The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-09-27
LOCAL DEPARTMENT.
RELIGIOUS.
Services Yesterday.

occupied by this church could gather lays
congregation such as last Sabbath, whlch
nearly filled the room. 49,
The sermon, by the pastor, Dr. boynton,
was from Luke, IS, L. There drew near
unto him all the publicans and sinners for to
hear him."
The object OF the discourse was to present
Christ's method Of preaching the Gospel
We can notice only few OF the main points
of the argument.
How shall the Gospel reach not the few
only who arc able TO hear II IN slegnht
churches, but the multitudes outside VINO
know little OF Its truths, anu YET necu most
OF nll Its consultations
This question, In substance, Ia being asked
on ali sides, and as yet has received no salts
factory answer. Christians all believe that
the @ 'spel is an instrument prepared by God
himself for the recovery Of world that II
is both the power and the wisdom Of God
and yet II fails In their hands TO produce the
expected results. Would II not be well,
therefore, to turn to the New Testament and
study afrcsh the method In which the Gospel
was preached by Christ himself, for He drew
the pcople-the poor, the degraded-around
Him by thousands, and thus solved the
problem, "IIow can the Gospel be preached
TO the poor1"
The speaker then proceeded to show that
the "Great Preacher" instead OF laying
first step In his work, first won the hearts of
the people by ministering to physical wants
and sufierings, and sanctifed by his presence
and approval even their social joys. He had
no rebuke for the lighthearted guests at the
wedding In Cana, as If he would free his
system from all suspicion Of austcrlty, and
show that innocent Joys should be sanctifcd
and used for the elevation of man.
In his first circuit around Galilce, preach
ing the "Good News, not one word Is re-
corded of what he said; If he preached any
sermons they are not mentioned, but what
he did is abundantly set forth. The country,
over hundreds OF square miles, was pro-
foundly stirred, and they gathered around
him by thousands. In that company were
represented, as 1t seemed, all the sorrows
and agonies Of humanity. The lcper, dwell
ing In a body already dead In appearance
and Wondering as In the grave; rarnlytics
helpless, borne on by friends; epileptiCs. in
convulsion; demoniacs, bowling and clank-
Ing their chains; poverty, In Its rags; moth
crs, clasplng little whitening buds to their
breasts. They came to hear the gospel, and
the Great Preacher was present. Surely VIC
might expect powerful sermon, illustrated
by the fearful examples before him OF the
effects OF sin. He pronounced no discourse.
lie merely passed among them and "healcd
them ALL" Thus Christ proclaimed the
"Good News" Of his Kingdom. There were
was too deep. They felt the pressure Of a
Divine presence, and they bowed and wor.
shlppca the descended God
Many other illustrations were given of the
method in which Jesus preached the gospel
Ivy such acts Of love and mercy, showing
that lie intended his system for the allcva-
ton Of physical want and suffering and to
reach the poor, the wrctchcd aud degraded
by recognizing their manhood, and kindling
homo hpnrt
1t was shown that the sermon on the
Mount contained no system of theology.
little OF all that Is taught In our doCtrinal
trcatlses or In our seminarlcs. II presented
system OF pure Christian morality. But
we are not to infer from this that the great
truths Of our evangelical faith were consid.
cred of no Importance by Christ. lie pre-.
scented them elsewhere with great solemnity
and in explicit language, aud most properly
they have place In our crceds.
Still 1t was by mingiing with the people
by ministcring TO their wants aud suilerings,
by sympathizing with them In their sorrows
and trials that lie drew them to Him, and
then they received the truth, not so much
through the assent Of the Intellect rs be-
cause they loved the teacher.
In the great centres of conCoursc, in the
synagogucs, at Caperneum, Mt Jerusalem, In
the temple before the educated, the infu.
entail, he announced great doctrines, those
seed truths which have rcvolutionizcd the
world. In the union of these two methods
OF Christ may be found the perfection OF
preaching now. There must be from the
pulpit the proper announcement of truth,
and through kindness aud sympathy the
people must be led to believe. The head
must be watched through the heart.
He who attacks first the head with rrli-
gious truth will need battcring rams or ff-
teen-inch shells, but when truth walks in
uh ha nf no hna a. +.
with welcome and invited to stay.
FOURTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
AT tho Fourth Presbyterian church the
Rev. DR.. Smith, pastor, occupied the pnInIt
In the morning and preached from the sec
ond book OF Samuel, xii; VII "And Nathan
said to David, Thou art the man." Ma.
than the prophet and David the king OF
Israel are now met and stand face to face
in conversation. Both are anointcd and d.
yincly appointed.
The prophet by his calling an humble
man, leading an humble life. David. the
king, most exalted by God, called from the
field and the flock to the throne. He had
been hunted and prosecuted as the partridge
on the mountain, and had been preserved rs
ifby miracle through many dangers. II,
was necessarily warrior "a man er blood.
lie married the daughter ~ s,.u and reigncd
40 years. Nathap IT,; prophet, was sent 10
rcbukc thr Ing ior heinous crime, which
had +1St tut nv VI Btlllnt OllCer. Inc
King had ordered L rlah to the front, In sucl
position that he would certainly be killed
David had the act done against the order o
society and against common hospitality
All mourncd the loss to the kingdom o
Uriah, and David put on the semblance 0
sadness. In the context Nathan narratc
the simple story of a rich man who IND
many focks and herds, and a poor man who
had but one little lamb that he had brought
up In his household. A traveller came to Inc
rich man, and he spared his own locks and
LOOK the lamb OF the poor man and dressed II
for the traveller. DNvid's feelings wcr,
worked upon by the simple narrative, and H.
said: "As the Lord llveth the man that hat
done this shall surely die; and he shall re
store the lamb four-fod." Nathan said unit
him: "Thou art the man." David though
his crime was not known. The eye of III
Lord Is In every place. There Is nothn
concealed from OmnisclencC. Men may ar
FULLY Impose on others, but the eye of Col !
in every place, bcholdng the evil aud III
good.
We may learn from this subject that
LIST. God Is no respcctor Of Persons. III
law, which Is the law of right thoughts AM
actions, Is for all men In all conditions. S,
far from respecting the rich or exalted, the,
are held TO u strict accountability for nj
they have received. The crime Of Davis
was, first, lngratlttidc to u faithful soldier
se'Ohu, tIcucncIy III ulgu AUTHORITY; third,
depravlty In the royal heart manifested in
the treachcrous course pursued In attaining
ms end. We may not be guilty Of crime
like David. Such crime has seldom been
committed, but We have been guilty of thou
sands OF sins OF omission aud commission
and If we bring them up In review we may
hear the still small voice of conscience
saying, "Thou art the man" David lived
nearly 5000 years ago, but this snbjccl
comes to US us fresh, as pungcnt and ud
hioohltory as If 1t were yesterday. David
n,tnouRh Ming, was punished. I'd. Sin /,
Always charged on the right pcrson-thC In
dlyidual shining. In lrlnsurrsslnns iInnnr
men 1t Is Often difficult TO prove the fact
Testimony Is often in conflict, aud the trutl
cannot be reached. SO in some cases In
guilty will escape, but not 50 in divine goy
eminent.
Here then is no escape. When men "a
that the ways of God are not equal, II is he
cause they would have il so. Among me
confession Is followed by judgment an
punishment. But not SO under the divn