The New York Herald Newspaper, September 2, 1872, Page 4

RELIGIOUS. “Phe Summer of Diss{pation Tufned Into a Season of Glorious Zeal for the Conversion of Mankind. ‘Opening of the Autumnal Chris- tian Campaign. The Preachers Renew Their Physical Strength and Mount Upon the Wings of Eloquence to a Religions Fervor. ,Professor Greene on the Laborers and the Harvest. ‘Dr. Starrs Urges the Necessity of Being Prepared to Die. ‘The Christian’s Strength De- scribed by Dr. Armitage. Paul's Defence Before Agrippa Philoso- phized by Mr. Pullman. New York and Athens Contrasted by the Rev. CG. B, Smyth. —_—_+—_—. A Sermon on Livingstone in the Mariners’ Church. TRINITY METHODIST EPISCOPAL OHUROH, Strength Brings Peace, Peace Brings Se- “ eurity—Sermon by Kev. John E. Cook- man. ‘To judge from the large and fashionable attend- ance at the Trinity Methodist Episcopal church in ‘West Thirty-iourth street and Eighth avenue it ‘would seem that the recent cold weather must have had a salutary effect upon the élite, in that it drove them from the watering places to their duties and thelr church, They have had @ vacation of four weeks at this church, and - yesterday was the reopening. The regular pastor, Rev. John E. Cookman, preached, basing his discourse on the third verse jf the seyenty-secoud Psalm:—“The mountains ‘hall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.” As we gaze upon the sublime Majesty of some towering mountains, he began, a Soran of security and rest comes to our hearts, Bo, as we stand in a verdant valley, the quiet river Mowing peacefully along its mossy bed, brings to us tthe same feeling of quiet and repose. These things pias of what is grandly sublime. As we gaze far up into the starry depths, and as those great EYES OF HEAVEN Beem to return that gaze, we partake of the ‘Majesty beyond. Rest is found in greatness, and strength comes before peace. We have only to Jook upon these wonderful works of God to appre- ielate the truth of this verse. While we stand under great trees which have withstood many a severe storm, and as We look upon the immeasurable vast- mess Of the ocean upon whose broad bosom we have often been carried, a feeling of content, of Won peace, comes over us. Fourteen years ago climbed up the side of a steep mountain, and when reached the summit, far above ithe level of the sea, I gazed upon Mont Blanc, and ‘as it lifted its snowy head the truth of that verse flashed ucross me. Take, for example, the govern- yments—it is peace that brings security. DIPLOMACY just Summon its ministers in order to gain any- hing. The treaty that settles peace requires and agitates the best minds. A weak nation can never be a peacetul one. It is through DEATH AGONIES that liberty is born, It is through continual battle that we inherit and transmit to our children. Jesus said that His kingdom was not of this world, The kingdom of God is one of peace, that brings to the human heart contentment. It pro- claims those laws to which man must eventually submit and all Rings ™must bow down before. Then eace serene shall sit upon her throne and all men conquered by her. 4 WHat 18 OMRISTIANITY ? ‘What is the religion of Jesus? By whom was It founded? It is a robust religion and was founded by Jesus Christ. His peace was obtained by self-denial. He aid aside His — heavenly sceptre descended from the realms above and be- came as a mortal, suffertug all that human fiesn is heir to. His was a peace gained by a life of entire Bereeeton 5 peace born and baptized by blood. that Divine Spirit, given to conquer the world, shall cause the desert to blossom. He rends the guilty shelters of pride, and this irit goes far underneath all natious, and rebuikls the character. This 1s the deep, genuine peace which cannot be moved. The Apostle Paul was glad to give up all y the love of Jesus Christ, his friend and Saviour. was a BLOODY THEOLOGY that crucified the dear Lord, It is not ungodly men Who are restful, but good men. A ian with- out certain principles is a weak man, Peace of mind connot dwell with a cay, conscience, The people that know their God shail be strong. They ‘Who wish to sec God must enter by the straight gate and the narrow way. Take the text, “The mountains shall bring peace.’ Mountains are measured by their height, and the higher they are ‘the more sublime they appear. How is it that peace brings rest? If you are conscious of having done a wrong action or spoken an JNKIND WORD you cannot be serene. But if you have done as you should your mind will be at rest, bringing to ou peace. Some hunt yey, for peace, as the het lard did ior the fountain of everlasting beauty, elr actions do not justily their being at it 18 chaos here uutil all has been brought in our with the Divine Will. In all the experiences of life strength brings peace. Our trials and temp- tations are only to make us better; like Separating the ore from the fold, our sing are taken from us and we are sanctified, All the ministers of Christ ‘will tell you that ft CROSSES BRING CALM. He 1s the God to whom we give our hearts and to ‘whose religion we cling with dor of our mag- nifcent natures, You may cry peace, ace; but there 1s no peace until you learn sul on. ‘BT, MARI’S PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCR The Sin of Fa Pride—Open Secret Sins—Discourse by Rev. Mr. Snyder. Yesterday being communion Sabbath in St. Mark's, in Stuyvesant street, there was no regular sermon. During the absence of the Pastor, Rev. Dr. Rylance, the pulpit was occupted by Rey. Mr. Snyder, rector of the mission attached to the church. Mr. Snyder took for his text the words of the sin-stricken publican, “God be merciful to me, # sinner.” After speaking of the circumstances under which this prayer was uttered—the retire- ment to the temple of THE PHARISER AND PUBLICAN to offer up their prayers to the Lord—the minister said that they were representative men of their ume. The Pharisee is ® well-known character., He ‘was celebrated for his zeal for God and his earnest. ness in keeping the law. They were the most re- ligious as well as the most patriotic of the people. ‘The publicans were the most despised of men, ow- Ang to the peculiar calling in which they generally engaged, At this time the Roman revenue was collected in @ pecullar manner. A kind of joint ‘stock company would purchase from the Roman oxeament for @ stipulated sum the right to col- et the revenue. They would appoint as their agents men who went about to collect the tithes, aud hence these tax gatherers were considered A DISKEPUTABLE CLASS, The publican was one of thi agents. The ‘whoie system was a pian of organized fraud, and in consequence the publican was universally despised. These two representative men went u ito the temple to offer up their prayers, Look a! the prayer of cach. The Pharisees thanks God that he is so much better than other men, that he keeps the law, that he is not like the pubilean. He feels that it is an honor to God for him to bow before Him, Not so the publican. He smites his breast 1n consciousness of his unworthiness and exclaims, “GOD BE MERCIFUL TO MR, A SINNER!" ‘We are not aware hor; the publican came to feel “ bestir themselves and hearken to the whispering NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1872.