak! oh, speak! He speaks, and we tremblingly Hsten to His inspiring Words :—“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest. Iam the resurrection and the life. le that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he Hyg; and he that liveth and believeth in Me shail never die. In My Fattier's house are many mnansions, where you shall behold My glory; your Heavenly Father is more willing to give you good things tian earthly parents are to give good ifs to their children.” It is enough; God is our ther; sin can be forgiven; our holy ones are in heaven; we shall follow tnem thither; Jesus is the ray the truth and tne life; away with hypotheses an Bypostasies away with controversies and dogmatisms about Christ's rank and essence j away with unintelligibie terms, and complex natures, and @uallties which perpiex reason and confound faith. is our simple, intelligible, yet grand, cot - hensive, inspiring doctrine of Curet erore me yanish all human theories, speculations and aftirma- | tions. We do uot allow ourselves to be be- wildered in the # Mg aeisas OF MAN'S DRVICES, ve the spirit of Christ we know that wi aro Tis, If we follow His voice we know that we are of His fold. If we accept His teachings we know that we are His discipies, After enlarging on | this point he proceeded to show that the Unttarians | do not deny Christ, the reverend speaker said | they are ignorantly, if not slanderously, reported to do. The; lieve, with Peter, that “Christ is the Son of the living God.” Jt has an origin higher | than that of synods or convocations or council God is its author, It has an ee higher t that of presbyteries and consistories. Stand popes, With your mitres; bishops, with #lers; councils, with your articles; presv; with your confessions; churches, with your cree Stand back and give room for the divinely-inspii beaven-sanctioned confession of Peter—our conte sion—a confession on which our Church is built, on Which our hope rests, ana which will endure after the mitres of popes, the crosiers of bishops, the ar- tcles of councils, the confessions of presbyteries and the creeds of churches shall have perished from human record and human memory! His next point was respecting the AUTHORITY OF CHRIST, He said that the Unitarlans believed that to Jesus a8 the Son of God the spirit was given without measure, so that His words to them are God's Words, ths promises God’s promises, and His works God's works. ‘Their faith in Him was as fuil, as free, as undoubted as if the Father had in His own Person dweit in that human form; had done those Plghty works; hud spoken those lire-giving words, ae b 2 Words which Jesus spake been uttered by G04 Himself from the open heavens their conti- lence in their truth would be no greate: Who adds more assumes God's ative; who more betrays a lack of confiten in the Savi curs Wisdom. Having thus unfolded the Unitarian be- Hef asto the nature and authorit iy ad f y of Christ, he entered upon tue concluding por i pS To 6 portion of his dis- 5 THR MISaION ov Cheer &.They belloved that God gave Christ tobe a Sax viout, “to save that which was jost; that oul | clent power was given Him to be such Saviour, | The great purpose of Clirist’s mission was to recon: self to such sufferings and dangers? Is it ue ht for any cue nan to undertake herculean tasks like this that promise little or no good in his lifetime?” We know there lurks in the minds of many the suspicion that the praise bestowed upon Livingstone is extravagant; that Livingstone isa fool to expose himself to such hardships for all the good he can do, They do not see that as the ioneer of Christian civilization his work cannot be oo highly valued. We should remember that if the African missionary is thus to be depreciated or condemned, on the same principles we have to de- nounce not a few who are now highest in the world’s adiniration, Mr. Mitchell then proceeded to give a few notable examples of men who strug- rg for the attainment of an idea, and who, hav- ing won it, conferred immeasurable benefits on mankind. We regard, he continued, THE SEARCH FOR LIVINGSTONE and his discovery as very important and significant events, Had the integence been authenticated that he was murdered in cold blood by savages, or had become the prey of wild beasts or succumbed to fever or starvation, who can tell what @ depressin: influence this would have had upon commercial and missionary he ae) ? The news of his recovery, the’ knowledge he will disclose concerning the geography, the climate, the soil, the races, the mianners and customs, the religions of Africa, can- not failto advance the interests of education, of commerce and of religion, The reverend gentleman then proceeded to speak of the future of Africa, which he depicted in giow- ing colors, and advocated a united elort of the Churches to send out more men like Livingstone— physical as well as theological doctors—to the mis- sionary field of Africa. He concluded with an ap- peal for liberal and prayerful sympathy with foreign inissions* EIGHTEENTH STRRET METHODIST EPISCO- PAL CHURCH. Bichop Wiley on the Divinity. and Power of the Gospel. Rev. Isaac W. Wiley, who was recently elected Bishop by the Methodist Conference, delivered a discourse in the above named church yesterday morning. ‘’he church was comfortably filled. The speaker took his text from the first chapter of St. Paul's First Epistle to the Thessalonians—“For our gospel hath not been to you in word only, but in power alse and in the Holy Ghost and in much as- surance; for you know what manner of men we have been among for your sakes.”’ St. Paul, said the preacher, had travelled through Asia Minor and was about to go farther to the East, when aman appeared to him in a vision and commanded him to fe to Macedonia. Ye had not been long here when he was bound and put in the stocks. I sometimes think that PAUL MIGHT HAVE REASONED and doubted, as we are accustomed to reason and doubt, whether the vision had not been an illusion, But no such misgivings entered his mind, It turned out to be the opening of the door for the introduc- tion of Christianity into Europe, and the fame went abroad of the wonderful men that were turn- ing the world upside down. Paul at length stole way to Thessalonica. A mob was there to meet him and oppose him, yet he erected there one of his first churches. And when he had left this place doubts and strifes and dificult questions arose, and he wrote to them. He did so in a peculiar manner. He does not enter into a iearned argument to show that the Gospel ls divine, No; he appeals to them to remember WHAT THE GOSPEL HAS DONE. He says to them, you remember the contentions that arose when the Gospel came. It came with er accompanied by the Holy Ghost. This is his lof proving to doubtful minds the divinity 'st's Gospel, There is no better method. To D@ persons I would ys “Come; take this ; letit enter into your hearts and you will find out what it is.” There are three elements in it Which carry conviction of its divinity to the mind— viz., its power, the lufluence of the Holy Ghost and the assurance it brings to the heart. In our day there is a laxity of belief regarding the form of this Gospel. We hear it said that it matters little what is a man’s faith provided that his life is right. You might as well say that it matter; @ body @ man has as long as pide i ie HIS SOVL 13 ALL. RIGHT, You might as well say that it makes no mat what kind of a ship a man sails in if he teuches Liverpool! safely. It matters immensely. The chances are against the life vetire right if the faith be wrong. He that chooses to cast away that part of the Gospel which appeals to man’s fear, takes away 80 much Of its motive power. He who takes away what appeals to the heart, robs it of so much of its riches. It needs all, If St. Paul could exclaim in jis ear “this is the Gospel; see its power,” how much more can we not exclaim the ince its career from that time to our own has been one of continued conquests. There was a tune When one man stood against the world. It is needless to say how soon the world was overcome by the trnth that fell from His lips, Old systems, old philosophies, | THE WHOLE WORLD FELL wx before It, ts power lies in its siete Nothing haa beet “40 Werutinized, Kings have ‘arrayed their power against it, and it stands, Eighteen centu- Nes hunting tor an error in it without finding one demonstrates it to be trae, Another element of its vower Is in its authority, It ls not come, like Cicero, to plead with men, or, ike Seneca, to reason with them, but says “Thou shalt” and “Thou shalt not.” It cannot be other- wise, for the Holy Ghost is with her. “I'll be with you till the end of time,” said Christ. And the power of the Holy Spirit is with her—the same that came down upon the apostles after Christ’s ascension. The Gospel would have been dead and buried long ago were it not for this power, THE THIRD ELEMENT of the Gospel is the assurance that it brings. St. Paul, in the text, means to say that we may know the Gospel and be assured of its truth, “We have,” says the immortal Wesley, “the sweet per- suasion in our souls.” Then say unto * sceptics, why stand out in the cold, when God is ready to open forth to you the treasures of His Gospel, step into the broad, clear light of as- surance, that you may know and feel that you have Passed from death to life. 8T, PATRIOK’S CATHEDRAL. Fine Music and an Instructive Sermon— The Knowledge of God—Sermon by Father Kean. The high mass at the cathedral yesterday was celebiated by Father McNamee, Father Keaney act- ing as “master of ceremonies,” The church was, a8 usual, crowded to its fullest extent by a weil- dressed and fashionable audience. ‘THE MUSIO, which sometimes fills St. Patrick's with a more musical than religious congregation, was up to its usual standard, page Pas Mr, Schmitz, the, organist, whose overtures have Often directed the pious mind from its theme of thought, had the musical programme for yesterday admirably arranged; while Mesdames Chomé, s0- prano, and Unger, alto, together with Messrs. H. Schinitz, tenor, and B. Urchs, basso, must not be forgotten, as to them belongs the honor of the ar. tistic rendering of the music, to which must be as- cribed the success of the programme. The music yesterday was by Mercadante, in D minor, for four voices. At the offertory “Gloria Patri et Fillo,” ar- ranged from Haydn's Terzetto, was sung by Maaame (homé and Messrs. Schmitz and Urchs in honor of the day the Church yesterday celebrated— Trinity Sunday, The “Sanctus” and “Agnus Dei’? were from Buhler, and were sung by the full quartet. Keiore the sermon Mercadante's Veni Creator’ — which was the musical gem of the ceiebration—was rendered by the full choir, Father Kean preached THE SERMON, previous to which he read the Gospel for the day, which was tuken from the last three verses of the last chapter oi tie Gospel of St. Matthew. ‘The ser- mon Was on the “Knowledge of God,” and Father Kean propounded the subject substantially as fol- lows:—From time immemorial God has manifested Himself to men that they might know Him, and to know Him was the object for which all men were created, This is a@ doctrine which the smallest child knows; for if you ask him what he was created tor he will give you the words of his catechisin— “That I might know God, serve Him in tills world and be happy with Him forever in the next.” We love God in a direct ratio as we know Him; if our knowledge of Him is small our love 1s also dwarfed; if we know Him well and have been taught of His infinite ne iad & His incomprehensi- ble majesty and His inscrutable mercy, we must, a3 a natural consequence, love Him more tian our Jess favored brothers who have not had an oppor- tunity of receiving the same light. Betore the word of God or His works were committed to books for transmission to posterity He made Himsclf known to man in many ways—irst, by His appear- ance to Adam; next, by His prophets, whom He even invested with supernatural power, as & most sensible means of showing man- kind His omnipotence, and last, but not less forcibly, in tue person of Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son, through whom he showed the world His inscrutable mercy by permitting Him to be ignédminiously nailed to the cross