The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-26
THE POWER or CHRISTIANITY.
sermon by Bishop Simpson-President
Grant and Family ut Church.


sermon by Bishop siu,pson-President
Grant and Family ut Church.
Lone BRANCH, July IS, 1859.
The Centenary Methodist Episcopal church was
the centre of attraction this morning to the church
going portion Of the visitors at the Branch notice
having been given at the various hotels that Bishop
simpson, the most eloquent orator IN the Methodist
denomination, would occupy the pulpit Last even
ing the writer aided the Rev. J. b. Grau, through
whose interchangeable exertions commodous and
beautiful editce has been erected here in looking
up the President to tender him an invitation to be
present at the Centenary church. Our efforts were
crowned with success ut late hour, and pleasant
interview with General Grant was the re-
suit 1t must be remembered that the Presi-
dent is an of1ce-hoder In the Methodist
Church, and oil his affiliations and sympathies
are with this branch Of the Church. that my friend
the Methodist itinerant did not apprehend that
u s. q. would give him the cold shoulder. non,
of course Will go to hear my friend Bishop Simp-
son." My friend, with true Methodistc hospitality
offered to send acOnveyance for the President and
his family, but he blandly responded that he had
conveyance OF his own Before leaving the minister
reminded him that hafpast ten was the hour OF SER
vice. This suggestion was given bY the writer. who
remembered that at the dedication OF the Metropoli
tan church in Washington General Grant was fifty
minutes behind tme Tor he did not arrive till Bishop
Simpson had commenced his sermon. He, however,
atoned for that error this morning, for he, Mrs.
Grant and two OF his children were IN the
seats reserved for them at the commencement
OF the service. 1t was g0o idea on the part OF the
Methodist minister to seek the distinguished member
OF Tile fold, though in one respect an outsider, In
Gospel Sermon the hops that 1t would neutralize
the effect which the great display OF morrow even
Ing will have upon his mind; for religious people
agree with Aminadab Sleek IN saying that balls
an 'abOmnat0n."
the First Epstle to Timothy, "Now the end
or the commandment Is charity out of Q
81 '' faith o0a his s0niSeode aa
remarks the Bishop sald:-It Is sometimes both In
terestng and profitable to take an inside view OF the
working or any system which challenges the asten-
ton OF thoughtful men. The Christian Church has
an external and an internal system. AS 1t appears
to the world iG ID association OF men bound TO-
Qether by q certain creed, adopting certain usages
which lead to more intimate communion, ana seek
ing In some form to spread itself all the earth.
When looked at rs an internal organization men
that las the same as the soy
ernments Of earth; that its aim Is merely to seek
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, the personal elevation Of those
Concerned, or in some TO that 1t has q selfish o.
ject in view. 1t may be WE'LL then, for US not only to
contemplate 1t externally IN what 1t does and what
ders OF t had In view, and what reasons they gave
to those who, following them, endeavor to carry
spirit. The Apostle instructs Timothy not to have
his attention turned chiefly TO questions OF coutro-
yersy, questions that may be merely OF ceremony or
ternal associations, with genealoges, or race
descent That was not Inc great OBJECT Of the
Church. II had higher Idea, wider
aim; and then he proceeds to set forth what that
OBJECT Is In the passage we have selected. The
the design the great object the purpose for which
1t was given; and by the phrase, "the command.
religion In other words, it might be said now tn.
whole object OF Gods revelation to man Is to pro.
mote charity out OF pure heart Of good con-
science, and OF faith unfeigned. IL has no ex.
ternal objects as far its own aggrandize.
ment is concerned; it seeks not 70 build
Is no personal motive that ought 10 influence
those VINO are engaged in Its diffusion Its Is to
bless the world, TO make mankind happier, 10 ele.
vate humanity everywhere, to spread abroad purity
OF heart and rectitude OF conduct and to give men
connection with the great God which made tie
world. This is the great object Of Christianity. 1t
is the great work OF the Christian Church. And
taking the passage in this view, ask your atten-
that the Christian Church is established on
earth as system for the purpose of spread.
ing abroad charity among all men and bless
Bishop, in his Characteristic style, proceeded to
show the superiority OF Christianity all other
systems which men have devised for the reforma-
ton and civilization of man, aad showed that,
though the religion OF the Bible was at FIRST confined
TO one particular nationality yet the ultimate de-
every part OF the globe Tn same Almighty Father
which guided the Israeites was the guide OF the be-
lever now, and HIS great design was to promote
ness on the part Of God to any Of his crea-
1 W the sne ore ne T Ps PeE 9aa 70 sss
part Of the human family and rejects the rest
he would preach to the rich and Che poor, to the
high aud 10 the low, 10 men Of all ages and of all
classes the unsearchable riches of Christ And the
duties enjoned flowing out OF love to God were OF a
universal character. The Gospel was to be preached
10 every creature. Buddhism, Nohammedanlsm or
any Of the other systems Of worship did not send
missionaries to the ends Of the earth but the Chris
tlan system did. Unchrlstian nations did not esta-
HOSPITALS benevolent
The Bishop then proceeded to ask, Is there any
ming IN the Gospel which corrects The foles of men
and leads TO this state OF lover Now, our highest
conception Of heaven is that OF universal love.
Earth can never reach this condition unless the
heart can be made pure, aud hence, as step towards
universal charity the heart OF man must be by some
means freed from It's seldshness and made pure Is
be made pure' A how MANY Of as a answer No
WY because we Know something of the depth OF
d tPsry a 70 Is within Us We knew how
ton OF human nature in Its darkness and In its
degradation mat we see the Scripture symbols are
Of uncieah beasts Can the gaopian change al lis
skin ski or The leopard bis spots fhen may we who
are accustomed 70 do eva learn TO do we'll ihe
made pure by the indweng Of the shirt OF COD, IN
showing me power when the Contact Of one mind
the Cnrlstan being made pure In heart must have
O good conscience SO that all his actions Will be
Tss last sha po ssased from Vas gp % ssa
OF iai.n, which the Bishop elaborated in
llye tor nimsenl PVT to accomplish q great work.
, Which could not be psI9Tmqa unless faith Was the
andeI and yqan OF Arc as illustrations OF what faith
Could sce0IDpsn ami asserted that all tie reforms
OF society resulted from Its influence. Man WIS made
TO govern the earth, ana the only reason why he Mad
not controlled Its elements long ago was that he was
given up TO passion aud lust. Man, however, under
Chsistlamty was coming back TO his high destiny
and, ana ne would .S soon rule this garth Modern pv6h
LODE ana me betlng OF The oceans with teoarapnic
wires would contribute to spaead Christian civil.
eoonan, oyeo tue orld. The Bishop closed mis-
vregation ~ practical appeal to the con.
AJtho. - accept Of the provisions Of tho Gospel.
r.. ugh the discourse occupied an hour and quar-.
y. H. lis delivery 1t was listened to with marked
ate by large audience.