The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-02
CHURCH Or THE REFORMATION.
Onr Debt to Christ-Sermon by Rev. Abbott
HrOwu.


At the Church OF the Reformation, Protestant
Episcopal low church,, on Fifteth street, between
Second and Th,rd avenues but small congregation
assembled yesterday morning TO attend divine ser.
wee and listen 10 the word OF God After the usual
morning service after the prescribed order III the
Book OF Common Prayer, followed by the service
ordained as Introductory 70 communion. it
being the first sunday in the month. Rev.
Abbott Brown, pastor OF the church, an
pounced the text OF his sermon TO be the
FIRST sentence Of the second verse OF the fifth capter
oi the Acts OF the Apostles"And kept back part OF
the price," This was said OF a certain mau named
Ananas in the days after Pentecost, when the out
pouring OF the Spirit had sanctife the first begin.
nings Of Christ's Church earth. In those days the
Apostles and the believers in Christ en,oyeu ali
Things IN common. soon after the disciples had as
sembled ana their hearts were opened In devotion
70 tue Lord they were bound together nv one com
mon love This gives rise TO III thoughts for Us to-
day. AZ we assemble around the table OF the Lord
TODAY to partake OF the bread and wine In COM
menoration OF the Holy supper OF Christ we should
extend the hand OF fellowship 10 all and be united To
an ID one common love or Christ. in those early
days the multitude Of Christ's Church had
but one heart and soul 1ntlng all. Principles
are everlasting, though the practices may change
Christ's love is to-day the same 1t was ihen and
must snow Itself now "a 1t did IN those DAYS. The
Only account or the adoption OF community OF inter-
est even in things temporal and for the cause OF
Christ we have az the early Church at Jcrusalem
In other parts we have 1t related that there we're
rIch and poor but not 20 at Jerusalem. This prac-
tee was proDably based on the manner IN which
tue Lord lived with the Apostles, sharing with them
M thngs Ia common. This practice was not in
Tended That 1t should be general and perpetuated
as " must be governed by circumstances The
reverend speaker tnen the history OF Ananias
"nen ne sold his possessions he brought but "A part
OF Tue price 10 the service OF the Church and kept
DacA pari OF ~ and his wife prIyy 20 this dis
STIMULATION. lie represented to Peter that what ne
brought was all he had received ana he thus at
attempted TO deceive his fellow men. I'm
I tillS ne was DuIliV of nyDOcrlsy 90 he
| To obtain tue praises OF men, though kuowing
ne dld not deserve them. IL beng religious act
ne was guiity Oh Discrimination IL religion IL was n
service OF love; there was legal slavery In st. no
bondage; he was at liberty to retain the whole or
part II his conscience prompted him 10 do eitn GER
Tue Sun was not IN retaining part, not the withhold
Ing; but the nnprincipled hypocrisy Of pretending
That he had given ali. This was sin, moi towards
| ms fellow men only but towards the Church OF
Christ as he tired TO deceive the Searcher of Hearts
| 10 whom all things are known. Thou has not lied
unto men, but unto God,r said Peter. He who
created man, body and soul, knows all. Some think
Ia VAN 10 conceal their evll deeds hide in secret
places aud seek the darkness, nights but 10 ON.
nsscence an things are opened ana revealed Peter
was not slow 10 detect the sin, ana soon as Ana
mas heard the accusations of Peter she Tell down and
gave 40 the glOst.N There was another element
OF sin in the deed or Ananias. Being partial In his
GUT ne Was aiggardly, and besides hypocrisy he he
trayed covetousness, which Is idolatry, aud which
u. also condemned. To attempt hallway service
OF God was irDpossible TO indulge In spirit OF Gov
etousness IL id0atry; TO serve God and man Christ
said we cannot do. Here the reverend speaker
| quoted coplously from the New Testament and re-
Iee1 10 tile instantaneous death OF Ananias and hi:
wile az proof OF the judicial character Of Chrst's
| lnluncllons. We ought TO draw good lessons from
this. we owe great obligation TO Goo and should
pab the iull price and hold back part Of It, God
demands OF us as u service obedience a whole
| hearted determination to abandon all eyh. This tt
some may be hard service. and the pleasures of q
/ hoiy NE may seem 10 be dearly bought. But ouI
deG1 10 God IL . reality and We are bound 70 H. we
cannot discharge II until faith Is full IN Christ
and II Is light burden and free service 10 those
VINO see IN Cnrst all satisfaction aud we ali shonio
ioYe 10 obey HIM, because Jesus hrst loved ls REV
~. ADbOtt closed his sermon by rectine that beau
our >ayIouf's palee"