for the redemp- tion and salvation of mankind. God even now speaks to us by the voice of animated nature, Let us look around. Allnature seems just springing into life, and each tiny blade of grass tells a tale of an omnipotent power which culls tt into existence. If we look with care at the many manifestations which God every day places betore our eyes under ditferent forms we cannot but admire Ais grace and bounty, in doing which we learn to love Him more and more, which gradually brings us to the object of our creation and existence—God and eternal bliss— @ blessing which I wish you all, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, whose feast we cele- brate to-day, CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES. Mr. Hepworth’s Farewell Sermon for the Scason—Progress of the Preparations for the New Church—Sermon on Work=- ing Together with God. Mr. Hepworth preached yesterday morning his last morning sermon ef the season, The excite- ment, anxieties, wear and tear of the last few Months have told upon him, and he is about to try the effects of rusticity and quiet. The Board of the Trustees for the new church are:—Mr. 0. L. Anthony (chairman), 8. W. Fay, Ju®%ses Sterling and Hilton, Mr. Fay and others. Several plots of land are under offer to this Board, and it 1s ex- pected that in the course of the present week the location of the new house to be built for Mr, Hep- worth’s ministry will be decided upon. Mr. Hepworth’s text was selected yesterday morning from II. Corinthians vi., 1—We, then, as workers together with Him.’ He said:—To feel that we and God are working in the same vineyard, that we are laboring for the same end, adds dig- nity and strength to the heart. The pecullarity of Christianity is that it reveals a God who not only exercises a watchful care over the whole world, but also over cach individual. It is this personal in- terest In us which astounds us, We shall never be able to understand ft. Our own estimate of our- selves is such that even the most conceited dandy understands why God should even give him a pass- ing thought. GREATNESS IS RELATIVE. Milton, Shakspeare, Cesar secm to us to be great, and worthy the notice even of angels, perhaps. But such lordly men have no more rigit to claim the meeps of High Heaven than an ant who can outdo his fellows and carry a larger grain of sand than they has a claim on our sympathy, The greatest is no more than the least belore God; for even our greatness is littleness, is nothingness in His sight. We shrink abashed from the thought that the Al- mighty should know of our existence or take any note of what we do or say. And because we cannot easily be persuaded of this Christ came and taught us the Lord’s Prayer. And when with bowed heads we repeat those holy words which give to human nature all its heritage of dignity the glad con- sciousness steals over us that GOD CARES FOR US just as we care for our children. Each one of us, even the poorest, Isa part of the family, and en- joys in some special way the parent's love. I say to each one of you, “Thou art the man whom God hears and helps.’ To yourself you seem to be a part of the great world, and lost in the mass as a drop of water js lost in great ocean's bull ut to Him you are known as @ separate and special existence, wo be ministered unto by the angels and by the Holy Spirit in some peculiar a You see that picture of Calvary and you shudder. The clouds gather heavy and dark. Thunder rever- berates throughout the heavens. The earth itself shakes as beneath the tread of a great army. The victim bows His head and dics, A great sacrifice has been made. The Lamb of God has been slain, It is a@ horrid picture, and you turn from it with horror that men can be so hateful and so cruel; that they can hate the pure in heart and kill the {onocent. But as you walk thoughtfully away you say to yourself, “There must be a pu ¢ in all this.” It is the deepest Seageay of which history bears record. Yet it was evidently done by the providence of God. For what and for whom? The answer comes echoing along the “corridors of time,” “Thou art the man. It was all done for you, that you might find the lght and keep your feetin the narrow path and reach heaven at last.” And at that thought all your gratitude leaps up in song. GRATITUDE. Now, brethren, each one of us can do something for God. Not one so poor but he can help to_brin, the kingdom of love a little closer to the earth, No! one so lowly but he can add to the power of the Church, and become a preacher of the Word. Even we who have gathered together to form a new church of Christ have a part of the vineyard allotted to us, and we must see to it that we are not idle, Tcannot help speaking to you this morning with br a ad gratitude for the blessings we have re- ceived, for we are about to part until the autumn, The labors of the year have pressed upon us with unusual heaviness, andi need rest. Still Il would not leave you for this reason alone. There are other and sufficient reasons for giving up for a while, and with the hope ol beginning our work jn the — autumn with renewed vigor, I cannot let the day go by without speaking of the circumstances in whic Weare placed, It is hoped that before long we shall find the spot on which to build our church, We have every 1cason to suppose this, When it shall be accomplished you will be apprised of the fact. And we shall push forward the building with all che expedition, for we all want a house. You iave stood by me nobly thus far, and I hope you will work for the cause through the summer months. God grant the building may be partly up by the time we meet again! I cannot speak of the way in which this city has received me without great gratitude. I broke away from the FRIENDSHIPS OF TWENTY YEARS, and new friends came around me at once, and New York, with a ‘ous syinpathy which I can never forget, gave ine more than $100,000 with which to begin our enterprise, while its iinisters and those of Brooklyn have been more like brothers than strangers, The newspapers have given ws their Warm help, and 1 shall not go too far in saying that the kinduess of the HeRaLp