—TRIPLE SHEET, bis gitt; but, he felt, that his iife had been one of eas. le prayed on went own fi Fraple Justied by tale, So ad from the tem, jong ain iis world there will be men o! xists in t whom the Pharigee and publican are representa- tive Pharisee represents those who feel that eee are holier than their brethren. He thus because he felt that he was not guilty of the grosser sins of the fiesh; he was not in extortioner, like the publican; he was not an aduiterer. Ho'saw many around him 1 into sins of which he was not guilty. He thanked God he was a respectable man. He @ was oO sense of ‘There are many sins of the soul ag well a3 the open sins of the Nesh—tne noisy kind. It has been well said that there is a white devil—spiritual pride—as well as a black devil—lust; but because the Phart- seo judged himself free from the more gross of sins he felt that he was self-righteous. Let us not bo satisfied when we can say, “I am net an adulterer or @ fornicator.’” We may not be guilty of these open sing, but we are guilty of others. is not ft for heaven-becat HE WAS KEPT THB STATUTORY LAWS ofthe land. God expects more of us. He expects us to love our neighbors and live at peace with all men; He expects us to discard all false pride, ‘cel our utter unworthin and when we come betore Him pray, like the publican, “God be mereliul to ue, & sinner’? 8T, PATRIOK’S OATHEDRAL Sormon by the Very Rev. Dr. Starra=The Gospel of the Day Expounded—The Great Lesson It Teaches—Death an Une exceptionabie Appointment for AN—The Necessity of Being Always Prepared to Meet Its Advent. Yesterday was one of those cheerful, pleasant Sundays, when even the indolent and irreverent voice of duty,-summon up their religious feeling to @ greater or lesa degree and go, whether volun- tarily or reluctantly, to kneel in prayer at their re- spective shrines of worship. There was no oppres- sive heat, yet &® warming sunshine shed its bril- liancy alike over every temple. Cooling breezes kept the senses active and prevented eithor lasat- tude or two nervous devotion, while each succes- sive devotional a¢ene seemed to wear some new feature of attractiveness and merit. Every seat in the cathedral was well filled, and it hud evidently received back beneath its sombre roof the rusticating portion of its con- gregation. Rev. Father Kearney officiated as cele- brant. There were besideg in the sanctuary Rev. Fatuer McNamee and tho udual it toner f peolytes, ‘The maas, AS played by the organ: r. Schiultz, was in G minor, by Mercadante, ‘The ‘‘Offertorio,” by Ferzetto, was beautifully executed, and the “Gloria Patri et Fillo,” a solo by Mme. Unger, was of informing the Creator what He had better do with this world that He has niade and the crea- tures with which He has peopled it. The sermon had for its subject the strength of the Christian, and the text was “For which cause we faint not.’’ Dr. Armitage said that the true Christian never fainted. He might fret and worry, just as a> blooded horse might, that would rather die than faint, but he never absolutely succumbed, This was the difference between the Christian and the man of the world. The man of the wo when con- fronted with misfortune and ruin, nothing left to fall back upon, and was utterly hopeless, But the Christian knew that God would take care of and would sustain bm with both material and _ spiritual strength. The Christian certainly might sometimes a but that was very different from ‘ting. The best of us might sometimes fail; life, indeed, was nerally quite as much @ history of fistory gen And a@ fall had so! elects sometimes. It showed us how dependent we were upon the sustaining hand of God. Dr, Armitage then proceeded to show that our strength as Uhristians was dependent mainly upon our con- stani giowthin grace and godliness. It was with the soul of man as with the life of the external world. When an animal or a tree stopped growin; it began to die. The oak som times grew in strength and height tor three hundred years, and while it was g owing was over becoming more noble and beauti- il. But at last it stopped g: owing, and then tt at once began to decay, and in three yearsit would be dead, with the soul. Ifa man stopped powing spiritually, he would be dwarfed and stunted, an would at lest die, Clergymen sometimes after preyoniog for & number of years get tired of writ- Ing sermons, and just turned back and began de- livering over again their old discourses. But in colng this they lost their usefulness, They had much better make a big fire with those records of the work of anew. Dr. ing upon lus hearers the Christian’s strength is direct! faith and trust in God, THE REFORMED CHURCH. Autamn Opening—Sermon by Dr. Ormis- ton. The Reformed Dutch church, corner of Fifth ave- nue and Twenty-ninth street, was opened yester- day morning for divine service, aiter the usual sum- Mer vacation, and was largely attended. after the preliminary exercises the Rev. Dr. Ormiston deliv- ered the sermon, selecting hig text from the twen- ty-cighth chapter of Isaiah and the twenty-third and twenty-ninth verses inclusive :— Give ye ear and hear my voice; hearken and hear my wrpoth tho ploughman. plough ailday to sow? Doth he ‘open and break the clods of his ground t When he hath made pinin the tage thereof, doth he not att rity Ihe ‘Aches and scatter the cummin and SRE eb haat wheat and the appaluted barley tnd the rye in their place ? . : For his God doth instruct him to discretion and doth AC! in. Yor the fitches are not throshed with a threshing in erhaps an entire life, and com-nence rinitage concluded by again impress- rand truth that the dependent upon his also meritoriously rendered. The other parts of the mass, but especially the “Sanctus” and “Agnus Dei,” were given with much effect and more than ordinary pathos. After the singing of the Epistle and Gospel by the celebrant and the chanting of the “Veni Creator” by the choir, THR VERY REY. DR. STARRS took his place in the pulpit, made the requisite an- nouncements of the Sunday, and then read the gospel of the day from St. Luke, vil., 11, 17.:—‘‘And it came to pass after this, that. he went into a city called Nain, and there went with him his disciples and a great multitude. And when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold! a dead man was car- ried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her he had compas- sion on her, and he said, Weep not; and he that was dead sat up and began to speak, and he de- livered him to his mother.” The great miracle which formed the striking sub- a fed the gospel of the Sunday presented to our A MOST AFFECTING SPECTACLE, one which forces us