New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-05-08
SERMON BEFORE THE NETWORK BIBLE
SOCIETY.
By THE REV. wN. W. HALLowAY.


The annual sermon before the NewYork Bible Society
was preached last evening in the Rev. Dr. Aexanders
Church Fiiih-av., by the Rev. WV. W. HALFWAY, OF
the Reformed Dutch Church Brooklyn The preacher said
that the of his discourse would be found IN the hpse
10 Romans 18th chapter and part of the Tin verse
that knowing the time ths now It Is high time 70 s"'A ou
The history Of our race in different ages has borne dis
tnct and peculiar marks. Ii Is not reproduction oil 'e
same scenes which has taken place. IL IL not mere
turning of the wheel OF events IN which some Bnt
still there is enough of connection and resemblance
through all the past TO show that the same humanity
has been working in all these changes and ths tne e
GREAT Providence has been directing them The nrs Pc
Rod which would naturally attract their attention wa
that in which Abraham hourshed and which was merely
period Of preparation for those great changes which were
afterwards TO be accomplished by the coming OF Jesus
Christ This period Of great interest IL was .,le
age of prophets of sacrifices, Of who predicted tne
good time that coming Next came the aPosohc AZ
Which was one of truth and Of great development no
man Empire was then in its full existence u was 40
sorbng al the surrounding nations, covering 'heiH vi
its authority and opening way Tor 'he uosp,.
which was destined TO follow the track OF lis VICTORIOUS
legiOns and to reach the utmost bounds OF ts - Of
unity of the Roman Empire one OF the enIsi ~
preparation for the spreading OF le b;cb NAV be
Fourth TO the Seventh Century was Perioa nc Tb;
generally set down of corrupnoh anu eiSoI. -
was the period when the union OF ,hurcn aiJ 81 90
rlsce. when magnifcence superseded the slpI1! - -:
baee' M, I'm became its most signal characteristic
when all civil well a. eeelesiasneaI auaViy o
usurped by the priesthood and "neh lne, u sd II
and a
= ,rord 10 stretch their rule over al laids anu lnle
themselves on the world the only true rePreenaves
Of God This may be emPhatleay desgna.eG a an
80 darkness of gross superstition and anaucsm LOT hs
o then the slaves of their spiritual rulers and
reduced to the depths of ignorance Al manly ana
;ndependent inquiry was suppressed ana the human NM
- fnled by priesthood, many OF whom could not read
ber own names nor the Gospel which they were author
ized 10 expound. As natural sequel TO al TINS was ne
-, ~ Accommodation Of nfcting torture. OF exer-
.ng the rcors Of the inquston The Papaey through
ont that long period crushed and rsmPled down every
Sd thinker who dared question the rights OF spiritual
lsr and sat like black night upon the souls OF men But
tS prod was followed by another one which above al 9TH
ers caused mighty and memorable IN the human
rd This was no other than that OF the Reformation which
may be regarded as period of the awakening Of the hu-
man mind from the sumber of ages Men then began to
i@sTn their rights and feel their powerhe cords which
IA ong hound the strong man then broken asunder
and raising his brawny arm he flung aside the hosts who
a,tempod 10 tie his bonds again and lead hun hack INTO
rsrtiyy And then armed with the force Of truth the
on who had been the slaves OF ecclesiastical discipline
marched forward to battle for liberty, for truth, and tor