in making our position known as a religious society to the re jigious world, and the charity and general fnendiinesa with which wo have been cheered in our work by all the other papers, will not be forgotten so long as we have a voice to say what the heart so deeply feela, Breth- ren, let us go on With our work, and may the good | Father bless our undertaking and receive us into ‘His kingdom at last! TRINITY SUNDAY IN BT. JOSEPH'S OHUROE. At an early hour yesterday a white-robed band of bright, happy-looking children was seen enter- ing the well-known edifice on Sixth avenue to re- ceive communion for the first time, As usual the ceremonies were interesting and impressive, and as the little ones returned from performing what they had been taught toconsider 9 most important action there was on each fair young face a look of innocence and happiness. Being the last Sunday in May the Sodalists were not willing to let it pass without some little ceremonial in honor of their Mother in Heaven; so, to the number of 180, assem- bled in the Academy, and having donned white vells, wreaths and appropriate badges, went in procession to the church, bearing handsome ban- ners profusely adorned with natural flowers. One feature of ‘the afternoon's performance was the singing. The choir rendered the Lit- any, ‘Ave Marie,” &c., in @ manner worthy almost of professionals. Oertainly their singing evinced a thorough training and reflected much credit on the taste and musical skill of Pro- fessor Swickardi, An address from Father Clancy, in his al earnest, logical style, wound up the ex- ercises, which were presid vent tx the pastor, whose paternal glance and kindly smile showed the deep interest he takes in the little ones of his flock. The children then disperse@, carrying to their seve- ral homes the sunshine that hovers ever round the young and pure, BROOKLYN CHURCHES, PLYMOUTH OHUROH. Mr. Beecher on “Doing As You Have a Mind To”—A Sermon Abounding in Mimicry and Graphic MDlustrations— The Vast Congregation All Smiles and No Tears—Joy and Gladness All Round. The strangers came yesterday morning to Plymouth church “not in single file but in bat- talions,” and long before the last chimes had sounded of the bell—the ceasing of the sound of which gives the right to the ushers to fill the vacant pews and cnairs—the lobbies and gateways were crowded with a throng that was importunate for admission. The vacant places were not so numerous asusual, for the pew-owners, with their families, were largely represented. The ushers, however, seemed by instinct to know a Methodist delegate, accompanied as he almost invariably was by a lady ; and these were judiciously singled out a few minutes before the general admission and were assigned to eligible pews. When all had been feated for whom seats could be found, there was aiill a surging crowd at the entrances that it was dificult to restrain into silence and the observance of the proprieties usually observed in places of worship, It was not until the conclusion of the singing by Miss Lozer, the new soprano, of the solo, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings,” that suficient quietude was restored to make worship a serene delight. Mr. Beecher’s subject was the liberty of the soul as developed in the Christian life, In the treatment thereof Mr, Beecher showed himself to be what in other departments of public effort is frequently de- scribed as “in good condition.” He was more than usually humorous, had an almost infinite variety of illustrations, and was quite prodigal in the display of his unparalleled powers of mimicry. This joyful and free and easy state of mind was very conta- gious; and we question whether MR. CHARLES MATHEWS himself could have provoked more laughter or lit up the eyes of his audience with more unaffected, beaming delight in the same space of time, The text selected was the filth chapter of St. Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians, the first and the eighteenth verses—‘‘Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty where- with Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” There were two classes of lawless people, said Mr. Beecher, at the outset of his discourse—the people who were below the law and he People who are above the law. The former were always and everywhere the worst people, and the latter were the best, or were as near per- fection as perfect people generally get. After ex- plalisag that those who were above the law were those who did pet unconscious of the existence of any law, he defined liberty to mean “the doing as you-have a mind to.” Obedience toa great nat- ural law was a liberty, and was the ugh rty that @ man had that was worth bag espe ‘his thought was here amply ilinstrated. One was nite in the accomplishment of great, good and ab{ding things. There are many pre\chers here before me, said Mr. Beecher, who set out to preach a great, Killing ser- mon, and failed to do it—got to the end of it MISERABLY DISAPPOINTED. They have, however, when they have not been aware of it, preached sermons that not only sur- prised and delighted those who heard them, but very much surprised themselves. The same thing was seen in what was called society. You see people come into a room; they are going to be very proper and they are going to do the correct thing, and the room is full of invited guests, and you see as or come in that they are overwhelmed almost with the thought of themselves, But you see also that they do not know even what to do with their hands, (Mr. Beecher walked across the platform, imitating this awkwardness, awaking a very au- dible _ titter.) You see another person come in who is accustomed to be in society; there is no awkwardness; there is grace in every move- ment, quite an ease of manner; whoever she or he speaks to, it is done with affability, with a freedom that is quite charming, and there is no awkward. ness about the hands; there is evidently no fear of any law; it is all unconsciously done, and the grace and the freedom come because of the un- consciousness, Let me illustrate this more fully in the three great departments of human