The New York herald., 1869-09-06
LUTHERAN CaUs3a OF ST. JAIaas.
TIE Happiness Of Chrissianity-Scrmon by the
Rev. DIR. WcdeiSiua.

TIE Happiness Of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. by the
Rev. DIR. Wedei<Ina,
The English Lutheran church OF st. James, East
Fiiteenta street. near Third avenue, was vest rday
reopened for divine service. The Rev. A. c. Wede-
KIND, D. d., pastor, preached an impressive sermon,
taking his text from Acts TX, 6--'Lord what Will
Thou have me to dor The reverend gentleman
said he trusted that the dominant emotion OF each
heart present vas uniegned gratitude to the Holy
Father for permitting them under such love and
mercy TO reassemble III their sanctuary 10 present
their sacrifice Of thanksgiving upon their own altar
10 those feelings ana emotions OF tie heart
he wished to give tangible, profitable AMI
enduring form. And how could he attain that end
better Than by bringing before them the import OF
.he pregnant question OF the text2 saul OF Tarsas
ttaried from Jerusalem with u commission rom the
Elgh Priest 10 scourIe and BIND ali VINO believed IN
Christ. On hIs way TO Damascus he was suddenly
arrested in his mad career. AtEoonday light IRON
heaven, more brilliant and dazzling than the sun,
shoae round ABOUT him, overwhelming him with a
blaze OF glory that suote him the ground Thea he
heard voice saying 10 him. IN the Hebrew tongue
Saui, Saal, way pefsecutes5 thou DE gn Wiih
trembling aud establishment he asked, "Who arr
tDou, LotdY' Tue voice from heaven replied, 'i
Rm jesus WDom thou persecutest.v Vita these
words the fearful truth hashed like lightning mo
we darkened soul OF the bloodthrsty inQulstor
lie perceived at once that this Jesus oil
Nazareth wnom they cruoided was, after ALL the
Lord OF glory and that the wrath he was indulxinR
against the disciples was so uu ch gnominy heIpel
upon their Lord himself. He saw that his deeds OF
blood and inamy had been observed ana that his
name and thoughts and Disguise were knowa 10
Jesus. lie now nunby cried out, Lord, what wilt
Thou have ne to DO 2" lie was by Christs direction
led into the CITY, where, instructed and baptized h.
was next lound III the syCa que preaching tue yery
faItn which lie had gone there 10 destroy. suc1
were the circumstances connected vita the text
They put Saul's question to the Lord not with the
trembtng spirl ot slave, but with The aiiactonat.
eplllt or chId. They put the question to their
beartS ana conscences, not Ia absolute H.
hoiance or the LORDS VIII and purposes
IN regard to mankind, In regard TO His
been Ia Ills school ana learned or flm az tils rlends
they had associated VITA hlnl, and cot!d say ron
Tie heart that they loVeu HIM. but they earnestly
cIaYed 70 love Hun more and therefore each asked
himself tle question referred 10 in the text. That
question did not smply refer to the external cou.
uuct U lhe Chlsian but took IN The wnOie scODe OF
feilsiOus KnOWledge, experience and walk OF the
chHd OK GOD. it had nothing in common with thas
kHaioW cohcelt ol modern ihidehty. Alter diiaung
AZ some Iength upon tho meaning OF the text tue
reverend gentleman went on to state that there was
great happiness IA the Christian lie. There was
luf example the healing OF ones moral diseases
Tue delVefance OF ones heaviest burden sin. q cain
anu holy conscience peaceiul and contented heart
sweet stiffness after the tempest, clear soft
ioVey SKY, Christ shining 10 upon the SOUL the earn
pshtdth Ohts leet, te pOWEis Of sin aud teMptattOu
pIohsh, satan ana MS angels withdrawD, heaven
opening ellmpse5 OF It's QofF meetlng ouefs deliyhf
Ell gaze, ine pathway OF the soul traced clear bright
olssIu, Ihto the very gates OF The New Jerusalem:
aiu as etcH laehlDeF 0l the congregation asked bi.
ssll OF Dersei Lord, what wilt Thou nave me dogf
the calling and selection must be made sure Iirs
anu DEATH blessAR and curs3pp were sci befnrs
them. ana tlcy must choose between them mo
choice couId not De eYaded. Ihe responsibility was
solemn, TIE position m0ment0ue. Not 10 choose
my "hs 70 ehoOse aeah. Neutrality here was fatally
.hlt m " Wouid conhin TO iaer unuttelaDc torment or
iher Ineifabie happiness.