to dwell tor a moment upon the omnipotent power of God's right hand, as well as upon His great compassion and love. Here, before an astonished multitude, our Saviour truly manifested His divine power and revealed in a wonderful miracle the whole mystery of His love in giving scope to the feelings of His sacred heart, an performing a work which transcends the power ol all human agencies. He was moved to compassion by the sight which he had seen, A widow bereaved | weeping relat over tie corpse of her son—over him in whom all her hopes were centred, who had perhaps tolled for her wiih those strong hands that Dew Were cold and stiff, and to whose strength she had looked up for support to guide her tottertog steps. MELANCHOLY AND SORROWFUL she gazed on him over whoiwm she had watched many sleepless nigits and days and she feels he is nomore. Sut in an instant, as our Saviour enters the gates of Nain, He sees the procession and is struck with compassion ut the sight of the rennet | woman, And Jesus bade her to “weep not,” an the men who carried the bier stood still, and Jesus pease young mau arise, and he sat up aud was ie * wi WHAT A CHANGE! A moment before and he was clasped in the ¢old arms of death. Now he is restored to all the fresh- ness and vigor of manhood dl the poor, disconso- late ve powe who wept wit the bitterness of her heart, is now frantic with joy, replete with all her former hopes and tuil of the sweetest consolation. No marvel that ‘‘a fear came on the multitude,” no marvel that “they glorified God” and that they said, “A great prophet ts risen up among us and God hath visited his people,” for now, “O deat! where is aaeeee and © grave, where is thy vic- tory? He that was dead ts brought to life, and the divine power of the Saviour which was exercised ig fully manifested to all. Let us now ask our- selves eee g WHAT LESSON 18 TO BE DEDUCED from this significant and striking miracle wrought by our compassionate Lord. The great lesson which this Gospel teaches is the certainty of death and the uncertainty of its advent, and aiso the great necessity of ae being prepared to meet it. It is appointed for all men to die, and then judgment, Statutum est semel mori, et tunc judticium.”” Death is an unavoidable evil. When it comes its force is irresistible, What, then, 1s the greatest event of our existence? Is it our birth, when the vital Spark is interwoven with the clay from which we are tormed? No, Is it our baptism, when Satan has to relingulsh all claims to our stainless souls ? No. This, however lruportant, is still not the great- est event. Is it onr choice of a state of life on which our future happiness so much depends? No, not even this. What, then, is the greatest event to usall? It is THE AWFUL MOMENT OF DEATH which is so fearful and so much feared. It is the separation of the soul from the body which makes the pangs of death so dreadful. When man was first created the body was immortal as well as the soul; but by sin came death into the world, Death 1s therefore the wages of sin. itis hard for fricnd to separate trom friend, harder still for parents and children to part, and yet more painful the separa- tion of husband froin wife; but tue hardest pang of all is for the soul to part from the human body, for they have been the elosest companions of a life- time, and their coexistence until now was one and inseparable, TUR BODY 13 NOT THR PRISON OF THE SOUL, 4s some philosophers argue. It is one of the noblest works of Wod, and it would be poe srg or God to call it a prison. Man can glorify Gox through his body a8 well as his soul. Through it he admires the works of his Creator and the beauty and harmony of nature, and contemplates even the existence of man himself. Tne wonderful sep- aration of soul and body, then, is that which makes death the greatest event to us, Once the bourne is past we can never return. The interests bordering upon such an event are therefore unquestionably important. You can correct almost everything in life, but after death this is impossible. At death, then, every- ting, must be corrected, or the eternal importance f the event is set at yg (9 If @ man ts sick it is @ notice to quit this life. ‘ho would not, then, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE WARNING and prepare forthe great crisis? Yet how many are reluctant even in moments of sickness to make reparation for their ill-spent lives, Tell that young man on his sick bed, whom the evil companionshij Of @ lifetime and all the blandishments that coul soften and seduce led away into wickedness and crime—tell him to prepare for death and he will answer, “he is not going to die,” but, alas! he is hurried into eternity while he sleeps in eons security. Go to the graveyard and you will per- ceive that itis for the most part covered with the tombs of young persons, Not more than a tenth of the human race die old. We know this, and still We persevere in sin. We, too, see the processions of the dead, and weeping mothers by the side of the bier, yet we make no eve a for the time when death shail visit us, But let us remember now, at least, that it certainly wi come, and at an uncer- tain hour, If we are found prepares and have fought the good ght, God will reward us with @ crown of glory in heaven. * FIFTH AVENUE BAPTIST OHUROH. Sermon by Dr. Armitage on the Chris- tan’s Strength=0pening of the Fall Season. Dr. Armitage's church, in Forty-sixth street, near Fifth avenue, was opened yeaterday morning for divine service, The attendance, however, was not very large, and the congregation, as though conscious that they were few, nestied together in @ compact body In the very centre of the church. It is true that there were also a few outside hear- ers scattered over the rest of the church, but it was evident that they were strangers and did not feel much at home, very The service was, mevertheless, very earnest and inter. esting. Dr. Armitage’s opening prayer was indeed singularly impressive, even if it were a little over long and had somewhat the alr aud tone strument, neither isa cart wheel turned about upon the cumm n; but the fitches are beaten out with a staf and the cummin with a rod. Bread corn is bruised, because he will not ever be threshing it, nor break {t with the wheel or hig cart, nor Drulso it with his horsemen. This alsocometh forth from the Lord of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working. ‘The reverend gentleman spoke in substance as follows:—This prophecy carries us back to the early reign of Hezekiah. The prophet foretold a series of dire woes and misfortunes against Judah and Jerusalem. But while the future disasters aro predicted consolation and comfort are mingled with the threatening. The people are tried, but not forsaken; cast down, but not lestroyed. Isaiah, iike Jonah, reveals the dark clond of @n offending God resting over the people, but he tells also of a forgiveness that awaits them. The great and entire world may