life—the body, the mind and the moral relations. You seo a fincly formed, lusty man, taken from off the farm, and wnder the care of a drill sergeant to be made a soldier of. You see him as he stands in his first drill; he does not know how to hold him- self porpendicularly; he leans his body either too forward or too backward; he cannot move his arms except he does it heavily and gauntly, and his movements from first to last are QUITE RIDICULOTS. You go a few months after to that same station and you see this same recruit transferred into an orderly; you see him sent as an orderly to deliver A message, and you notice with what grace he gives the salute to his superior oMcer, and how ever: muscle of his body is in strict and prompt obed ence to his will, and how Cate move with a free- dom that is quite unconscious, Take another illustration in the realm of mind. Look at a boy learning to play a violin. Mr. Beecher here imita- ted the awkward holding of the violin, the unscien- tifle bowing of the first lessons, and then, with a mimicry that was quite startling in its exactness to the original, showed with what grace, with what ease, that youth, after a long seriea of lessons, played so gracefully that he Knew when and how to draw his bow for the lighter and the bolder music, and to do each in such a way that he seemed todo {t with the unconsciousness of breathing. The moral illustration was taken from the condition of a boy who had been brought upto regard lying, thieving and deceit the right thing to do, and to do it cleverer than any other boy, and the long, weary time that {t took for that: boy to rid himself of the habits of his youth; but how by and by the royalty of truth developed itself, and his charac- ter grew to be in the condition of a truth-speaking, bis ght, honest boy. It was in this way we sa\ what was the mystery of that passage we read in the lesson where Christ said, e my yoke upon ou; for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” ee how the young bird learns to fiy; how it tumbles on one side when it gets a iittle way above the ground; then tt but it finds fying very rite a little higher, ard work; it makes ® more ambitious effort, per- haps, in search of food, and Gok on the mid-most branch of the tree; then it fies to the higher branches, and if it were not JARED BY THE COrSR & world fly above the trees; by and by it gets over the seve, and files above the entanglements of the thicket, and then how it soars! So should men do in their Christian life. They should get above the entanglements of their worldly alliances, and tney would live in the same unconsciousness of law, They should live their life as we go to sleep; we don’t think about the hours of Lala 3 when we go to rest. I go to bed on gen-ral principles. It is thus that we become a law unto ourselves, and this is what is meant by it, You fet an accountant to look at your books; you see im poring over the columns and muttering to him- self “Two and two, three and two are five,” and turn- ing 4 his hand to count his fingers. Why, how long would you keep that man. (Laugihter.) You smile at that in aritimetic, but that is just what you are in grace. You are just as much a Christian'as that man is an accountant who does not. know his busi- ness, Grace don't spread over you like the branches of a green spreading tree on a sultry day; rs should be in you spontaneous and automatic, t should live in you. There was » mother In.Israel once who used to hear me preach, and she was a great comfort to me. When I was pathetic she used to weep; when I was encouraging she looked 80 bright and happy that I feit quite certain I was getting along quite well, but I learned that when she got home she was a shrew, and that spoiled it all. You must not leave any opening for the as- saults of the devil, You must, as the apostle says, “put on the whole armor of God.” Why men fail so much in their Christian life is because th ae seldom had a widened cultivation of thelr graces; they are content with one or two, and don’t rise toa resplendent fervor. What would you think of © musical instrument that wanted ding up every ten notes? The perfection of this organ, as MR, ZINDELL knows, {s the unity on which it is built, and, as he ‘Knows well, the harmonious combination of the Stops, Let the momentum of your life towards oodness develop itself; you'll make mig- akes no doubt—you'll mj =) wyope any- how—but you will mak fewer by fiving your life ‘its freedom han you will by cramping tt, A wumber of tilustrations here fol- —TRIPLE SHERT. lowed on the freedom lopment of the nature of children; pee cone ness; and the slave, but I They have never learned the law of freedom; they will not learn it in this genera- tion, of five millions of men, who spent their lives in bon and barbarism, cannot in a single fon mn release thein- selves from the effects of the vice and barbarism consequent thereon. Jt will take a generatioon to lead them into the light. But it 1s not the blacks alone that are not in the e1 joyment of this law heen You may chant and sing your hymns on the For ofduly as much as you like, but you are slaves, and bound slaves, too, if you are under bondage te iniquity.” The sermon, which was long, but not for a moment wearisome, not one oF the = (cai yor, ame from his or her place, wai clude @ practical application, Eiter which the hymn commencing ne r One army of the living God was sung with @ vila, and the benediction pro- nounced, WORSHIP AT THE AOADEMY. Bishop Bowman’s Sermon Yesterday Afternoon. Rey. Dr. Bowman, one of the new bishops elected at the Methodist General Conference on Thursday last, delivered the sermon at the Academy of Musio yesterday afternoon. Dr. Bowman, who is also President of Indiana Asbury University, led the tioket at the election in the Conference, and a great crowd assembled in the Academy yesterday to listen to his first sermon as Bishop. Delegates to the Conference and many ladies were seated upon the stage. The private boxes were also filled. At half-past three o'clock Bishop Bowman opened the services by announcing a hymn. Chaplain. Lozier led the singing. Rev. Mr. Gill, of