The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-11-07
SENSATION SERMONS FROM NEW YORK PARSONS
DR.. CHEEvER ON THE "IRREpR EssIBLE CON
FLICT.u

Rev Dr. Cheever preached at the Church Of the Puri
ans Union square, last evening discourse on The
Sacredness and Safety Of the Pursuit of Principle above
all Expediency The church compactly filed with
intelligent and ashionably dressed congregation and
the discourse listened to with marked attention
throughout seees and chairs placed in all the
asles and in the open space in front OF the pulpit, and
still considerable number were obliged TO stand.
After the usual Introductory services the preacher an
nounced religious meetings during the present week.
stated that Tuesday the election involving
duty quite sacred prayer the usual evening service
on Tuesday would be omitted.
DR.. Cheever then delivered the following discourse,
taking his text odd o3d verses the 9th chap
ter Of Matthew
Principle and Expediency-the watcnwords that divide
the world truly and thoroughly light and darkness
sin and Holiness. But expediency assumes the form and
reputation Of principle ana great part OF the
the size of wrong under the professor of wis
dom and conservatism teaching the right The conflict is
fundamental A selfish expectancy liz the native habit
mankind and the first baxle agans, it is when man is
converted from the power OF satan unto God. When he
under the government OF righteous principle and
makes aie will OF God his rule, instead of consulting
and obeyng what is or seems TO be, expedient III his
view for bis own interest convenient for his will
and pleasure, he is converted man--a true Christian
True religion consists in choosing and following what is
right and making that in all determine what
peoent speak now Of all cases where the question Of
right, of duty, is involved for there many things
many unctures and affairs Of life, where prudential
sderaons what is best form the whole field OF con
sideraon, and that which a man Is mind on the
whole profitable is BEST and therefore ought TO be
pursued therefore right right because is best
Wherever the balance Of consider atoms is merely pru
dential-as, for example, ewhether you shall take
passage for sea voyage in sailing vessel or
steamship. whether you shall embark your capt.
tai in one direction another OF varied forms OF
business or Investments equally honorable and pro-
per: ten thousand cases might be stated where that
which the whole, you discover conclude 30 be BEST
advantageous and convenient for you, is right Ii
Is best merely because right but right because
best there being other moral principle involved in
IT, but choice Of benefits, which is moral principle
all And whose life Is confined to such pursuits
nigh, possibly be found acting in reference any
moral principle any consideration Of II whatever
might live the age Mcuhuseah podding on in bust
moss running OF vast speculaons in business
without ever having his soul stirred by anything higher
sthan calculations Of prudence. In such the very
absence and negaton OF moral principle wouli be the
basement and destruction OF mans nature and the con-
domination Of his life centering on SELF absorbed in
SELL occupied wholly with self and what is best for self
Is selfish ea life Of self-idolatrya life in which self
the supreme principle, and God being entirely disre-
garded, al immoral principle and immoral life. The
entire negation of high moral principle constitutes as
perfect an immortality of character as the presence nd
power Of positive reigning vice. And il may be abso-
luely more difficult 70 raise man up from the depths OF
such negation from the dungeon Of such tomb ana in
spre him with piety than tis 30 break violently upon
great and raging SINS in which been held can
tive by satan at his will We belong 10 God and are
bound to regard His will supremacy in all things and n
seek His appreciation carry into effect His aw hoh
IN ourselves and others The eye single therefore ,h
eve that is turned towards Him. while tho evil eye is the
eve that Is turned towards sefurned away from God
and filed with self instead OF God the supreme idol
You know that the language of the very proverbs Of
society there fitting description Of
worthless creaturea selfish, heartess, unsympathsng
man from whom you expect nothing good great or
generousthan the phrase that he is always look
for number Self always comes first between his
sight and everything else under heaven and until this de-
pravty is broken and conquered and he Is taught and
spred by Divine grace lose sight OF self In Cod and
say, Mo- my viii, but thine, be done God Airnseh "