be regarded in the light ofa parable, both physical and moral. Observe how continuously throughout the whole Word of God these inspired men make use of imagery, the better to convey to their hearers the richer biess- ings of their higher natures. Agriculture is a fre- quent and instructive parable. The work of tho reaper and the ingathering of {t would ert er suggest the same topic spiritually metamorphosed, For the last three months I have been walking among the fields of a most magnificent harvest, which always directed my thoughts to para- bles connected with 1 The farmer is not inspired, nor does he receive any special eee ion for the work he performs; but he is ag divinely to de as his brethren of old. It seems a natural and simple thing to us to see a child scattering seeds in the ground, believing impli- citly when he js told that they will soon spring up in beauteons flowers. But had we in our later ex- perience never seen the result of Leonean a the rich, abundant harvest—would we believe it pos- sible that such proof would be given us? Certainly not. It needed divine teaching to put this knowi- edge in our power. You must recognizo the Divine God in everything. Our bodies are as dear to Him as our souls and as tenderly cared for. Who taught the very first agricuiturist of us all? Noah him- self receivea instruction from our God. No intellectual perception can be obtained without his ald, There is nothing either wise or good that is not from Him. Every discovery in science, cee invention and improvement in art, every amend- ment, however intricate, is the result of human wisdom guided by divine. In the end contem- plated you will see see God has our profit and our usefulness in view. His work, His spirit and His providence are all brought to bear upon each in vidual heart, that it may be enlarged, pu fled and enriched. Lo it the which he employs to accomplish this end! They are exceedingly varied. etimes by judgment, sometimes by mercy. Through sunshine and storm does He lead His shige n throng? their earthly Pilgrimage. "The outbreath- ings of God's love an nderness come to us ina thousand ways. In the events of our own lives do we see how wonderfully near He comes to our hearts. His dealings may sometimes seem severe, but they are to miake the soil more fruitful, to en- rich and bless our hearts. » brethren, if during the season I have been away froia you the BSE" ll ined.‘ if loved ones are sick or afilicted—whatever your trial . 4s, remember that God, the great husbandmat, had been dealing with yon according to your needs aud circumstances, In closing let me call your atten- tion to the dignity of your own souls, God has ven His Son and Spirit that we may become His elrs and reign with Jtim for ever, 1 is an inherit- ance for all who will accept, It is still the sowin; time for us all. Let us prepare our fields. Don’ Jet the dews from heaven fall upon wasted ground, but, sowing el may it spring up and bear divine fruit. May God bless the Summer that has flown to us all. May some glorious work be re- vealed to us in the last day that we have done, perhaps unconsciously, in the season now departed. FIFTH AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN OHUROH, A Sermon by Professor Greene, of Prince= ton College, on the Laborers and the Harve: There was quite a falland fashionable gathering at the Presbyterian church at the corner of Fifth avenue and Nineteenth street yesterday morning, to listen to the sermon of the Rev. Dr. Greene, Presi- dent of Princeton College, on “The Laborers and the Harvest.” Dr. Greene began by reading the text from Lake, X.,2,and then read as follows:—In achieving his work of redemption and atonement Jesus was alone. Unalded by man he trod out the wine press. He asked no human co-operation in His work, and, though He asked men to Pray for one another, He asked no prayers for Himself, Now, sitting on the right hand of God in heaven, He calls for men to Pray for their own redemption and to accept the fruits of Hts atoning sacrifice. He calls upon men to work and pray—not 10 WHITBWASH THE FENCES or trim the hedges or repair the paths, but to reap the harvest, And what a harvest! Not one of glistening grain, but a harvest of human souls, reaped nnder the magnificent scheme for human redemption—a harvest which will repay the Eternal Father for the sacrifice of His only Son, which will repay the Son of God for the cruel buffetings He met, which will be received by Him as the reward of His stupendous enterprise. After taking upon Himself the bodily form, with all of human misery and all of human weakness, He goes to His Father and 1eigns one with Him on the throne of the skies. A poor weak man, He asked no assist- @nce from men; but now, when He needs not the aid of weak humanity, He calisto them to gather the fruit of His labors. They are not sent in an in- ferior capacity, with labors of little importance, nor ‘e they sent to encounter the trials, the obstacles nd sufferings which met Him in the the work of human melioration, But t repay the Holy ged for the glory of ita This gathering of the harvest is the great event of human history, before which the get! of hove the making of discoveries and the fncrease ol knowledge are of comparatively little value, MBN ARE THE LABORERS and the cay latarers in this harvest. To fidelity and industry the work has been committed, and without their action not a single sheaf of grain can be carried to the storehouse. All the schemes of God depend uy men’s activity and faith, and they must pray to the Lord of the harvest aud labor diligently. No special revelation will be made to any individual, and it is the duty of all to pray and preach to spread ef Gospel. at Gospel will not go through closed doors and into barred places without you carry it there, THE PROPLR OF GOD are charged with preaching the Gospel to all na- tions, ey occupy the position of engineers, standing between the spirit of God and the souls ofmen, The engineer does not draw the engine— his strength would not suffice to move the slightest shaft, But when the engineer opens the valve the engine moves. It may appear a weak point in the pr anta e He bas placed this gine in the hands of men who may of the trust. Yet God hath chosen found the strong, and He can accomplish all good on $s erved th the singing by the con- gregation of the Twenty-ninth hymn. THE OHUROH OF THE SAVIOUR Reopening of the Winter Season—The Revelation Made to Paul. Rev. James M. Puliman preached at the Church of the Saviour (Fourth Universalist Society), on Thirty-fifth street, between Fifth and Sixth ave- ues, yesterday morning, on the reopening of the oburch after THE SUMMER VACATION. There was a very slim attendance. Mr. Pullman chose for his text Acts xxvi., 19—‘‘Whereupon, O King, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision," referring to Pau!’s defence before Agrippa, If Paul had not been obedient to the heavenly vision we would have