Pennsyl vania, followed in prayer, and Bishop Harris read & portion of the Scriptures, THE SERMON. Bishop Bowman's text was from 8t. Luke xix. 10—"For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which Is lost.” This is emphatically an age of facts. Sin is a fact—a fact just as distinctly marked in the experience of the human heart and in the history of the human race as any fact in the physical universe. It is everywhere. Its influence and its power are felt everywhere. Sin is here in this multitude to-day. Sin meets us at every ry in our course in pe a the public highways and the private bypaths of life—and if their is a fact anywhere recorded upon the pages of history and experience of the race it is the luct that siny with its terrific consequences, is everywhere abroad in our world. It is not merely a doctrine taught in this blessed book; it is not merely a truth which is presented by divine inspiration for your and my acceptance, but it is a stern fact that meets us everywhere, where the Bible has been and where the Bible has never been—where men have never heard of this blessed revelation, God made man originally perfect and upright, and in His own image. He gave to man that tear- ful power—that human freedoin—and He left it for man to say in the exercise of that freedom whether he would obey God and live forever or disobey Hiin and perish. In the exercise of this power man chose to transgress, and thus slu entered the world, and death by sin and all our woe. Until ptillosophy could furnish a better scheme than tuat in the Bible, the preacher said, those people were bound to admit the one contained in this book. In the Scriptures alone we found the remedy for sin. ue came to “seek and to save that which was ost, Christ dwelt in human nature and made atone- ment for the sins of the world. The speaker could not tell how he did it, but accepted it as a simple fact. This met the demands oi his spiritual nature. It went out with God and God came into his soul, and he knew for himself thathe was in inter- course with the Father and Son. He would ask young eople tosay irom the Bibie, as they had been accus- omed to read, what was the great central under- lying truth in the Old Testament. He would ven- ture to say that every one would answer that it was substitutionary olfering—tie offering of sac- rifice. Jesus died as any other human bod. died, and His soul and body were made a sacri- tice for sin. Glory be to God for the atonement of ourSaviour. Thete we. e souls BES yet to be saved. “Seek and save that which is lost.” It is not the work of the Christian ministers alone. It is your work, fellow citizens, You Christian men and women here—to whom I never spoke belore, and to whom in all probability I shall NEVER SPEAK AGAIN ON EARTH. Ichai it upon you that it isyour work. They are perishing, ana you must save them, as you value the precious salvation that your Saviour has brought you. §T. JAMES (R. 0.) CATHEDRAL. Charity, the Foundation Stone of the Christian Editice—Sermon by the Rev* Father Sheridan, The importance of the great mystery of Christian belief commemorated on “Trinity”? Sunday, im. Pressed itselfin an added fervor and emotional character in the devotional services in the Brooklyn Catholic churches yesterday, At the Cathedral the Rev. Father Kiely, as celebrant, sang a solemn high mass, While the Rev. Father Sheridan delivered the lesson of the day's gospel selections, especially chosen by the Church, and drew the attention of the faithful both to the authority of the Church and the purpose of its foundation. Two gospels embodying this instruction are read in the rubric for Trinity Sunday, the one containing the Divine commission given the Apostles “to teach all things whatsoever I have commanded you,” and the other restraining the assumption of personal supremacy that might be engendered from the authority thus granted, with the caution, “Be meroiful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, that ye be not Judged,” The reverend preacher selected this point for consideration, which he stated In substance as above, making the deduction therefrom that mercy and charity furnished the real basis of all religious belief and practice. Christ's life was an {dy of charity and indulgence toward others, a thirty- three years’ lesson of mercy. This is the first pre- cept of his teachings, the mere neglect of its prac- tice constituting a grievous sin, while positive op- position is a heinous offence. To injure the prop- erty of a man is a crime, which society makes punishable in a serious way; but to attempt to de- rive him of God’s gifts, his credit and reputation, is to assail the Almighty in His Daron preroga- tives. Calumny is thus one of the greatest of haman sins. The reverend Father then proceeded to show how detraction did not always require words to fll up the measyre of allt, or injury, but was frequently insinuated by inuendo, in a shrug, or a movement of the eye- brows, or a eect smile; and in the use of the feminine pronoun in this portion of his dis- course, the preacher seemed desirous of pointing this particular moral for the benefit of the softer sex. Continuing, he said man Is so constituicd as to require the protection which the Almighty hag pu) sought to throw over his weaknesses and ‘allties, in order that he may have a.fair oppor- tunity to act upto the requirements and obll- gations of his place in the great scheme of existence, The evils resulting from calumny, in the disruption of households, were pointed out, where, perhaps, such calumny was merely the result of careless speaking—of an effort to please in society by brilliant observations or smart criticism. Detraction often resulted, too, from the misinter- pretation or an exaggeration of the thing said, where, the quality of malice being wanting, there ‘was some excuse, but where eaer or a spirit of re- prisal entered in the responsibility was great. Re- garded apart from the divine command, human society would for its own protection support this view of the evil of detraction, but, judged in its supernatural consequences, it is fatal to the soul’s salvation. It