New-York tribune., 1869-05-21
PRESBYTERIAN COUNCILS.
TIE OLD SCHOOL GENERAL ASSEMBLY,.

! sEMBLY-ROLL OF MEMBERs-oRG
According to appointment the delegates ap'
pointed by the $50 Presbyterles Of this branch of the
Church met Il o'clock yesterday morning the Rev
pr. Springs Church, OF Fifthave. and Thirty
! seventh-st. The spacious edihce was yel filed The
| members Of the Assembly occupied the body Of the
house. large number of ladies aud gentlemen mani
tested their interest in the occasion by their attendance
filing the side pews and the galleries. While the greater
portion OF the Assembly young men, observed
that there were large number of venerable men, whose
locks were whltened with the fosts of years. and thus
gave promise Of wisdom in council.
MORNING SESSION.
The Rev. Gardiner spriug d. d. the senior pastor Of
the Old Brick Church. long known for bis lifelong con-
necon with this important church. and distinguished
also for the commanding influence he has exered in the
councils of the Church since the occurrence CT the great
Rebellion opened the with earnest and COM
pTehcnsive prayer.
The Rev. Meaucthon JacObus, d. D.. Professor in tho
Western Theological Seminary at Allegheny CITY, Penn
and for many years pastor Of the First Church IN Brook
Iyn L. L. read the 10th Psalm and the 10th chapter OF
Mark The audience united in singing the l32d Psalm.
This exercise distinguished byits hearty performance
from the languid manner in which our congregations
usually sing the praises OF the sanctuary The ministers
and elders Of the Presbyterian Churches are generally
practical singers and usually unite in this exercise na
devotional manner
The Rev. George W. Musgrave d. D., Corresponding
Secretary OF the Board Of Missions the Mode
the last General Assembly, according to CUSTOM
preached the opening sermon. The preacher has long
occupied prominent position in tho Councils OF the
Church. and distinguished for his eoquenee ana
fafuness in his ministerial vocation He Is one OF the
Oldest ministers in the Church. yet his eye does not seem
TO be dm nor natural force abated His voice Is frm
and powerful and his delivery effective The discourse
based upon the great commission Of our Lord given
in Mark XVII IA; He that beleveth, and is baptized
shall be saved; but he that belieyeth not shall ba
u, oudn
the nature Of saving faith and the connection between
faith and salvation. He said:
SERMON BY TIE REV. DIR. MUsGRAyE
These words contained I'm the commission which
gave his apostles after his resurrection o
the dead and just before his ascension toheaven Tho
divinity of their author the extraordinary circumstances
under which they were uttered and the vast importance
the matter itself should command fought they notD our
most profound attention. "And He said unto them, Go
ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every
creature He that beleyeth and is baptized shall DO
saved but he that belieyeth not shalbe damned Ana
10 am with you Away unto the end Of the world
appropriate text than the very words Of our
divine cOmmissioni Remember that there Is but one
gospel be preached to every creature in all the world
that there is but way Of salvation for clergy and
aity He that beeveth shall be saved but lie that be-
| eyeth not shall be damned"
There are several things which must proccde aud ac'
! company the exercise Of saving faith.
| l. There must be a conviction Of guilt
Without such CONVICTION, no one VIII etehIO OLc VIII
desire salvation Suppose the Governor OF this State
were TO offer you pardoni What would youfay TO
hint You would say, Sir have committed no ohense
against the state-I 60 not needEour executive eemen
| cy." Suppose physician would oner Que OF yot IN
health q prescription What would tyou say TO him
You would say, Doctor there must be some misappre-
hension am not sick. do not therefore neel your
| physc. How clearly did our Lord Illus
| trate this truth, The whole need not
physelan but they that sick. 1 came not to
| call the righteous, but sinners to repentance"
! Would David have prayed, " Have mercy upon me- .
God according 70 thy loving kindnessaccording unto
the multitude OF thy tender mercles blot out my trans
gresons" IL nc had not been convicted Of sni Would
the publican have upon his breast crying, God
merciful TO me- sinner he had not felt the burden
! Of his guilt No-uevcr.
There must be also conviction Of helpessness So
long as men think they themselves they viii not
apply to Jesus Christ for salvation. Like the Jews a. old
they will go about yanly striving to establish night
eousness Of their own and Will not submit themselves
unto the righteousness OF God, which by faith in Jesus
! Christ Would David have prayed A." Create in me a
clean heart, God and renew right spirit within I''
IL he had not convinced that God alone could effect
this change within hmi Would Peter have cried, when
sinking beneath the waves, Lord me- or perish"
IL he had not felt his inability TO save himself No
/ never.
g. There must be likewise some knowledge Of Christ,
and persuasion Of his ability and disposition to save
them. "How shall they believe on HIM OF whom they
have not heard and now can they trust IN Him Tor sal
yatlon unless persuaded both Of His ability and willing
mass 70 save them1 Convicted sinners must therefore,
be convinced that Jesus the Son of God God mani
tested in the flesh that his vicarious death is an all
sufficient atOnement orEnand that lie is able ana VIII
ling to save the utermOst all who come unto Goa Dy
Him. When thus convinced Of the Divine person ana
mediatoral offices OF Jesus-when thus persuaded that
they can however guilty obtain redemption through the
blood Of Christ then and not until hen can they DC
able willing by the grace Of God to trust IN Him Tor
pardon and salvation. o, when Jesus thus graeousy
and eicaolousy manifests Himself 10 pentent and be-
eying souls great their admiration and gratitude
and oyl Like Mary at the sepuche, they eXclam Win
| astonishment, "Rabboni "-MasterE" Or like Thomas,
when relieved from all doubt by the actual presence OF
the Savior they eNcaim with wonder, gratitude
| and 10y, My Lord, and my GOdw
When there is a proper conviction Of guilt and help
essness and knowledge OF Chrsts ability and dlsposl
ton to save there will be necessarily an earnest and per-
seyerng desire for salvation How It possible for Inen
thus 10 realize their snfuness and danger without an
earnest desire obtain forgiveness When blind Bart'
| meus understood that Jesus passing by the place
where sitting begging alms he began to cry out
and say Jesus thou OF David, have mercy on me.
And many charged him that he should hold his but
he cried the great deal, Thou sou Of David, have
mercy on me-" He felt the deprivation Of sight to be
sore alction; he knew that human skill could relieve
| him; he believed that Jesus alone had power to
restore his vision, and felt that this might prove
| his only opportunity TO obtain his sight. No
| wonder that he cried earnestly and so per
] sistently, "Jesus, thou Of David, have mercy
on me thou Of David, have mercy on me y Ana 80
will all truly convicted sinners cry with earnesthess ior
pardon, will they desist until they opialh tho V
ing. When the woman Of Canaan cried unto nun
| ing, "Have mercy me, Lord thou son Va ~
my daughter is grievously Vexed WIZ" 49, onoI,od
first refused to answer word and not Ohy ~ Iope,
! Int when he spoke, becMS" "N'"J