The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-06-03
Unitarian Association OF the ss~so "A NC"

A the semi annual meeting OF TINS society neid ~
NV Mr. Bellows's Church, Broadway
nav X LATHReP preached from Matthew chap 4,
ser .Freely 70 have received, freely give" This
was Christs advice to his dsciples-an appeal from
Gods favor to ans duty. The gospel . great
rift of God. Look at what 1t had done Look at its
Influence upon tie Christian world. 1t true that
The church was not what it might and ought to be;
but,stiIl q great work ha2 been accomplished. Let |
tb<m follow to their the blessings they enjoyed
the moral and religious feeling that elevated the
motives Of human action, and gave noble |
aims What did this! The gospel the Bible. Why did
they not offer little ones! why not PROSTATE them
selves before the idols that the grosser vices had
throned? why were they not priest ridden! why
not letters OF their coascences, and their minds
kept in the darkness Of superstition! Because the
gospel had brought life and Immortality to light Why
were they not grooming under despotsm Because the
Bible the charter Of freedom-it found q world Of
slaves-it made world of freemen. The chapter was
not yet written in history that fifty told all the obliga-
civil and religious liberty owed to the Bible
here he could help remarkipg that through their
1sce through the the truths of
the gospel and more of human freedom given to the
world than by any other men The great Dr. Arnold who
said the church. by established that it had ever
borne the marks Of regal and aristocatc elfshness
Inc dissenters nom tnat church were the source
whence originated American and English liberty They
had laid the foundations OF institutions simple but
beautiful that were destined to influence ages and &C.
nerations yet unborn. They could scarcely find a
mortal Of check to corruption impulse to improve
ment, or banner floating in the breeze Of freedom,
There do the friends of humanity when they
want give authority To principle make Its
ton ehectual. Doubtless they were all astonished
by the thunderclaps of commotion in the old
world during the last year. and the masses feeling
their power, were rendiug the chains which had
bound them centuries; but unless each individual
felt his ccounabity-unless the gospel OF Christ
the rule and of action all could only end
in deeper and darker despotism than ever He should
take but very limited of the Christian religion
IL he confined its influence to the various aspects OF
society He must extend it to the indiyidual-to his
affections and passions The hopes, the fears, the de-
sres every subject TO its sway controlled
and regulated by II for his present happi
without the abiding presence of the spirit
OF the gospel temptation would overthrow the best
resolutions. The law Of the land not sufficient
70 restrain vice. it took cognzance Of but few crimes
and prevented none Impulse would not do for it led
as often to what was wrong as what was right II
the gospel of Christ alone that could lead TO happiness
to glory honor, Immortality" 1t kept down the
bilious aspirations of the fayorites of iortunet raised
up from the dust the OF and gave them the
exalted idea that the God of the universe their
father preserved the weak from responding tho
strong from relying their strength Go to the
rich man and ask him the source of his happiness
He will tell YOU if he is child Of God that it is not
his wealth. but his hope in Christ Go to the states
man, whose name is on every topgue-the man who
fame hes luxury, but the grace God that
makes him happy, sanctiifying his affections and
giving a noble direction to his efforts Let them go
poor woman lying on bed OF sickness, and it may
be Of death he lately went to it, and she wsuld tell
them of seraphic melody joy unspeakabe
and full Of gory-o visions of bliss brighter and
gorgeous than the sun paints on the evening sky of
sVe They must use and improve ' this grea.
Gift Of God Suppose Christ present among them
That evening with his searching eve scrutinzns
heart would he call them all around him, having his
lineage and being of his kindred! Would he not be
comp.ed to reject and disown some Of them "a unre
generate and unsanctiied souls Would he not see
here youth going forth to battle with the world without
the of God without the shield of faith the breast
plate righteousness, the sword Of the spirit
Would he not see women among them caring for any
thing and everything but the thing needfu? |
Would he the aged still clnging to the earth
lift their final resting place. and forming projects
upon projects, as if they would die And were
the great witness to pass from thence to their
places business their residences, how many fam
lies would he find without morning or evening
Sacrfce-not recognising him in the entire day
How many would he find pursuing pleasure gain as
II it the only object for which they lived moved
had their being The Of the gospel to purify
elevate and bless souls men, never yet been
fully experienced in the world, because it had
been fully sppsa To o, t1 Gd conscience n as and
connection between its great principles and the |
small a duties ne Of r s great Writer had asked
could sting giant mind to madness! How true
The who had succeeded in conquering worlds had
little enemy in his own breast which he did not
conquer, and that made him miserable slave, Many
had idea that religion large and grand thing,
intended for homage and admiration but that it ought
TO be kept in the background apart from the busy
world Of daily thought and action. 1t would be de-
plying it to every little mean trae Now this
was an error, for mans life was made up of little
things; and what God asked and mans happiness de-
manded, was the conservation of body and soul to him
doing right and feeling right in relation to all per-
sons In ali places and in all things. This required
fah-required the application of the highest principles
of the Christian religion the meanest thoughts of
the humblest mind and the smallest acts of every in
dividual The regcnerating influence of the gos-
pei stretched out into infinite progression. Let
them not fail to advance. Thus would they make
good the second demand made upon them, to cause
the gospel to produce its effect upon others by show
ing its eject upon themselves This was not the
only way to accomplish this object but it the best
and first II their duty to send the gospel to dis.
tant lands This not an age Of miracles, and God
demanded from them generous appropriations and
severng efforts Jesus poured out his blood like
for them and would they make him corresponding
return! Would they sacrifice his gospel upon the altar
of their avarce, convenience indiTere No If
they be true Christians they must aid in every
and opportunity But the way in which most
good be done, Is, by living example Of
holiness, which is better than any gift of money |
any organized effort to propagate the Gospelsuch
is living law and does more for truth for vir-
the highest in station, the richest in wealth
They had given large amount Of money, and no |
blessed God for it, But there was something higher
and better they could give Suppose they emuated |
the faith and the spirit of piety that filed the first
disciples who counted it all JOY to offer up their lives
"Lord what wouldst thou have to do 20 Suppose |
that In every scene under all circumstances, and |
in them the likeness of their Saviour pure be
scorned, and too beautiful to be neglected Would
there go forth from them all mighty power for
good-mighty, in proportion their daily lives and
character correspond with the gospel and life and
character Of Christ This was the great thing to be
aimed at by his followers. This the great remedy
for all defects of UNCONVENTIONAL kind They must
quicken germ within them till 1T developed u
and higher exhibition Of Christian Characterization
enthroned q sovereign ruler every thought and
feeling and action Socialism and Fourieris in their
blind groupings, aiming at the reformation Of the
world Their intentions and aspirations go-
rous, but their means not adequate to the end.
True Christianity alone could achieve the subsection
Of the world to its influence. In order that this may
be accomplished the world must the fruits Of re-
lgion in the lives Of its professors; and Unarans,
whose boast 1t that their faitR eniinently
practical well as simple Unrestricted as they
by dark and deadening views of God ought to set
example to all other Christians, and to the world, of
the pure and holy spirit Of the glorious gospel
The service having been concluded by prayer and
praise, and
ZgBEprE Cook, Esq, being appointed Chairman,
the meeting called to order
Rev MIR. BELLOWS then rose to address the assembly
and said IL was extremely agreeable to him to follow
the train Of thought that had Just emanated from
that pulpit. In hearing his brother marnfyin0 the |
-a.a.i d. thnnrht eontinnnllu SHo