New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-11
SERMON BEFORE THE AMERICAN AN,
FOREIGN CHRISTIAN UNION.

BY THf XIV. Or. FORSYTH.
The annual sermon in behalf Of the American and
Foreign Christian Union was delivered in the -Four
teeuth-sreet Presbyterian Church Dr Asa ID. Smith :,
last evening by the Rev. Dr. Forsyth, Associate Re-
formed Presbyterian Minister at Newburgh
The Rev. Drs. A. ID. Smith, Fairchild and De Witt
took part in the devotional exercises.
Previous 10 the sermon DR.. FhRcHIID stated the
object Of the Union showed its design and the nature
and extent of liz workings; be hoped the Christian
public would deal with il according 10 ia merits
which would be developed in the report at the annual
meeting on Tuesday evening
The Rev. DR.. FORSYTH read as his text from Luke
xiv. A. Beginning at Jerusalem"
After giving some reasons why Jerusalem was a
proper place to begin with the Gospel work he went
on 10 observe that the commission given was that the
Apostles should be witnesses for Christ; they were TO
testify in reference to the things which they had seen
themselves. Paul after his conversion acted on this
basis and said that if Christ be moi rsen then are
we false Witnesses To begin at Jerusalem to give
testimony for the same Jesus which the citizens in
their excitement had mobbed and erucfed was to en-.
counter fierce enemy; there Learning pharsaical
pride hypocrisy cruelty and prejudice of the strongest
kind TO meet with barrier to the ingress of the
Apostles. Ii was, therefore, not little curious that
Jerusalem should be selected as the beginning spot
Tor the preaching of the Gospel but the commission
was given that it might vindicate its own pledge.
During our Saviors soiOun earth, he gave the
most gratifying proofs of his love and his sympathy for
the human race in all the paths Of life The darkest
salem. and even then he prayed, Father. forgive
them. and in the same spirit he looks upon this
abyss of depravity being too deep to be missed in
the advent of the Gospel mission, therefore he deemed
it not only worthy his last prayer on the Cross but
prominently claiming his attention when about to in
augura.e the great missionary enterprise which was to
begin by yindcaOn of his love TO the people Of Je
rusalem. The Gospel claimed to be the word of God
10 the Jews because it offered pardon or forgiveness
II offered elevation and salvation from all the ills that
aict the conscious sinner, and its mission to be-
gin lis work on the most forbiddng spot among the
mos. adamantine rocks
The command was given in order that efficient
band of believers might be raised 10 tell what they
had seen. Many of those to whom the Apostles were
to give their first testimony had doubtless been among
the scofers bufeters and Knockers of that same ChIs
who now sending to them witnesses that he had
risen again, and had assembled TO make ntercession
for those who should repent and believe. The results
of this mission proved the wisdom of the Divine
panner in determining Jerusalem as eligible spot for
the beginning of the Gospel work in the hands OF the
Apostles.
The Rev. Dr. then applied his subject to the work
ngs of the Union showing that the Church, by neglect
ing to act upon the same principle o, Christ acted
in his sending first to Jerusalem had permitted niquity
and superstition to grow up in lands nominaly Chris
tian, but really having not so much claim upon the
regions far outside the lands blessed with the
Gospel
We go TO Europe to visit the monuments, the cathe-
dlals and other relics Of antiquity, but We seldom
think that the people there around us are stepped IN
system, the prejudice of which is more terrific than
that which impelled the populace of Jerusalem.
Romanism is best when judged by ts results in
nations where i.s influence had succeeded in degrading
the people. Lord Sbaftesbury, who was certainly no
bgot. once said that Popery and Slavery always went
together Spain Portugal, Italy and France pre-
scented the triumph of papa power, and if the Church
of Rome is the pattern for believers then has CHRIST
died in vain.
The Reverend Doctor then showed how preem-
neny il was the duty OF the Church to proclaim the
Gospel to the people near our own homes previous to
sending missionaries to Tahita. He concluded by
reference to the objects Of the Union.