The New York herald., 1870-11-07
NEW ENGLiND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

NEW ENGLiND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
Christ Gives NIL Necessary Proofs Thnt He ~
from God-3iiracIes VS.. spiritnalism--Roy oy al
Blood and Common Blood n lcciicus in the
Trec--Christ's Sermons Never Reported
How TO Pay the National Debi-SeEmon by
Rev. Merrill Richardson.
The rapidly growing popularity OF Rev. Merrill
Richardson finished pulpit orator the tersely
argumentative character OF his discourses,
his epigrammatic hits at the fashionable
vices and lrivoitcs OF the times and the
fearless zeal ana power OF his eloqucnce, are
each successive Sabbath attracting la ge congrega-
tions the newly erected and though small one OF
the neatest tasteful church edi1ces in this
city, which he has lately been chosen
60 ofiiciate as pastor-the New England
Congregational church. corner OF Madison
avenue aud Fory-seyonth street. Highly
arstocratic the congregation, the church aud
It's surroundings. there Is the pleasing democrats
feature Of free seats and unpretending simplicity
the broadest evidence or the highest Christian eu-
ture. At the services yesterday morning there was
unusually large attendance, the church being
densely filed, and, as usual, made up OF a most
fashionable assembIage. After the customary pre-
fatory exercises OF prayer reading the Scriptures
ana singing Rev. Merrill Richardson entered upon
the delivery or
THE SERMON.
The subject was sCnrst Gives all Necessary Proofs
that He is from God" and certainly the sermon was
one OF the most eloquent ana sound logical he has
delivered since assuming the pastorae OF this church.
His text John vii 3l-"And many OF the people
believed on nm, and said, When Christ cometh win
he do more miracles than these which this man hath
done ~ He stated, IN beginning, tnat Christ made his
hearers judges OF the matter The first proof OF his
divine origin was his miracles. These miracles,
however, were not distinct proof o. TRUTH but
called attention TO the truth. His second point
that christ gave all necessary proof 0f his divine
origin from his character One sin would have de-
stroyed him. In respect OF character his came up
to the highest conception OF any age Some
thought that Christ ought TO have done astounding
thlnss-moye mountains and such ike. In cur DAY
there are certain
BELIEVERS IN sPIRrTUALIsM
but ne never knew VINO did not trust to his own
Judgment Ills tnira point was that there was all ne
cessay proof from truth Itself. lie re erred TO Parker
aud ksllan as stlcklers after absolute truth, ana
alter showing tie ialacy OF ints ne insstel
tpat Christ convinced hs disclp.es and others
that Ills mrac.es were wrought OF God Could
spen have Lana sin at his door lie never could
'aaye stool forth the son Of God. Cnrst stood
before the Who knew him and asked, "Wno
accuses me o sinln was there IN New York man
VINO would thinS o. asking TINS question: Ihe peo-
pie III the tine OF christ us wen US to-day, knew
WHAT GOODNESS rs.
The question is, Was Chrisps goodness supe-
r.or goodness La ms view goodness was
was the same as the goodness OF Others
his mercy, justice, putty ana Deneyolence the
same. Goodness has many manifestations, but Inc
thing is the same. Cnrst mingeu with All classes
u men, lie was not proud III spirit, but human.
He was not odd. There was no sourneSs III niS
temper. he put airs. He was simple, easy,
opea frank, Tree with all. lie was sell-posSeSseu,
thzing with abeggar. dow apt were bts replies to
. chose lrJlI. 10 Sihfa.l h,ln. H. was
NEVER CAUGHT N~PPiNG.
He WAS always wide awake. though modest wfthal.
Al this connection he tod most grapiiicdliy the
Story OF tue woman caught IN adultery, hnd
now Christ wlotc the sand--the only wods
he ever wroie-.Steile ner out let nin that is with
out sln cast afst stone,n ana now Iherenpon her
accIsels VINO had quoted the statutes Oh Moses
against ner sunS away oat OF sight lie next pro-
ceeded 10 show that II Christ should come into the
world to day he could no. give more conylnclng
proof 0i bis divine organ. some Wouu lhsst on
AN ARIsroCRATiC CHRIST,
a Christ coming from high family ana IN the
higBest degree respectable-a CHRIST exclusive
such Christ would not Tor him. tiis CbrsS must
be owy, believer III the great brosnernool VI hu-
manity People used 10 believe that the blood
OF kiags and rulers was be.er than maj oi the
common people. when the mead ol Louis NJ tnln.
bIed OH the block OF the e6ecnoner, ana the people
saw tnat his blood was red, like ther own, their
iaith IL better blood came W pm eho' ms dues-
tion OF
was source OF great trouble 10 many, and indlca-
toDs OF good descent are proudly pointed out III the
tapcred hands and small ieeL TINS all non
sense. The mlghtiest monarcls anu mobiles OF to-
day are ol humble origin, and men Occupying tue
highest position IN the world OF letters and the arts
ana statesInansmp came from low beginnings. After
enarging eoqueatiy upon this theme ne mex. showed
the divinity OF Christ as evidenced IN his teachings
No man ever spoke Ike this man. carpenters
son, who had never been 10 school. who nal never
travelled through foreign countries, who knew
nothing OF the teachings OF the Old sdgcs and pnIo-
sophers, humble Nazarene from an obscure VII
iage steps at the age oi tnrty INTO the minis
try. And what ministry was that VI ms lnrce
years and half. lie preached III no supendous
temple whose lofty spires rose 10 dZ<y heigh
whose gorgeOusy stained windows capuvate with
their artistic beauty the common eye; lie preacheu
br the nresde, tue wayslie, tie mountain SIDE ana
me SEASIDE. lie never strove alter sensation. lie
never published BOOK.
NO PAPERS REROaTFD MS SERMONS.
He traced with most gr3pnc power Inc suDinhe
cogency and Effectiveness oi HIS sermons ana the
Tr,ts OF hjs fnnrtry. Rome was In the zenith oi
its power Greece was III the golden noou ol its
brilliant civilization. ~ was not an aye OF DARKNESS
and Vel lie spoke words that infinitely SURPASSED all
fhe wisdom oi ali the sages ana Oh III
whether he was a real man or not. lie lnstanceu
some OF His special teachings. Christ iaueht lha'
the soul is "a pearl beyond ali price. one may oe Y
heprar and an Oulcast, but lie may preserve lne
Dulily OF MS soul, may stand up III tho conscious.
1ipnity OF unsllned manhood. Another teaching ol
MS was repentance for sls. ia tbis conncSioA ho
referred to the
raid into the government treasury. LIE
mart guilty or palIy peculaaons. Inc grcae si, -,
nners the large deaulters, are never meaiu
srnrn and ff tney could be the national acpt Wouu
he sreedIIy paid. sometimes mah Wih c~on'nss ~
more am than million Oi otnef men. ~ 10 ~ "Nu
MKN IN OFFICE.
rhese have the power to do wrong, anu niis , uamJ
40 IS Alter dwelling with cs2enss VI "S~usHs