The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-24

Sermon by the Rev. Mr.. Van Ness, OF tho
Dutch Reformed Church.

Dutch Reformed Church.
Matthew I6: SIN ire morning ye say II viii be
foul weather to-day; for the sky Is red and lower
ing. ye hypocres, ye can discern the face Of the
sky; but can ye not discern the signs Of the Hmesl
One fact that invests this earth with great inter-
est is that careful students of prophecy have looked
forward TO this vary period with anxious eye q
pregnant with wonderful transactions In Divine
Providence. We cannot conceive that the great
Apocalypse given to the Apostle John, vaa put In
the sacred canon In vainthat the times spoken of
by DaIiel, some Of which have already been sccu.
rsteiS fulfilled, should be without meaning and
when the very period to which these prophecies
seem to refer is marked by such peculiar changes,
such mighty revolutions an6 such wonderful pro-
gress ii stisAe us, say the least, as remarkable
coincidence. Every child of God should be in anx-
ious expectation, and b. vii be as much TO blame
rs the Jews of old ne does not discern the signs
Of Inc times. We cannot ubt that God has some
mercfu designs TO work out OF this confusion. As
we know that he is the skilful manager Of the uni.
verss 20 we must believe that he viii carry forward
his own wise and magnfoen. purposes amid the
greatest tumuls. In this humble faith we propose
to eplnTge our views beyond the circle Of land
TO notice grano eyens occurring the earth, and
thus sesk to discover what hope there is for the
new reasons fos thanksgiving certainly we shall
find abundant reason for prayer in iss behalf.
1 The first remarkable event, is ths Wal now waged
between the ptomineuy pewefs Ut Europe. This
MAY well be tsrcasd grrs; war, no. only because
OF the immense res uEcss OF she combstan:s, but
bersuse of its p,cbsble oag Continuance end its
PROSPECTIVE Slaughter. There are already four
powers engaged. Feaacc, England and Turkey on
10 hQry a1 nm
othsr out II is qai,e ptobaole that The rest Of the
ccntioent may bscume inv,yea ~ the contest al
vancss. Here Their we h.ve the prospect Of all the
greater powers of tie world engaged in the dire
c,naics of arms. Wins the result of this war.
fare shall be lie beyond the reach Of human
ken. Russia il young abd vigorous power, DOS
sessed of the greatest resources IN masertats and
money-besides, the present warfare "a condu led
on ground where she has the manifest advantage,
and ii lie quite probable g,taef frt m late re-
ports tat tine Gear sill OF oly hold his own, but
drive back his enemies. While then we cannot
predict who shall gain final succtss, still We can
affirm that the COL fllct as produced good results
War must be elloH ed to be an evil great evil; We
muet feel sac over every scene OF oc0d-but II Is
NOT Alvays an unmitieated evil, because Goa can
override il for good, "He makes the wrath OF man
to praise him, and the rem ''nder OF wfash lie viii
One of these good results is the overthrow OF the
"Hely Alliance whicn We hesitate not to describe
~ che most corrupt. uncoly snd aoominaoe com
bipehcL ever formed ITS only object was to su@
tain the powers Of wickedI ess ny in Their places.
II vas ccmbina alton to exclude all light ard all
progress, formed expressly to keep the people
under tine grinding yoke OF their oppressorA We
thank God that this giant inquiry IS torn asunder,
and That there is little prospect OF seeing It re-
united again. In the seccud place, we must allo
that nothing be worse than the present state OF
Europe. Scarcely single country that is not mis-
erably misgoverned, with, perhaps, the execution
Of the constitute nal monarchy Of Great Britain.