is a sin, too, that is common to both good and ad, These acts of febellion against — the Divine will strikes us as being of that character, but this has the endorsement of society, giving piquancy to drawing room talk, and seldom car- rles any sense of remorse. The very best people apparently think they have a right to sit in judg- ment upon their fellows for their own spiritual consolation, They seem not to remember that with their light w: of detract! the: gow. eas of te arat rh aC an bi og aro eS t at any time bring about a conflagration, the damage resulting from which is beyond calculation, Thus the obligation of mak- ing reparation for all the harm they have caused increases the difficulty of o! ntaining for- giveness, Our conversation should be framed so that we may not fall into this evil way, while we should endeavor to culti- vate aspirit ofcharity in our hearts that would prevent us lapsing thoughtlessly into this sin. St. Augustine had inseribed over his table, “Let those Who would injure their neighbors not’ eat here.” The discredit which the taie-bearer of our school days obtained shows the natural instinct which is at the same time the Christian principle. That de- traction is to be carefully guarded against, not- nin that society ts more tolerant of the calumniator in manhood than the more innocent feeling of the child permits, Our safety in this re- spect is only to be found in an humble imitation of Christ's example, and an earnest effort to follow out His teachings, bearing in mind that of all the qualities which adorn the human mind the greatest is charity. NEW JERSEY CHURCHES. —_-_+-——— HOBOKEN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. Sermon by Rev. James Marshall on the Constraining Love of Christ, , ‘The above-named church had been without A pag. tor for a whole year, When Dr. Marshall a yoq from Troy, a few weeks ago, and was (WY ‘nstalied. The new pastor is considered @Y*%¢ improvement on hia predecessors in enert’y and eloquence. He ta already determined ©Y(ner that the present inado- quate church §4W. be sold and subscriptions ratsed to erect a new one, or that the present building must be considerably enlarged. One by one the members of the congregation who have not boom very punctual of late are returning, and promise te co-operate with Mr. Marshall, He preached yester- day from II, Corinthians y., 14—“For the love of Christ constraineth us.” A word im regard to the history of this pa-sage, he said, will imdicate ite import, Paul had been PREACHING AT ATHENS, Aman, Dionysius by namo, and a few women were the only fruits of his ministry. Paul had accomme- dated his preaching to the tastes of'bis hearers, whe were rich, learned and philosophical, They would only listen to brilliant throught and dazzling rheto- ric, Their cultured tastes sought gratification in the discussions of the schools. They spurned evés- cerations of their own wicked hearts, because rebelled agatnst any aggressions upon the idols their worship. It was far from the plain aplanctions of Jesus rat to yield to the demands of such un- Tenewed hearts, As Paul accommodated bimsell $0 loan nd me their tastes, ibicens Eis APTANTAN MINTER. nes x coeaatal, ct may explain why he nett Wrote a ite me the ‘Athenians. We have © the Romans, to the Ephesians, to the Colossians, &., but none to the people of Athens, His Athenian sapemanen: changed iis preaching; for at Corinth he preached a crucified Saviour, ‘The religion of God to Chrtst must furnish spiritaal food for eternal life, nut a mental - pear Pleasure. This doctrine o crucified Yiour was the glory of the new faith, and many converts flocked to the new standard. ‘The ‘speaker erate? Paul among the heterogeneous misses of rinth preaching Christ with such an unctueus zeal that enemies him with pride and madness, which he met wi THE PLEA OF THS TExt, “For the love of Christ coustraineth us.” ‘The sub. ace divided itself into three questions, First— vhat is the love of Christ? Second—How is it manifested? ‘Third—How does it constrain us? The first A fai was answered by setting forth Christ's divimty as the pivotal point of the scheme of grace, growing fresher under all research by friend orfoe, The scriptural argument and the results of human experience in favor of Christ's divinity revealed the madness of pointing -the sinner to Christ as @ mere man or simply a grand example. It would be playing with human anguish and trifling with the heart's despair, The speaker ran parallels between Christ's manhood and Godhead, No stronger motive can actuate a man than love for such a being. The value of some controlling force in man was illastated in men of art, science and business. Sodeep was the pria- ciple of love in Paul that suffering kept him on the grave’s brink and faith surrounded him with THE ATMOSPHERE OF HEAVEN. So, in all Christians, love for God in Uhrist is vital to faiti, to purity, to power, to progress, The second question Was answered by the contrasts ef Christ enthroned in heaven and dismantled of glory on earth; in the SeenON of human nature and in the sacrifice for sin, Thus, sin is peairored, Christianity 1s true, and Heaven pours forth bicss- ings for time and eternity. Third—How are we con- stiainea by the love of Christ? Tne points illus- trating this portion of tie subject were, first, by the indwelling power of the Holy spirit; second, by familiarity with Christ's histovy, doctrines, denun- ciations of sin and encouragement, Ignorance of the Bible produces infidelity in the head and irre- ligion in the heart; thi:d, by rea an aim in lite, and fourth, by seeking to enjoy that love, Space will not permit of even a hint at the full, practical illustrations of all these points. Among others was the fo!lowing:—During the war, when our gunboats were running THE CONFEDERATE BATTERIES at Vicksburg, @ cannon ball crashed through the wheel house of a steamer and swept the mangled remains of the helmsman into the river. Imme- diately another soldier jumped to the wheel, with his eye on the point down the river. Crash came the balls, but he was saved, and the gunboat reached the goal, What constrained