The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-18
SERVICES AT SARATOGA.

Sermon by DR.. John woodbridge, Pastor of
the Presbyterian Church-The Mcrcies of
CsOd-The Sclf-DeRinl and Reasonable Sac.
rihces Required Of DIen-The Spiritual
Leavcn Needed by the World-The Vanity
Of Formal Piety.
SARATOGA, N. Y, July, IL 1870.
The churchgOers In this village were very numer-
GUS this morning. Besides the regular communi.
cants and attendants the summer visitors in their
luxury Of apparel sought the house of the LORD and
many OF them made the invocation for protection
ana blessing in the most fashionable manner.
Naturally the strangers sought the church of one Of
the prominent resident clergymen, and, conse-
quently, the pastor Of the Presbyterian sanctuary
was greeted with many new faces. This reverend
gentleman has been feeding his flock in Saratoya
with spiritual food for nearly twenty years, and that
with such earnestness that the Church has
highly prospered. Dr. Woodbridge always interests,
because he always instrucs. Sympathizing with
the world of man, and striving only to purify and
ennoble men by precept and example and without
arrogance, he entities himself to their Confidence
and respect His church, capable OF seating about
Give hundred persons, is beautifully situated on
the east side OF Broadway, between Lake avenue and
Grove street. DR.. woodbridge selected his text as
as foll0ws:--
you therefore, brethren, mercies of God
that present your bodies living sacrifice holy acceptable
The reverend gentleman then, in substance, sald:-
The voice Of the apostles is the voice Of God. This
epistle sent to the Roman Christians Is Gods mes.
sage for the world Its truths unlimited in their
comprehenslveness, and its precepts bind every con-
&c icnce. The text appeals with peculiar emphasis
to every Christian. It is time to hear when tile
apostle
BEGINS TO BEsEECH.
The mercies OF Goo connect us all with the eXhort
alton OF the text. The benefits Of the Gospel are
afiuenCp
guage In the previous chapters OF the epistle. The
love OF God to shining. perislilng world, Christ
free to all who will have 1t, are merc.es
which sanction the entreaty that men would
mercy land the grace has appeared to all mem are
summoned to present the Offering OF themselves to
vav y Is .c 1nereu . n @
denial which are in some respects like the sacrifices
on the affairs OF the old religion These have. indeed,
an expiatng design which was perfected IN Christ,
SO that since His death there rcmainetIl no more
sacrifice for sin IN that sense. But under the Old
Testament the offerings were seen in the fires that
death OF these victims the abiding elements OF true
religion under oil dispensati0ns were brought to
view. The
SPIRIT OF sELF-DENIAL
which carries the cross and consents to hang upon 1t
Is the spirit OF Gospel obedience. These are the In
variable terms of discipleshp aud not the conditions
OF some higher fellowship tor favored few, retired
IRON the world. The only gate Is straight and the
ought to be interested TO know what is the sacrifice
thus required, and which Is described IN the text.
Error here Is fatal The body must be offered. The
religion OF Christ is not dream, or vision OF the
imagination, but Is suited for this visible world.
Holy meditation can not make q true Christian
character We are not to 60 out OF the world, but in
1t must devote ourselves to God. We must not bring
down heavenly things to the low level Of the earth,
but lift the earthly to those things which are above.
This busy world, with its material interests, needs
the spiritual leaven. Our hands must labor for
Christ. Our feet carry us on his errands OF love.
Such conservation Is In Its nature holy.
CLEAN HANDS MUST BEAR
the vessels Of the Lord. The lamb must be without
blemish 'Create in me clean heart, q God ~ A
ragged child In mission house was asked, what Is
holiness and replied, 'It is to be clean inside"
With such sacrifices God is well pleased. In the
divine mind the Joy is eternal and mmutable, but
In all that plness the sacrifices made on earth have