The national Republican., 1867-05-20
LOCAL DEPARTMENT.

Yesterday was another delightful occasion for
our church going public, and, judging by the
large representations at the houses We visited,
the attendance at the churches throughout tho
city was very good. At the hour for com.
menoing tho evening services, we noticed many
ladies, gentlemen and children on their way to
the Z street Baptist church, to Trinity church,
and other places Of divine worship In that seo-
tion Of the city. In tho forenoon, too, the
churches and Sunday school rooms were well
Allied, causing one to almost believe that fresh
interest had sprung up In the hearts OF the peo-
pie concerning religious matters. Below We np-
pend synopses Of several sermons We had the
pleasure Of listening to:
CHRISTIAN CHURCH. ,.r.
Rev. D. P. Henderson's discourse yesterday
morning on the subject Of "Christian Partner
ship" was listened TO by n very large, aprre-
ciative audience, and produced q solemn effect
upon his auditors. There were over twenty per-
sons received into the Church, and the Bible was
presented to those who had been immersed dur
ing Mr.. Henderson's present visit with most ap.
propriAte remarks Tho order Of worship in this
Church Is marked with simplicity, the member
ship manifesting great love for each other. Mr..
Henderson's motto for his discourse was the
I'd chapter of tho Acts Of the Apostles 42d verse:
"And they continued steadfestly In tho Apos,
ties doctrine and fellowship, and In hsapiDg Of
bread, and In prayers"
Said the speaker, this Is the model Church,
Christianity began in an organized form here.
According to the prophecy the law Of the Lord was
to 20 forth from Zion, and the word Of the Lord
from Jerusalem. Here was laid the corner stone
Of salvation-Christ Jesus, who died for the sins
Of the world. The Church Of Christ began, not
In Rome, but in Jerusalem, and we are 10 pattern
after this model yea, We are to bo governed by
the teachings Of the Apostles, and immitate
these Christians In obedience and love. Peter'I
disoouse unlocked the secret, unfolded the Cos
pei, opened tho door OF faith to q perishing
world, while the rest Of the Apostles repeated II
that pressed TO hear the unsearohable riches o
Christ. After the people heard Of Jesus, they
were convinced that they had, by wicked hands
crucihed and killed the Lord Of life and glory
they were cut to the heart, and cried unto Petei
and to the rest Of the Apostles, men and breth
rem what shall We do ?" Peter being commanded
to use the keys, to open this door Of faith th,
other Apostles, answers the question, and com
mAnds them TO Repent and be baptized, evsry
one Of you 10 the name Of Jesus Chris. for III,
remission OF sins, and 70 shall receive the gift d
the holy spirit For the yromise 10 to you, AM
to your children, and to all that are afar off, eve
as many as the Lord shall call" Upon this
three thousand persons thus convicted Of sin, Gu
to tho heart, who had asked tho question. cam
forward and were baptizsd and added to tho on,
hundred and twenty disciples which composed
this church, of whom it Is said, They were o
one mind, and OF one heart
This church was built upon Christ as the chic
cornerstone, tho truth confessed by Peter whe
Christ gave him the order to take the keys frou
his hand with which to open the door Of faith
6rst to tho Jews in Jerusalem, and secondly t
the house Of Cornelius, the gentle, in C@sarea
Upon the introduction Of the gospel to the gen
tiles at the house Of Cornelius and the conyersio
Of multitudes Of the Greeks or gentiles at An
tioch, q new name was given TO this people thu
| brought together In divine union, never to b
severed, and that name is Christian. The dil
oiples were first called Christians at Antioch
Jew and gentle were alike embraced in the deaf
Of Christ, alike enjoyed remission Of sins the 81
tion, were called Christians as their family nam
and were now One in Christ Jesus, and ey'
thereafter to keep the unity of the spirit In Il
bond Of peace. We note especially
l. Steadfastness in Apostles doctrine.
The word doctrine means teaching. The
Christians were steadfAst In what they wei
taught by them. Nothing wero authoritative b
the Apostles. Being doubly inspired of Go
they uttered what the Holy Spirit communicate
and these utterances formed tho divine cree
which they believed and which they practice
This was the perfect law Of liberty the Christii
creed, unmiIed with human philosophy, theoloI
or tradition. In II, therefore, these hrst Chr
.ians stood firmly. This Is IN important eleme
of Christian character. without nrmness no m
can attain to pious and useful distinctions wi
Il those believers, these children Of God were Q
Abled to stand the Gres Of q raging perseeutiC
n dsmoniacal fury, not content with the oonhsC
tion Of their property but even burning them
tho stake.
3. Fellowship. This word may be substitut
by partnership, and perhaps will more forcil
convey to our minds what was true Of the me
bership Of this mother church. When they
nounced the world by confessipg Christ and pl
ing themselves under His government, th
formed q society which struck down Selhshne
They became partners In eternal life, and plat
In this partnership soul, body, spirit and esta
Their lives, their bodies, their spirits and tn
estates were all freely surrendered to the Lol
and thus surrsndering all, thoy became eql
| partners, each having placed In this organizat
all he had, for the good Of the whole. This '
voluntary on their part. They surrendered th
individual and separate interests, and mer
them in q common brotherhood for the goot
each other, the conversion Of the world and
glory Of God.
No one among them lacked, and each cont
nieatsd according TO his ability. All were
gent, frugal, pious II one member suffered
the members suffered with It, II one was h
ored all rejoioed. They we're knit together
love. Out Of the vast number who were moml
Of this Church, We read Of only two who were
faithful. AnnHnius, and Sapphira, his "
whose love Of their property caused them to ~
back part Of the price and then denying It W
ptsrrogatsd by the Apostle Peter, For