had no Panl enforcing the heavenly mandates. Most o( ua in our life say that if we only had now and then a heavenly vision, if the light above the brightness of the sun were to iilumine our dark pathway as it illumined His blind one, and a voice which wo could not mistake as that of God's were to come out of the heavens and direct us, fed id Mia ls ‘and zealous Chris- tians we would be fe stand = WAITING ALL OUR LIVES for a revelation, hoping and expecting that tho direct vote of dod ak to Us and direct us as ft did Paul, We forget that onr little woes und miniature sorrows here fre to the Beneficent Being above as nothing by the side of the great end for which He pli ‘us here, We look, 18 [ looked not long ago in the silence of the might, upon THE SILENT SKY, stretched like a tent from one distant horizon to the other, spangled with glittering sturs ; and think- ing of its fve and ten thousand years of history and of the countless prayers that have gone up to it; of tho sorrow, the woe, the gayety, the countless passions and emotions enacted beneath it, we have wondered that those silent skies have been silent still, But the skies have made REVELATIONS, To the. astronomer who points his tube toward their thousand stars and earnestly and patiently secks their meaning, they make revelations readily. They only wait to be nee sought. So it is with the revelations of God, During the season allotted to Galet and rest, just passed, how many of you amid the 3 * PLEASANT SCENES AND THE PLEASANT COMPANY about you have felt now and then a longing for pymg ang the society that clustered about your ome | 1 thought of home has made it ever pres- $i, with qo , ‘fhe heart untravelicd fondly turns it low many in business, turning lor a to that relaxation wnich they are told some unrest per- they need, have found a troubl vading them—a fear tat thay At NEGLECTING THEAR LUSINE and that they ought not to take their ease while their busine: be suffering! May not these be the revelations that God intends for you, as He intended the more direct revelation on the road to Damascus for Paul? Every day such revelations are making to each and all of us, if we could only comprehend them and reccive them aright. Every day in this great city of ours revelations as plain a3 that made to Paul are making to blinded men, no more benighted than was Saul of Tarsus, but they will not read them aright, THE MARINER'S CHUROH, Lecture by the Rev. Dr. Bidwell—Explo- § im Africa—Livingstone in Af- rica—Through Peril to Prosperity. Last night Dr. Bidwell assumed the rostrum, rod in hand—a rod not calculated to administer chas- Usement to the unruly, but to point out to his hear- ers the track of the great African explorers, Living- stone and Stanley, over the wide and sometimes arid wastes of Central Africa. Livingstone’s first impressions of the internal economy of Atrica were erroneous, it was Proved, by his diary, by his statements to nis rescuer, Stanley, and by his letters. It was absolutely futile, said the lecturer, to endeavor to trace out the course of Liv- ingstone during the many long years he had been debarred from communication with civi- lization, but there remained not the slightest doubt upon the minds of the most eminent topographists in the world that he had reached Ujiji, where he had the good fortune to meet with tle representa- tive of the New York HERALD. Through fearful troubles and turmoils the adven- turous Stanley passed. He faced death and dan- ger, his men mutinied, his supplies failed and the anthropophagus savages threatened to “eat him without salt.” But the brave young man stood firm; he had undertaken an expedi- tion fraught with danger, and it was his thorough determination to find Livingstone ‘dead or alive.” He had found him alive, this young cor- respcndent of a New York journal; found him— the great traveller—ine: * he had ministered to vn wants, the good Samaritan, and left him rejoicing. ubts had arisen in minds naturally lot oy pet inclined as to the actual individuality of Henry Stanley and the existence of Dr. Livingstone. The speaker from his heart could say that he firmly be- Heved in the truth of Staniey’s statements, in his honor and integrity, despite traducers, and that he had journeyed ona pleasant Ritae from Ujiji to one of the confluences of the River Nile. Dr. Livingstone's discoveries would be of magnifi- be At Pg 3eie in general. We have been ac- ustokaes consider the interior of Airica 3° fh arid desert, sterile and drear. ace of this comes Stanley's account, telling us of fertile plains and hilis well irrigated by natural streams; of palm-thatched homesteads surrounded with een grain that waves and flashes in the sunlight like undulating amber seas. If it were possible to utterly exterminate slavery, continued the preacher, Africa would soon hold'a high place among civilized nations; as it is, she is bowed down, crushed out of existence the cruel hand of despotism, and her case it hopeless = uniess_~—s other. phi janthropists like Stanley come into the field aud end their valuable aid extend Christianity’s ideas and Spee the poor, illiterate people of Africa be tread in the proper path that leadeth to salva- jon. “¥ WAVERLEY PLACE PRESBYTERIAN OHUROE. A Sermon by the Rev. Charles B. Smyth on Newspapers and Sermons—A Com- Parison Between Athe: md New York. The Rey. Charles B. Smyth delivered last evening to arespectable and appreciative audience at the Thirty-sixth Waverley place American Presbyterian church the first of@ new series of Sunday evening popular free lectures, entitled, “More Lessons for the Clergy,” the particular theme on this occasion under that general head being, “Newspapers vs. Sermons and Sermons vs. Newspapers.” Taking for his text Acts xvili., 10-21, he drew a comparison between the ancient city of Athens and our own modern city of New York and their inhabitants respectively, espe- cally in their institutions, nabits and love of news; and from the comparison he drew some very im- portant lessons to be learned by the clergy in order to make their discourses the more attractive and effectual. Although it has been announced that we are commencing # new course of lectures entitled “More Lessons for the Clergy," he said wo do not arrogate to ourselves any superiority over our brethren, but, aware that there are grave de- fects in pulpit ministrations geriously de. tracting from their usefulness, we desire, while striving to avold them ourselves, to exhort onr brethren to get up out of the common rut and drive with us along the high way to popular usefulness. And we think ‘We have discovered a key to success in this respect in what is recorded concerning Paul's visit to Athens, in the seventeenth chapter of the Acts of the Aposties. In the city of New York and her people we find many things corresponding with those of Athens and her inhabitants; and tn the conduct of the great Apostie a model, which, if followed by the preachers of