The New York herald., 1870-05-16
CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

sWanderers from the Fold''-Serm0n by the
Rev. q. q. Foete.
In West Twenty-eghth street. four doors irom
Broadway Is an nnpretentious looking edince which
IL used by sect Of Christians who style themselves
the Church OF Christ and whose creed Is fhe each-
ings OF Holy Writ. Entering the visitor nnds MN
sell In spacious hall OF unusual height, cool even
III the dog days, and lighted by stained glass WIN
dows In the roof. Ample accommodation exists Tor
the congregation the seats are well cushioned ana
the acoustic qualities OF the han are excellent.
The services yesterday morning were, as usual,
simple in the extreme and from that reason all the
more Impressive. At their conclusion the pastor,
the Rev. c. G. Foote, took his text from Isaiah ill.,
6-"Al we like sheep have gone astray; wn have
turned every one to his own way and the Lord hath
laid on him the iniquity Of US all.n The reverend
gentleman adverted first to the whole OF the chap
ter from which the text Is taken, being a prophecy
Of Christs sufierings. The verse quoted gives the
reason why our Saviour had 10 bear our sins on the
cross.
WE HAD WANDERED FROM GOD.
The charge against Us IN the text was not that men
were not good to each other and moral, but that
children should parent. This forgetfulness was
the foundation OF our falling into other sins
milestones so that they could perceive
how far they had wandered away. We do not take
parted friend. We 40 TO the graves Of our dear
In the cemetery, weep over them, think OF them.
our dead Christ We do not Study how to please
Him we do earthly friend. One OF the beauties
OF social e is that people tryIto please each other
and make their friends happy. God. our greatest
friend, is too often, nearly always. forgotten. DO we
go 10 God In prayer as we ought or do we forget
Him Is not prayeriuness but little needed
highest OF all powers too often forgotten :
Children go to their earthly parents TO ask
advice, help, encouragement, iavors; but
look to our Heavenly Father We always value and
read letters from absent friends. Have we. not an
absent friend In the Lord, and have we not the best
rs We con the epste OF those who have gone before
or who awayY 1t Is not our aim 10 Try To honor
| God by Keeping his commandments. This shows US
that we have drifted further to than we would
| nave supposed. We obey our parents commands,
the laws OF our country and municipal ordinances;
| but Gods commandments are for many OF u
we chose our own ways. The great question Is
when the last sad hour comes, Will we be satisfied
| with what we ourselves have achieved nnassisted
III we cannot answer lt satisfactorily let accept
offered grace In conclusion the pastor said that IL
| was 10 bring back HIS sheep 10 HIS fold that oar
| Saviour suffered the pangs of Calvary. We nave
| many evidences OF the love lie bore and he
| means Which God ordaincd for our salvation. The
willing heart, when properly Instructed, accepts
TINS oher as the drowning man accepts AID WIN
| Christ our portion we shall be enabled 10 make
| Heaven our home AT last Tie glorious Old by NIL
Rock OF ages. cleft for me,
Let me hide myself In thee.
Let the water and the b.ood,
From thy risen side which flowed,
was then sung, when the weekly communion vas
administered to the whole congregation This rite
Is considered most sOlemn one by Cne sect in ques
ton, and in Its celebration it Is specially charged
that neither the blood Of the martyrs Stephen Paul
nor Peter can save US. The only vicarouS or sacrl
cial death was Chrst'shis virtue rests In his dlyi-
nifty.
A visit to this church viii repay the curious, the
devoat and lhe sceptic. It's congregation numbers
over 400, and is composed or some OF our most re-
| spectacle and influential citizens.