The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-23
ALL SOULS cHUScH.

Sermon bv the Rev. DIR. L0thrOp, Of Boston.
Services were held Yesterday, morning ana even
ing at All Souls church. corner OF Fourth avenue
and Twentieth street. The congregations were as
is usual In summer time. anything but large. The
Rev. DR.. Lothrop, OF Boston, officiaed on both Oc-
casions. In the evening the reverend gentleman
took as his text the twenty fifth verse OF the four
teenth chapter OF st. Mattnew-"And in the fourth
watch OF the night Jesus went unto them, walking
upon the sea-" The preacher in opening remarked
that physical matters were often used in the Bible
as symbols of moral truths. This was TO q large
extent the case with regard to the miracles of Christ
They were, of course, intended primarily to confirm
TO His hearers the nature ana Importance Of His
mission The qualities OF wisdom and OF benevo-
lence were attached to the miracles and hence they
meant something more than mere exhibition VI
Chr!sts divine power. Take, for instance, the first
INTO wine for use at social festival. 1t was worth
while to consider that this miracle was, az 1t
were, rapid and instantaneous performance OF
change which Is always taking place In a gradual
process II VINE was followed back through Its va.
rlous chemical changes, it would be found that 1t
nourished the roots OF the vine and which as sap
gave life to bnd flowers and fruit lie VINO ordained
these laws OF chemical change and who knows the
properties OF everything He had created, could IN a
manner not understood by the spectators, in in.
slant ,,d the change which
miraculous increase of the ioaves ana
the feeding of the nve thousand persons At any
spring time there could not be found enough grain
In the world to support the human race for single
year. but when the seed was put In the ground 1t In
creased some thirty forty fold. lie who estab-
lIsted this reproductive power could by an nstan-
taneous exercise OF that power produce the same
result that would otherwise take time in
ton. Christ's power over nature was type OF his
power over men. He performed miracles OF healing
70 the halt the lame. the sick and the blind
the the soul from It's infirnities without adopt
ing the system Of allegorlca rendering which
often applied to the Scriptures, 1t was right
to believe that many Of the miracles were intended
to bring light and courage to the souls OF men, The
text was fun OF matter which would comfort the
moral and spiritual Christ walking over the biilows
Of the ages Himself enduring over all the wrecks OF
Time. The Roman empire at the time Christ
Of the. Caesars, cared little about the
about ii ons Of his remote s 1D
wonderful works, or about the statement that ue-
cause He mad claimed to be King his proconsui
had put HIM to death. The matter appeared unini-
portant to the naughty ruler and, he did not think
that such fact would be ever heard Of in connec,
passed away, aud today the prandest mcmento OF
its existence was an edince which had been reared
who e had been but to death by Pontius plate. On
| earth everything was changing. Nations
were rising in glory and disappearing In decay,
| able man Future generations would probably de-
stroy what we are now building up, as we were no
| doubt, destroying things which mad been built up
| by our forefathers, which they At the time con.
| sidered OF the very greatest Importance. IN an
| these changes the Gospel abldes and Will abide
Man, In the fippancy Of criticism, might content
| about creeds or forms OF worship but they canDo
touch the everlasting verities OF Christianity. Fear
were sometimes entertained that the Gospel wa
losing Its hold upon the c0nsciences OF the world
and efrete. II any one was disturbed at that fear
all the preacher would do would be to point to Chris
walking upon the sea. There might be convulsion
J In human affairs, but stin the Gospel would renal
I untouched. The preacher then proceeded TO pom
| out the strength ana comfort which hts hearer
might gain IRON the belief IN the power and pres
| ence Of Christ, and reminded them that though On
| waves might be rough and tcmpeatu0us vet the 80
viour would come to them over tile waves.