the exhibition of such heroism? Was it love of duty ? Was it love ofcountry? Such may be true. Some spirit actu- ated Engineer Simmons, who went down with his engine at the New Hamburg disaster. Such exhibl- tions of loyalty to duty dignity human nature and illustrate What men will do when by fear or daring their souls are fixed on some deinite purpose. Some other power must sanctify the nature cay ble of such noble acts. Let the lense af God’s Spirit bear upon the heart; then renewed, the true Chris- tian will have his hand at the wheel ot life, steering for heaven, The guns from spiritual focs may crash through earthly joys and. hopes, but ruin ig impossible while his eye is on man’s Welfare and God’s glory. GLEN COVE, L. 1, SERVICES. METHODIST EPISOOPAL OHUROH. Dr. Brooks, who has been long known in the Middle and Western States as an able divine, preached yesterday morning in the Methodist church. He is also known as chairman of the memorable Methodist Book Committee from 1870 to 1872, Asa preacher he is calm and dignified, and conveys at once the bellef that all tuat is said is from the deepest convictions of his own soul. His text yesterday morning was from Acts, xx., 2— “But none of these things move me; neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” He sald that there were two faults prominent in the Christian life which were directly opposite in their character. The one was to look too much to ourselves, watching the symptoms of our own spiritual health and looking to see if there was any- thing in our lives and character which would jus- tify joyous hopes of heaven; ilke an invalid, con- stantly standing before a mirror and looking at himself to see how he was getting along, instead of taking the necessary remedies and exercise to se- cure health. Such an examination always led toun- happy results, and if indulged in too much always tended to discouragements. It was very much as with Peter, who, as long as he kept his eye o ‘the Saviour, he was safe, but when he looked to himself, and then to the raging billows, he began to sink; 80 if we look only to ourselves we shall find the way heavenward a tolisome and weary way. On the other hand, we ought to look at ourselves, sometimes, just as a man would look in amirror before going out to engage in the active duties of life, or as a sick man would examine care-, fully his own symptoms to see how the remedies were working. So we ought always to criticise our- selves much more severeiy than when judging others; indecd it was hardly ever profitable to judge others at all; but we ought to lave at umea Strict heart examination to see that we are not retrograding. Many times Christians might be so active in behalf of others as to be anconsclouly losing ground themselves. Theré ate certain Chris- tian graces to be perfected, and this is our work here; this is the course we have toruu. Paul re- ceived this ministry from the Lord Jesus, but not to him only, but to all them who are called; to te humblest he assigns a life work. We all, therefore, have a course over which we are to pass in our re- ligious life. When a@ person is first converted, lie is ony just beginning; nay, further, when oe a sanctified he was just beginning to grow ; to be ea- tirely sanctified was to improve when tl defilements of sin were removed, just @ child that had been sick, when cure was just in a condition to grow to tile stature of manhood. Wo may not know how far we are toimprove or how long, but no doubs it will continue thus through eternity. Whatever else God ag! have for us to do in the world, she first thing of all others is for us to take care of our own heaiis, We aré all responsible for one soulat feast, a id if we lose that we lose all. Again, thsre is a service for us to render to cones though & child, God had @ place and x mission, and that voll performed would lead, under Hid vicentc, £0 [ne greatest resulta. God has, then, a ministry {rally itis already marked out; Christ aasigns us our work. But we spend too much time in looking around to find some great work, in- stead of doing the little which is now before Us. Jf We would oftener do the little duties of life and labor on, even though it should be “little and unknown,” the resuits will show that these daties in eternity are themselves infinite, because they take hold on eternity. Again, we are to testily of what we know; @ witness has to testify of what he has positive knowledge, not what he has heard about, This text in the original conveys the idea of knowing all the way through, from the A BU experience to the end. When Christian spoke ot the grace of God able tosave it was not boasting, any more than he who had been a beggar, and had been fed and clothed and made an heir, would say of his benefactor, He did everything forme.” If we thus stood in our lot and place to do the work assigned us and to finish our ministry there would be the compietion of the Christian character—"To the full stature of men in Christ Jesus.” Not to be as great as Christ, but to stand complete in Him—a man of small stature could be as complete as one of a larger stature. Why may we not, then, render ag complete a service ag an archangel? It may not ba as great, but it may be as complete, Another re- sult will be that it will be a fnisied work. If your work is not done for to-day it will never be done, ‘The work of yesterday, If {ncomplete, can never be finished, for to-morrow will have its own work and the present calls for the dis- charge of the duties of the present, It the past is not right, all we can do is TO ask pardon of Christ and forgiveness, and then jook very carefully for the future, course, ani This was Paul's when he looked backward he could Ihave fought a good ight; 1 have kept aml as he looked forward he could trust- ‘Henceforth thére is laid up for me @ ite? And jie, from his high seat in ploy waves backward to. &# Who toll in file's story scene the biessed assurance, “And tot t6 Me ony, but to all them that love iis appearing.” Oh, may we so run this race, so finish this course and 8@ keop this faith that we may prove ourselves more worthy of that great rewards