this metropolis, Would no doubt secure greater success to them in their professional career than commonly falls to their lot. There are several points of resem- blance between the two cities. Athens was a very celebrated and influential city; so is New York. The former was distinguished for talent, tyre Rcd fatter, quence, bravery and gross vices; #0 is the e former had upwards of three hundred places of blic resort, where the citizens met for conversa- ion and inguiry; the latter has at least three hun- dred and twenty-eight churches and pnagogues, which ought to be made places of at m to which the ne Would resort to have their spirit of inquiry informed. But our city excels the other in is—that whereas Athens had not any, New York haa at least two hundred and seventy-two bk mists Of the pecgie of Athens it was a well-known characteristic, re- ag ancient writers, among whom were Thucyai Ailian, Demosthenes and the Apostle Pani, that they had a great desire for novelty, and spent much of their time in telling or hearing some new thing, and it was because of this that Paul ‘was brought before Areopagus and furnished a splendid opportunity to preach the Gospel. See Acts xvil,, 18-21, The same desire is characteristic In some or e of our people, and they must have it satisfied. Now, it is not the desire itself that i8 wrong, but the carting of it to the excess of idleness, or of foqny into things im- proper or corrupting. In fact, curiosity is a characteristic of human nature generally, and ig one of the (hings which gistingulsh man from the brutes, and materially assist his reasoning powers, his. gererning , his inventive ability and his acquisition of kno’ » Whether secular or religious, and ought therefore to be en- couraged, not re Whatever a man not seen or not heard or not felt before is news to him, although tt exist as long as the hills, and the formation by which he is made uainted with It is news, just as the telling to us of the discoveries made by the great explorer of Africa is news to the” places discoved may be older than the most ancient of nations, It would be both interesting and beneficial to know both the com otherwise. As the health of a person is better in the open air than within the of a dungeon, dtg in i More likely to make pr as When in- dulging its spirit of inquiry freely than while in slavish fear to the opinions or oh in dictates of other creatures like tteclf, As to the pnicscphy, of the common desire for news—First, It 18 the exercise of one of the essential character- is If man were a mere machine, or antomaton, or if he P not reason, but only instinet lke the inferior animals; if he were not a moral agent responsible tor his choloe of the evil or the good; if his condition were stereotyped so that he were not required to improve or to advance himself to a higher degree by the prover uso of means to inciease his talents; If he were not intended to elevate hiuself from being an inhabitant of earth to bet one of those pure spirita who bask continually and forever in the glorious presence and smiles of Deit; in the celestial worid, there might not be so mucl necessity for it; but now it is indispensable to his well being, But as the best of cualities are some- times perverted, so we find that men are fond of news from mere idle curiosity; or from motives of vanity, li they are made to figure therein; or to amuse themseives and kill time, as they say; or to gratify their malice, if they expect to hear of injury to an enemy; or to please @ morbia taste for the tragical ; or to intorm themselves of the success or of the defeat of their own or of an opposite party, or to qualily their interest in matters of trade, com- merce or law, or to gratify their impatience. And sometimes to discover something beneficial to themseives or otherd, or caiculated to promote the glory of God. Now, it must be plain: that it is very important to know how to make use of this desire for news. The importance ts well un- derstood by statesmon and politicians, and by wise editois, but it cannot be denied by any unpreju- diced observer that it 1s but very little understood by the tgs of our day. © time was when the pulpit controlled the State, and clergy were the right arms of kings. Now politics guide the utterances of the pulpit to a great extent, and Tponarcha wipe thelr feet In tho vestinents of eccle- siastical digaltaries or banish them from their es- tates with a slap In the face or a kick out of doors, while that power which hasin recent years only come into existence, but pow already wields an influence mightier than the sword, is courted by of our nature, srowned, Hae ong oe WN tea yee Mt voryw] rs its print page aH wine avidity in 8 ce and by every porson of any intelligence and respected i; all as a power of inestimable value, Why this dif- ferenc®? Because editors know how to use the spirit of inquiry and the pulpiticlans donot. The newspaper is read, therefore, but the sermon is thrown aside among the waste Paper, not even thumbed. Yet the proper themes of the pulpit are such as, if properly selected and delivered at times when pais inquiry is awake, ought tobe most attractive and impressive and powerful for good, fpsiend of ignoring the prevalent spirit of inquir; those who have the charge of souls should take ad- vantage of fi hg leayen of jts existe: upon artionl jar arb foots hon the Ka Soe ermn 0 guide and instruct it so that the theres which cluster around the cross of Christ crucified will be illustrated and the doctrines of Christian morality enforced so that the spirit alluded to will not only be gratified but editied and the services of the Church made attractive. : BROOKLYN CHURCHES. BEDFORD AVENUE REFORMED OHUROH. The Christian Life No Failare=Sermon by Rev. Dr. Porter, After a few weeks’ absence Rey. EB. 8. Porter, D. D., pastor of the Reformed church, Bedford ave- nue, occupied his pulpit: yesterday morning. He discoursed from the twenty-first verse of the first chapter of Philippians—“For me to live is Christ.” In introducing his theme he said that the biogra- phy of Paul was most wonderful, his career having been marked by unexampled hardships and trials, When he wrote to the Philippians he was not in a situation to call for human envy, for he was exiled by the hatred of his country- men, abandoned by his early friends, deprived of his goods, cast out as an apostate, exposed to the treachery of designing and selfish parti- sans, and held fast inthe grasp of Nero, But he exhibited no whinings or unmanly murmurings, but on the contrary exaltation, joy and constant triumph. He had lost everything which the world chieny valued, and yet, if his words had any mean- ing or his heart any sincerity, Paul assured us that his life was not a failure. “For me to live 1s Ohrist and to die is gain.” Wonderful as was the biog- raphy of Paul, it had many copies, among whom might be mentioned Richard Baxter, who wrote his ‘Saints’ Rest’ m a prison, and