France has wretcheo tyrant en- the throne IN the
shape of Napoeon the Litte; it IL gr0aning un Ter
an enormous ana hopeless debt and every day its
bqrcsn is increased by most impioyident I'D.
minist raticn. Ptusaia has 40 real liberty, and
although its rule is nom,nally Protestant, stu
II Is lot o pure AID hetlsafnl Professionalism
and tbs people suffer. Aust % is ucdeI the accur-
sed control OF Jesuits-a bl;ah, and midew where
eYer they 60, to property. md, al aconseqnence,
IL ia the most poor, NEST daspotic, most corrupt
and mos. utterly bankrupt OF ali governments on
the face OF the earth. Spain IL effrte, wrstched,
without order, without morcs-the scene OF endless
revolution aud blocdsned. Turkey has better,
more generous ruer than the rest, and yet, IS the
heaJcasrn,s OF the Mahome.an ds.u 'ion, 1t cannot
claim psitiele Of our Christian sympathy. And
what shall we say Vt unhappy Italy with the bright
skies ald bajEny atmosphere, which narg over us
fair lsies ard the moral darkness which shades all
its beauties the chains oil pfiss'cfafs which gall lts
heroic people with its former gio les and It's pre-
sent 81 arne, what can We cay, bnt VI happy l.aly
And s. 4 il With moat o. the snallsr governments
they ste isspctitus Ihe conULent OF Europe IS
oppressed and mi, cd, and almost any change vdl
be for sbe better. a. soms Grange ana great change
must proceed from the pressLt conflict, 80 we zee
that it is working good result, aud say, God hasten
Is n h,s own good time.
In this connection, we woull remind you OF the
supposed frieneship en.e,ta'n,d by the emperor r
Nicholas for repubh anism. " 's certain thai his
relations with our country have been OF Inc m3es
pleasant character, and 1t we remember correctly,
he said to distinguished senator, that there were
only tUo forms OF governments proper tor man-tne
one absolute nonSrchy--tbe other, free republic
Whatever mny be mis- sympathy In this particular,
he may find IL greatly TO his interest (snd inte
Il always The best argument WITH pIancesR pc may
kcaa masses through Europe. II hard pressed
by the army o. the allies. he can, by singie
word Of sympathy, BY sirgle promise OF AID,
country, who will again raise the generous cry Of
"Liberty, fraternity, equslity.' We know ydat the
great hberatoIs Of Europt have hope revived in their
bcsoms By the signs Of the times, AMI stand resdy
whskher Gar shall call them into Sc vice or what
ever changes shall open the least prospect Of su
ce stand ready to plunge at once into che thickest
Of the tight and do b ave battle for freedom and
their "fAtaerla1d" Here, then Is another good re-
suit The war rviyes the hope OF liberty, and
cpsrs the prospect for an uprising OF the do wntrod
den people Of europe.
H. We should ALEC consider what the effect OF this
commetion may be upon the Popish hierarchy and
MAkometan powers. This Is matter OF deep In
teyest 70 the christian, for in them he finds that
beast and false prophet who are described BY the
apostle Jcnn - Rfeet opponents on tie cuuiVn, ANU
both must be ovsrihr5wn before the peacefu sna
universal reign Of Jesus can begin. As they had
their rise Lesr!y OF che same period, go there a-e
fan about the sAus time. Il becomes, than, an
object Of great interest to note every event that may
hAstsn tAeie destruction.
First, as 20 Mshcmetanism, 1t has long been si2k-
Ing into deoay-ita vigor Is gone. The only prom
hsnt power that supports its faith has been growing
weak for centuries, and the Turkish empire would
6oabtless have fallon before this cate had II not
been for the projection Of Christian nations. What
Dver NAY be the result Of the present VAR certainly
Is cannot repair the broken columns Of the Moslem
temple. But IL Russia meets with aay measure OF
success, it VIII be . death blow to the system Of
Mahon1et In either case We must conclude that
The days of the false prophet drawing TO end,
and We shall soon rsjoice ever his total fall.
Les ~ now cons6er that other power varicus'y de-
nignated a. the beast, the man OF sia AID son OF
addition tha nnofher Of itlol~frv. Raby'on and