The New York herald., 1844-11-05
Divine Service at ST. Paul's-The sermon.

Divine Service at St. Paul's-The Sermon.
Fine weather, the reputation of the preacher,
and touch of the spirit of devotion, induced the
writer to attend divine service at st. Paul's Church,
Broadway, on Sunday, Nov. 8, in the year of grace
1874. God is great, we said, and Paul was the
prince of his apostles to the Church Of ST. Paul
will go, for by all accounts the mantle of that great
teacher OF the Gentiles has fallen upon the shoul-
ders of this his legitimate successor, whose elo-
quence is heard in the sacred edifce above men,
toned. There is spirit of devotion abroad in
November Mark, AZ you go along, the transparent
sky OF the "Indian Summer" and awake TO hope
Contemplate the falling leaf, the denuded tree, and
remember that flesh is as the grass; survey the de-
composed foliage, and forget not that you, like it,
are subjects of mortality. Thus were employed
our thoughts on our way to the house Of preaching
-fguratively denominatsd the house Of prayer;
and take part with either side in the fierce
war OF politics, no interruption was given to the
serious current Of thoughts, until the bell Of ST.
Paurs proclaimed its proximity, and the sexton Po
iely informed us that could take seat on the
gallery, provided we could happen to find one.
The church was very full, particularly in those
parts where occupants could be well seen. There
did not appear to be any anxiety prevalent to see
the preacher. During prayers, it IL fair to suppose
that we saw nothing but our prayer book, and as
the interval was short between our arrival and the
commencement Of the service, no description Of
the interior of the church, or the audience will be
afforded at present The reader, then, is respect
fully solicited to procure a common prayer book,
and to devoutly read the morning service, remem-
bering TO be most earnest and fervent in reading
those words OF the Ltany which prays for happy
deliverance mot only from call false doctrine, here
sy and schsm," but also, from "pride, vain glory,
and hypocrisy'-and by SO doing he will save us
the trouble of inserting the prayer here, and prepare
US to present the
sERMoN-BY REV. DR.. HIaBIK.
Isaah chapter part Of 2Oh vsrse-"Te the ap and 70
the testimony"
The insrumentality employed in the salvation of man
by the Christian religion is institution OF God. II
the object Of special revelation is to be found in
the ordinances Of nature human reason II would
been given had the ministry Of been sufficient
10 eradicate the errors human reason and to heal mans
wounded heart II s in harmony with the moral law given
to man at his creation and as was continually proclaim
Of and purity it is identical with that OF
ation. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy
heart with all thy soul, with all thy mind and with all
thy strength )" was commandment given to man and
this the works Of God in creation teach
ven % Thou shalt love the Lord Thy God !" this is
the first and great commandment; and the second is
like Tns0 aa oye thy nshSGr % s s
law and the prophets. But If this law, establish
cd in pureeason be the that proclaimed by
laon, why is revelation necessary Why should the
law written and engraved as it were on the essence OF
things be presented anew and without change addition
be made the subject OF special revelation Because
tell ON his high exisence his has been
deprived Of its strength and purity the beautiful arrange
evil and sin written on the depraved and asnaed hearts
Of her children. But the question referred to is
the moral law esab shed by nature and be the
uttun. nvhsh tto tknV
change fin state of purity man had the law pure and
fell from it. how, in state Of sin shall the mere repub
employ sh "a by Christian religion which said was an
institution Of God which reason did not discover, and
which could not be found in any Of the ordinances Of
ture The moral lawis reestabshed by revelation But
the simple re-estabshing Of it would not have avaed
anything. We needed mercy-we needed pardon and
health and strength restored to well as knowledge
communicated to We needed special interposition
from the hand o Hin who created u.s. raise us from our
falto restore to US capacity to comprehend and bow
to the divine law For this purpose the great scheme Of
exclusive subect Of rsveationthe incarnation Of the
Son Of God his and passion his precious death aud
coming Of the Holy Ghost The Church in order by
his wisdom and pewer-washed by his blood-the minis
try q mis- 81 dsy TO S the
psced within the open doors Of his church fountain
tor sin and and to show forth his death and
coming and whatever our Saviour did suffered, carried
this divine in tructon far above whatever nature
teach and cause Gods law to be honored
raised from the regions Of the tomb to the happi.
Of heaven. But why should any one think it
necessary to illustrate before Christian audience,
that scheme of mans salvation q made known
exclusively by revelation that 1t not unto
by reason natnre but that holy men Of old spake
they moved by the Holy Ghost, and that !" God,
who, at sundry times and in divers manners spake in
mespast the fathers by the Prophets hath these
after times spoken unto us BY has son. Jesus Christ our
Lordo Why it necessary to illustrate that truth be-
my brethren there endencyin you through the
tenpta OF the world depart from this truth TO set
up the will Of above the will Of God and the ord
nances Of man above the ordinances Of God We have
the inspired words OF revelation-the Holy Bible pro-
claim ng divine scheme OF salvation and the blessed
ministry Of Jesus Christ and they are too lightly bcev
ed held fast with too little wachfulnsss part
say too prone to raise the wisdom Of above
that which cometh from sbove, and through men ap
pointed channels OF the holy oraces of God and
comforts of religion and the altar the world
OF sin, OF righteousness, and Of judgment to
let Us endeavor to keep in our hearts, 80 that il
may influence US In our lives. The whole subject
Of revelation is its own teacher it has its own
lar teaching and facts which not to be found
elsewhere It has Its mode and rules, distinct iroA
every other department Of the providence Of God It
has supreme authority in s own high sphere in
terferng with other departments Of Gods providence
and never permitting interference but Is IN harmony
BS m rnS are 70 b
received and cherished although all others to be
dsregarded Nothing can be taken away from this sys
TEN nothing modified by human authority, through
any other law. came TO repeat to poserity what hu
man systems needed relieve them from bad moralst
came 10 tnem IN fuinb-u came 10 tntm I'D 10
eassd world The Gospel does present sy stem
vi instruction but 10 put forth by Divine power
sble manifestation OF the Of God IL accomplished
,hat which is not In mere nature to attempt. Man fell
from his purity when capable ofobedence to Divine law;
the Gospel Genes when he incapable Of obedience to
raise restore 10 him peace and purity; when in
the valley Of the shadowof DEATH the Gospel to his
comfort II finds him among the tombs and raises him 10
Immortality. II i& the instrument Of Q creation,
awakened the slumber Of the grave with the voice of
archangel and the trump Of God The services and min
sy OF the gospel therefore not to be regarded by
simply as channels Of rational effects Of moral lessons
and rites but channels OF Gods power giving
light TO the bodies and souls Of men, and obey ng purely
self The faith Of the gospel what is III Does
truth and divine morality Surely 1t does; but does
in It's own way but IL any searches after II after
the mere philosophy Of the world and in human
sysems he will lose his reward Is not in the form OF
-. a.. sho of