glorious old John Bunyan, who traced his “Pilgrim’s Progress’ while he wasinadungeon. Those were only sam- ye of the — enrichin; graco of =the rd Jesus = Christ, which enabled His people to triumph over adversities and to Fon that even in the deepest extremity the hristian life is no failure. The true life of man is in his soul and not in the flesh. His life was not in the pumber of pounds he could accumulate upon his frame, nor In the things which he possessed. A ne mi te er it and ieee poor, An WA lance o! . ‘4 penury of soul ape iba dar May ful is lifé to him of satisfying enjoyménts, Neither did @ man’s life consist in the honors which he might secure; for although human spplanae might cheer him on for a while, yet when the wind lulled he would feel the bitterness of remorse that what he had trusted was only as the empty wind. There et wide difference between things as they seem and thi ngs as they are. Our senses had did- charged their dfices i We gazed upon the rising and setting of the sun, the shining of the stars, the glory of the mountains and the beauty of the gar- len, and to @ pure physical taste each one was a good thing; but the windows of a house do not make it; the pictures on its walls do not compose the joy and charm of the nouse. Our senses were what we made them. Une man through his eyes saw @ universe everywhere instinct as with the presence of God, while another saw only an accu- mulation of material contrivances dominated by fate. Another man inhaled the fragrance of a rose, and to him was sweeter than any flower could be to an, uneducated sense, for the life of God flowed in that essence of sweetness, One man who walked by a running stream would see its banks garnished with beauty and would feel a uous de Wg as he gazed upon the blades of grass and marked the Tippee as they succeeded each other, while another man with a soul behind the outward senso would discern some- thing of that ic that flowed from the throne of God and the Lamb, and that murmured of the melodies caught from the river of the water of life. The difference between the real and the apparent ‘Was measured by the difference ofsoul. If » man came in reality, through the help of Je Christ, to have a character refashioned aiter of the Poe er tee that could influence char- acter resulted the subordination of his nature to image of Christ—if he be transformed and made over, so that he isa new man in Christ Jesus, he has reached the bighest eran achievement which it is ible for him secure in this present life. He in himself an eternal possession, and the Joy of God rolls slong through the highways of his life, In the next place the preacher proceeded to show that the Christian Ufe sufticient springs, The Psalmist saic my. pee gre in thee.” Mankind wante ed to happy. We could be happy in world if we kept fro ‘olded crime this ym sin, ay and escaped the condemnation of evil habits. Pleasure streamed upon us through the ear and came down from the skies; but, knowing that our home is not here, our best eneate 18 ac. aeeses by disappointment. We know not what a day may bring forth; for when we say we are happy, perhaps there may come the next moment some spectral shape and wo shake like the aspen leaf, So far as our natural lives are concerned, there are pleasures of memory, Of hope, of intellectual pursuit, of benevolence and frieud- po and yet, having them ail, how long will they last’ Wo ask ourselves every day whether it is possible for us to be assured respecting the welfare of the immortal pare If the testimony of Paul and thousands who loved the Lord Jesus Christ were taken, we may rest confident that there is some- eae within our reach that will not only be ap antidote for life's fils, but an unutterable recom- pense ior existing sorrows. Itis not the joer of Christianity to take away the evils that are in the world; it does not propose to deliver from ail the oppressions and burdens which come from human Indrmity bos at does propose to prepare us to bear these infirmities and riumph over them. All who trust in Christ have au inexhaustible supply of help for every time of need, In pros; u ecepts of the Master Ramon 3 The sweet charm of the Saviour's words lifts up the cy heart; in days of perplexity, when one knows no’ on what side to turn, there oyuee 5 amen light upon his vision and there are words heard by the eac Lae ope 8 antin come the world; the beaded sweat is on the brow and life's all fall and its honors vanish, them the believer excl uy though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, will fear no ‘evil.’ The Iife of ti person who depended upon Christ for the daily bread of the Spirit and who leaped upon His bosom was not a failure, The other inta made by the speaker were that the Cbristian life is one which attains the ond and object of Ife, and that the Ohristian life | Was no tauluye whep viewed in its connection with S life to ae It ae iy" ne er areas ata “8, josopheis or illustrious poe! filled tl ‘armament where our hearts worshipped, but the men and women who have done some thing for God and humanity in Leper ded In. conciusion, Dr. ‘the thirtieth year of his x tried to Be) the Sapos) of ey frend poke fenton. ‘ie a aes it more lovit 2 ‘direc! % his hearers’ tolay old ak oe 5 ae anes them Lo the Gospel, RELIGION AT LONG BRANCH. CENTENARY METHODIST EPISOOPAL OHURON. President Grant, Strategie Politicians nd a Worshipful Geat—Conversion of St. Paul—Sermon by Mev. James M. Brown. Lona Branca, Sept. 1, 1872, When President Grant goes to church here he g0es to the Methodist church in the village. This chureh, by the luscription on its front, proclains itself the “Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church,” which may be something extra in the Methodist line. However, it is a very neat, modest church edifice, but with the services held in the second story, On the expectation that President Grant would be there yesterday morning nearly all the politicians sojourning at present at the Branch wore on hand, This going to church has @ good look, and as @ piece of strategy may be worth while, but in the rarity of the President's charch-golng this Summer cannot Prove @ very paying investment. Some are sharp enough to hang around the vestibule till there is ne likelihood of the President putting in an appear- ance, and then they slink away. This was the case yesterday morning. The only persistent case of going to church, except for religious purposes, was A WORSUIPFUL Goat, who brushed through.the. crowd, leaped mp the stairs, and but for the alinost preternatural activity of the agile sexton would possibly a moment later have been im the pulpit. The goat was separated from the sheep, and this. accomplished, and politicians having gone away, the services be; Rev. James W. Brown, the pastor, preached the ser- mon, He took for his text 1st Timotny, 1, 16— “rowbelt, for this cause {obtained mercy, thatin me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all long suifer- ing, for a pattern to them which should heceafter belleve on him to life everlasting.” The conver- sion of St. Paul, hé began, might be welt regarded as showing the truth of veligion, It was @ most re- markable display of divine grace to save # lost soul, It is related that Lord Lyttieton at one time ‘was sceptical, and, belleving the Bible a fraud, he xXpresved his intention to expose it. He took ne Fra srset of fhe convennen Bt se. ant, uk, ber fore he got wronw® wlth it, he Wag tonverted himself, "It was the mercy of God that induced Paul’s conversion. They were Le rg rer ire God’s mercy. The air and sunshine healt were gilts of mercy. It was mercy that might cl their eyes in peace and place them among tl glorified saints in heaven. The GRANDEST EXHIBITION OF MERCY. 