The New York herald., 1869-05-17
ZION CHURCH.
The Church and Revivnls-Sermon by Bishop
SOuth3ate.

The Church and RevIvnls-Sermon by Bishop
Southgate.
The Right Rev. HOratiO SOuthgate preached on the
above subject yesterday evening at Zion church, on
the corner OF Madison avenue ana Thirty-egnth
street, from the text, 'When they heard this they
were pucked In their heart and said unto Peter ana
the rest Of the apostles, Men and brethren, what
shall we or' (Acts H., 37.) Before the
sermon the preacher announced to his congre
CATION that "The Churchman'S Reading Rooms
and Library" had just been instituted under
the auspices Of the American Church Union. lie
said benefits Of such an association were not TO
be over estimated, and that 1t would, II supported, be-
come to the church what the Young Mems Christian
Association was TO the sects, and more. Such as
were deslrous of supporting such an excellent
object were desired 10 contribute at the
evening collection taken up for tnat purpose
The attention OF the congregation was drawn
TO the circulars placed in the different pew6. THIS
sets forth that the admission to the reaulng rooms
and library, No. 1,l55 Broadway, open from nine a.
M. 10 ten r. NJ, Tree, and that full hles ol Aneri-
can and English church papers and magazines, anu
the principal secular newspapers and monthiles, ana
8 COLLECTION OF church books are 10 pe FOUND there.
Clergymen are invited to make the rooms Their head
quarters. No distinction VIII be made on account
Of religious denominations. list OF boarding
houses Tor the use young churchmen Will be Kept
Members of the church out Of employment are In
yled leave their names and residences ana those
wishinc.to hire employes are lisewse requestcd 10
strangers in the city, Of the location Of churches
and hours of divine service, business matters, OBJ
ects Of interest be visited, &c. Essays ana lee
lures will be delivered from time To time.
The preacher after preiacing bis sermon with 2
few remarks he @ s% asa e Sednm aa hear Of
them in the Church. He Thought IL was deleterlous
TO Christian reverence and the right conception Oh
the Holy Spirit which, described In scripture a.
like ''the wind which bloweth where IL steth,' 10
pass hasty or .contemptuous Judgment upon any
work that processes to be the result OF the
mighty operations Of the Holy Ghost. 1t is better
to treat iG calmly upon the basis Oh scripture
The Churchs want ol reviVais mas, pernaps
which begirt her ON every side to deny to her the
coveted and crucia! name 'Evangelical." lie would
not return these compliments OF what Bishop Sea-
bury called seft-hand brethren" IL was better to
iucucate truth than attack others. and therefore
he would review this subject OF revvals. IL could
not be said with any regard for truth that there
nothing OF great awakening" Qf ne could use q
term which had come to have something OF the
air of cant about t the scene which Is described
in the second chapter OF the Acts OF the
Apostles. Mulutudes "pricked in their hearts, y
aud 5000 added to the Church IN single day was q
triumph of divine grace that should make one pause
before attrbutng 10 any inferior influence efforts
in modern times, which are called by the school Of
| Christians to which allusion had been made, the
fruits OF revivas." No awakening OF the presen
day gathered such harvest as that m single CITY
| mighty movements now. The preacher al
luded to the rapid conversion spoken spoken 2, o.
| samarla, LYDIA, saron, Joppa, Cesarea, Antioch
and other cities and asked, Why should Il not be SO
wickedness than the heathens 10 might be with us
| as with the people Of Capernaum-the Lord can do
no mighty works among us because or our unbeief.
All must admit, however. that revivals had been
greatly abused that revival preachers were, as a
distinct class, dangerous intruders upon the regu-
| lar ministratIon Of the Word; that 'fre
dcvoureth before them. and behind them
| a flame burneth." Some could remember
names which once moved the community with awe
| and intense excitement. The passage OF one OF
| them through the land to-day would be as desc.
lating whirlwind. Those times II was to be hoped
would never return. But the fruits OF that bitter
experience remain in the noxious weeds OF iniidety
| that mad sprung up from the scorched and scared
| surface over which the unhallowed nre passed
.Anxious seats were" now abolished, the
| parading OF convicted persons" as thes
were called, was, as he was informed
| little practsed. The physical machinery for work
ing up feeling and rousing emotion had been thrown
out OF gear. This was not universally true, but the
prevailing sentiment. But the Church provides for
assemblies for prayer to q far greater extent than
| the most jealous revivalist ever dreamed Of Sht
opens her doors throughout the year twice daily
| WHAT the revivaltst seeks 10 accomplish by extra
ordinary aud spasmodic efforts, the Church aims t.
accomplish as part of her daily anu incessant work
Thus IL IL liable the danger OF abase to whci
| REVEALS are from their acknowledged transitor,
| character. The preacher concluded py urging M
hearers to ''conlinue steadiastyh IN the apostles
| doctrine and fellowship.