The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-02
IHaTY-foUaTa STREET REFORMED CHURCH.
sermon by the Rev. MIR. Fehrmam.


The attendance ut the Reformed Dutch church in
Tmrty-fourth street was somewhat limited yeser-
day. The usual services commenced at halfpast
ten O'Clock. Subsequently the Rev. Mr.. Fehrman
preached q sermon taking his text from the four
teeDh chapter OF ST. Luke, and part OF the
eighteenth verse-"ADd they all went with one con-
sent and began To make excuse" The opportunity
was offered By our Lord TO make known everywhere
the TEACHING OF his mission. Whenever and
wherever ne discovered evil He lost no time in re-
buking II. They had an instance ia the Gospel read
of the Lords course on such occasions. He had
been invited by man who was Pharisee.
on the Sabbath, and while there engaged in
partaklng of this meal He mad, known the
true character OF hospitality and the responsibility
and duty OF those who invite and of those who are
invited TO such supper. 1t was at that table the
parable was spoken. BY the parable It was con-
veyed that the kingdom OF God should be offered to
others OF less note tnan those invted that the Jew
lsh people for whom II was especially prepared
should be thrust aside aud would not be permitted
to enter the house. But there was also another
meaning attached to the parable one OF more spirit
ual Specification and having wider range OF appli
cation. What was meant by II was that the great
teacher Jesus Christ. through His Church the
senRer goes out 10 cali men everywhere to attend to
the voices and bids them prepare for the great
feast of grace which God has prepared. He
bids men to repent Of their sins and
seek the blessings OF the Redeemer. The
privilege IS represented by the great supper and the
invitation is sent out by the Church through it's MIN
listers. Yet though this call be so faithful ever
so continuous, ever SIMPLE ever so intelligent,
there were those who BEGAN 10 make excuses. rhe
Church babe them 70 parake OF the precious repast
OF grace, but they came not. The reverend gentle
man then proceeded to dllae upon the many classes
OF ignorance, who through ignorance pretence. love
OF the world or Indifference made their excuses
when summoned TO attend to their religious duties.
The mOralist for instance. said he honest that
he tried to be and tried to live at peace with all:
moreover, that he believed IN the Bible and
that he felt content, and that under such
circumstances he must be excused. Neverthe-
| less he acted contrary to the precepts con.
tanned in the Bible, since he preferred his
own ideas In preference 10 the teaching of tn e
| Church: for the Bible denied the efficacy of man
| alone. Then there was the business man. who con-
tended that his duties ana engagements were so i'm
portant that they occupied his entire attention.
There no blame attached account Of the
labor ITSELF bnt there IN his reiusal for he wa.
| unduy engaged. In the grace offered In the Gospe
| there was to be found treasure which was never
| corrupt and which man could never take away. II
| offered a security against the world. There was
| grace offered that prepared not only Tor days Of
health but for days OF sicknesS-a grace that light
| ened mp the dark shadow OF the valley OF death
Moreover there the yotarcs who preferred feina
occupied with the pleasures Of The world tn at
tending to the call or the Church. There was, how
| ever, delight in obeyiug the law OF God that was
unaccOmpaDed by regret. In the evening the Rev.
Mr.. feblman preached another sermon before a
| large congregation