2 was the gilt of Christ for the redemption of sianera and his death on the cross. Some were tlie objects of special bell and from such were due special quit God will require returas accordiag a3 He gives, Fromhim to whom much much ven Much will be required, Paul, or rather Saul of Tar- called, before his conversion was a proud Pharisee. On the Jostnen to companions saw the same brilliant light in the heavens, but he atone saw Christ agd he: Hig voice fe ry he ords, “Saul, Saul, porsédiitest th tis bak tok tude") Am what did Paul do? His inquby hi at once, “Lord, what wilt thou have me do?’ He was not aw CONVERTED ON THE INSTANT. ~s: ~ It was like going to the anxious bench. Every as-' pect of life was changed. A new field of duty opened before him. He asked God to aselge. him his labor in this fleld. This was the spirit that should actuate every new convert. It was # to be answered in time and saved from the wra to come, saved from the fire that isnever quenched. He hoped that some might be WOKE UP NOW under the influence of the pepe sermon, Too many were asleep. It was thelr duty to awaken such, to rouse them from their lethargy and te point out to them the way of salvation. Persons nding themselves being awakened should .not fight against it, It was Christ fighting for them. Paul suifered great auxtety for three days. He went without food and drink. Such were ‘the ex- riences of many. They care not tor te: food. They long for the BREAD OF TAFB. Darkis the soul until the radiance of heaven shines in on the soul Paul .was converted’ throug. agony. It was preceded by. consciousness. of sim and fa he then received delivering mércy at the hands of God. At once he began to preach. The Jews took couneel to kill him. He was tortured and beaten and thrust into prison. He did not heed these, God granted lilm delivering mercy. At the prison at Plilippi God sent deliverance and the prison doors were ae and he went on his vagy joicing and preaching the way of salvation to the Gentiles. om this point he traced the career of Paul to the close of his life, and held him up as an example for imitation, Paul was a great sinner, There was long sutfering on the part of God in his case, but his saving mercy was not ex- hausted, There was hope for the worst sinners. FATHER BURKE, The lecture season will be opehed on Thursday evening very auspiciously by the delivery of a lecture by the Rev. Father Burke. ‘The subject Popular and attractive to a very large number our citizens, viz. :—'* Ireland's, Faith the are of the Age.’’ The lecture will be delivered in Academy of Music. neg oN LORE BTM, eceree. John Sticker, & Jad ten years of age, while fying @ kite on Saturday the roof of house 66 Attor! ney street, fell to the sidewalk, and was so severely injured that death subsequently ensued in Bellevue Hospital, whither he had been conveyed immedi- ately. after the accident. Coroner Herrman was notified. The sixteenth annual celebration of the Scottish games will be held on Thursday by the New York Caledonian Club at Jones’ Wood. The program) will comprise running, jumping, throwing weights, vaulting and dancing. Two bands are to be in attendance, and a good time is anticipated. The body of Ellen Gray, an Irish woman, eighty years of age, was found lying in a vacant lot om Fifth avenue, near 108d street. Deceased, who was ‘well known in Harlem and Yorkville as a vagrant of twenty years’ standing, evidently had been dead @ day or two, as one of her arms had been eel eaten away by rats. The body was sent to the Morgue and Coroner Herrman notified. About two o'clock last Thursday morning ‘William E. Carroll, a colored man, employed as steward on board a ship lying at pier 13 East River, while ina state of intoxication by mistake went on the ship David Crockett, at pier 19 East River, and was ordered off a Watchman in charge. As Carroll did not yy the order Bg ls - officer was sent for, and when the watchman turned Carroll had and his hat was seen floa' in the river. Doubtless the inebriste steward jell overboard while stvompting £0, escape and was drowned, The rag recovered yes- terday mornin, at ae oe paped eran was about thirty-e! eae ane avenue, Brooklyn, where " Cee eee OOLLISION AT HARLEM ERIDGE On Saturday evening the steamer Tiger Lily ran into the steamer Catlin, on the five o'clock trip from Harlem to fligh Bridge. Afver striking the Catlin she rebounded and got under the ironwork of the bridge, carrying away the pilot-house and breaking the smoke-stack across near its base, till ft lay at an angle of about forty-five degrees, and the work of destruction was completed by tearing away the rails and framework on the upper deck. In the alarm and confusion that prevail @ of the passengers were on point of jumping overboard, until the steamer was run to the ire shore, siongride of @ coal-barge, where all t hurriedly to shore as best they could. Fortunately there were few passengers on buard or the loss of life would bave heen serious, and the circumstances connected with the case domand the strictest in- vestigation in the interest of public safety,.as there are not many instances of more daring reckl ness and culpable neglect of duty than on this occasion. The Tiger Lily has bee: down the river for repairs and tne Moses Taylor pas inher place, As the writer of this happens be on board at the time of the aceident, he ts desirous that the travelling public showla be reminded of the danger they incur induiging in @ “nice little trip” from Harlem to High Bridge. OHILDREK BURNED IN HOBOKES. At an early hour yesterday morning a fire broke out in the house 163 Meadow street while the ine mates were asleep. Before the discovery of the flames two children of Mr. F. Schenck were terribly burned in varions parts of their bodies. It ts thought, hewever, that their wounds may not prove mortal, ‘The tin jourt- ly grrival of Oiticers yn and Stack fortunately prevented the spread of tie fire, which they extinguished in a few minutes, Mr. Schenck is employe: at night by the Morris and Essex Railroad Company, and just arrived home to see the children burned. A Kerosene lamp la believed to have been the cause,