The New York herald., 1870-02-28
CHURCH or ST. viSCENT o. PAUL.

| Heaven aud Hell Reality That Cannot b.
Denicd-Sermon by Rev. Father In Font.
The Catholic church or ST. Vincent lie Paul, IN
Twentythird street, between Fifth and Sixth ave.
nues, was, as usual crowded In every part yester-
day morning, during the high mass which took
place at half past ten O'Clock. This church IL fre
quented by the French portion Of Catholic popu-
lation, and, as consequence the pastors who pre-
side over the spiritual welfare OF the flock are
Frenchmen, aud the sermons delivered In the
native language OF the congregation. II is certainly
one OF the finest Catholic churches IN this city In
every respect. and that 1t has become one Of the
most attractive and well 10 do places OF worship OF
the Roman faith for MI classes and naiiona-
Ties within the past few years Is due 10 the
energy and indefatigable zeal OF Its venera-
BILE pastor, Rev. Father ia Font. It is q
spacious edi6ce, with plain walls and undecorated
ceiling, and has no galleries. which fact lends I'M.
mensely 10 its appearance of simple grandeur
During the past year great addition was made to
the pastorae force In the person OF the Rev. Father
R0nay. This gentleman breaches ali grand occa-
sions and every few Sundays ana his sermons have
the effect or drawing to the church an immense con-
gregation, lately composed OF persons other than
Catholic persuasion. He is undoubtedly one or the
most eloquent speakers In New York. ana It is quite
safe for the wrter-who has beard nim--to say mat
be IS as superior preacher 10 Father Hyacntae
Beecher 10 the merest Gospel stutterer OF the
western Dackwoods. He Is evidently deep
thinker, and his sermons are characterized by their
depth and earnestness. and are always clothed IN
the most beautiful language. His voice is fun
suited to the words he speaks. lie 4 q man OF fine
presence, which, az u matter OF course lends addi-
quence.
Yesterday, after the Gospel the sermon was de-
lie took for his text that portion OF the eighteenth
chapter OF ST Luke IN which the bad man ''who
saying '.Thou SON Of David have mercy on men
and TO whom Jesus replied. after the man had
faith hath saved tnee" % The reverend genteman'
alter reicrring TO the great goodness Of God, who
had In His love for men sent down His only Son to
be Inundated for their salvation, who had created
man purposely TINT he should one day enjoy the
eternal beauutudc OF heaven and be with Him for
ever, referred 10 the modern ideas OF religion and
oil things pertaining to religion which were being
zealously spread broadcast over the land by men
could not from The nature Of their ZEAL tend towards
making man happier 10 this ilfe or In the next"
such an extent that there ' were 1 those ea who
endeayored to propagate the error that there no
punishment IN after life for sins committed in this
In TACT materialisa OF the extreme grade mad gone
30 far az TO argue not only that there was no hell
but that there was neither heaven nor a he-in
90 to such lengths as this, contented themselves
with the cons0llng belief thai what life
In the long run. People who argued for this belief
founded ~ on the idea that God was too infinitely
koou 70 oeal OUT punishment tnat would be eternal
10 those VINO committed SIN. Such arguments, the |
speaker said, were iaacous aud should be irowned
down by every good Christian. stu was !
an offence against the dignity OF God. |
HIS mercy, IL was true, was infinite,
but his justice was also infinite. He pardoned the |
QIng thief on the cross but did not ai TO cast the
yeh man into everlasting Ore for his crimes. IL was
an outrage to the Godhead to argue that because |
numan Justice dealt lenlently with men sometimes
for neinous crimes God should act equally lenent in
not Furnishing sin. Men who dared TO compare hu.
man justice with that OF God blaspheniers; for
SIN was an insult 10 GOD himself, aud one which /
nau 10 be punished by an eternity or Woe There |
was perfect accord between the justice and the
mercy Of God, and the certain and as
minute as the other, nor could they DO mea- |
sured by the human mind. II was true that !
man was created with free Will. He could be
damned or saved as he felt incined but for all that
ne was not independent Of Tod. He had no right,
Tor Instance to take ms own life nor TO consider
mat he could do ~ he saw Ht ana yet be saved, |
simply because nc thought no was dong right when
little investigation would show that ne was on the
wrong path, Men who argued against eternity |