The New York herald., 1870-08-22
PLYMOUTH giPT;ST CnUaCa.
Heaiing the Ten Lcprous NIen--Sermon by
the Rev. Isanc Westcoit, DID.

Healing the Ten Lcprous Men--SermOn by
the Rev. Isanc Westroit, DID.
The attendance al this place of worship was very
fair considering that the church started into exist
ence only a year and halt ago, with membership
OF twenty persons. pleasing feature in the con-
gregatlon was the presence OF large number OF
bright eyed children. After hymn had been beau
tifuliy rendered by the choir DIR. wcstcott the
pastor, read portion OF the Seventeenth chapter OF
Luke, and selected for his text the passage which
recounts the miracle OF the healing OF the ten lepers
by Christ contained from the eleventh to the nine-
teenth verses inclusive The lesson wh;ca this pOr-
on OF Scripture intended TO teach is the neces-
sity OF faith ana obedience In the work OF salvation.
Christ was on his way from Capernaum to
Jerusalem when the ten lepers met him.
Leprosy Is disease peculiar to certain
localities and has never been known in the United
States 1t was regarded by the Jews with great alb.
horrence, and stringent rules were laid down for
the conduct OF those who fell under It's bghting In
nuence. The disease being infectious, lepers were
Obliged to remove themselves 10 distance, and
therefore 1t happened that these ten "stood afar
of.r BY the law of Moses the priest had the power
OF prOnounclng whether the leper was healed or
not But before coming to the priest the eper must
first believe that he was cleansed OF his disease,
and then await the judgment, from which there was
no appeal The speaker here referred to case in
which the disease was spread all over, and COM
bated DR.. Mannings views on that subject.
These ten lepers lifted up their voices and asked
for mercy when they saw Jesus pass 10y. They
believed in his power and mercy, and therefore It
was faith which saved them. The history OF these
leperS teaches the great necessity for
ACTIVITY IN RELIGIOUS LIFE.
Faith and works must ever go hand-in-hand. The
eectIng grace OF GOO when IL comes into the heart
is like electricity, or rather galvanism, imparting
new life and energy, where all was dead and mac
tive before But man must work IN order to ut him
Gal f.rf tg MI thary hn
be saved The lepers although standing afar or,
lifted up their voices" and therefore they found
mercy from Him whose ear Is ever open. The grace
of God is free and full, but the heart must be fitted
for It's reception, otherwise it will never come. the
one and only way to salvation Is by
REPENTANCE AND BELIEF.
There certain duties, the performance OF which
VIII Ill man for the reception OF the Spirit And,
OBSERVANCE OF THE SABBATH.
This not only. the interests OF the individual
demand. This day God has reserved FOR HIM
sell. All dulness must be oansned on this
day Neither heat nor cold should keen a healthy
man from public worship on the Sabbath. Here the
speaker called the attenuon OF his congregation TO
the fact IN connection with this church, tnat men
The second duty impressed upon the sinner was
the necessity Tor systematic
BIBLE READING.
1t must be read Gally and with irm belief that it
Ia GODS word and that 1t speaks directly to the
reader on his most important interests. The tniId
duty recommended was earnest, secret prayer. No
matter how short, devoid OF ornament If 1t be in
the spirit Of that uttered by the publican Lord be
merciful TO me, snner,' 1t Will reach the ear OF
the Almighty and bring an answer down. The
necessity OF visiting religious people ana seeking an
interest in their prayers was also strongly impressed
upon the sinner. when saving grace has been
impaired the soul other duties will deyolve upon
the Christian and directly those of baptism and com
munion unconverted men can DO much Tor their
conversion. Men mistake the way ol salvation and
forget the Masters request .'Ask and you shall
ceive," and afterward, by waiting, lose all.
The speaker closed an eloquent and Impressive ser
mon by appealing to the sinner To secure his saliva
tlOn above all other considerations Delay danger
Gus, and I'm the stormy sea OF life he may ut
ment suffer shipwreck. On the other hand the
Christian has nothing to fear for he has the promise
.Seek We rst the Kingdom OF God and His righteous
ness and all other things shall be added you.n