The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-10
NEW ENGLAND CoxGREGATIosAL cHuRcH

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The Rcnovatins Power Or Christianity-sc
.aHl mon by Rev. Merrill Riciardsos. IS
The diminutve but neat and elegant chapel OF the
Rutgers Female College, sufficiently ample for the
purposes OF the college, but insufficient 70 accommo
date the crowd Of people anxious hear one Of the
most celebrated pulpit orators of the day, was yes
terday morning deDsely thronged BY o fashionable
and deeply attentive congregation. After the usual
predatory exercises OF prayer, reading the Scrip
lures and singing. Rev. Merrm Richardson, the
newly elected pastor, preached
tt THE SERMON. $3.50.
The text was Matthew Kill, 33:--"Ths Kingdom
Of heaven Is like to leaven which woman hid In
three measures ofmea till the whole was leavenedn
The text referred to the spread OF CHRISTIANITY. The
truth and righteousness OF Christ were to change the
things Of this world. The question was could this
gospel Ieaven the world-a theme suggested BY the
late meeting OF the Board or Foreign Missions In this
city. Many prophecies Of the old sages not In
spired. foretod general spiritual renovation Of the
world. The general drift Of the inspired prophets
was that God would set up q kingdom
that would be universal. There was given to
him the dominion and power and glory and
Kingdom, says zachariah; . kingdom Of peace, Of
10y Of righteousness. This was to be ACCORDING to
the teachings of Christ. There outward forms
in this kingdom The nations Of the world would
outhve forms. Wars were to cease and all its I'M
plements to be changed to implements or industry
God did not design TO wipe out nationalIties He
was to unite these nations into universal kingdom
OF peace and love- Look at
TIE EUROPEAN WAR
going on to-day with terrible ncrceness between two
powerful nations Of Europe. Think OF the money tai
ent and skill expended In carrying on this great war;
If all these were expended toward renovattng the
world what would the effect beY And II all nations
should do So surely the world would he renovated.
A first step toward this work Of renovation was
UNIVERSAL KNOWLEDGE.
The great masses are to be enlightened and with
this would be more general equality. more social
ity, more good will, more justice and equity among
Carlyle says, moral power. The Gospel is the
great agent TO eaven the world. In all Christian
lands there are multitudes willing to eXpend their
time and means in abetting this great work. The
- THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
All moral reforms to be e1ectual and permanent
must begin with the Individual Christ began with the
hearts OF his own disciples. There were no carnal
weapons, none Of the modern machinery OF reforms.
The turning point between sin and holiness is benevo-
lent. The good man gives money, and II he has not
money smiles and sympathies and tears and deeds.
selfish. He referred 10 the parable OF the Samaritan
as illustrating these divine principles OF action. Be-
nevolence Is
THE GREAT CONTROLLING PRINCIPLE
q the Gospel. God has SO made our moral nature
hearty benevoence. 10 this principle has been de-
voted millions Of money and the best talents Of the
noblest men and women. Keeping in view the
means necessary 10 accomplish TINS great
work OF renovation. The child progresses
to love and sympathy and noble deeds and
high endeavorS it was so with the tribes and ma
tons OF men He referred to the renovation Of the
Sandwich Islands, and urged that the same means
could ren0vate all the heather nations. There are
now there large churches and Sabbath schools and
the people live in homes and comfort and are en-
gagged IN agriculture and commerce. This was one
instance where the Gospel OF Christ had worked out
not the same everywhere. In India our
missionaries worked fifty and sixty years
and had only two converts. The great obstacle
there was caste, as il was worth mans life there
TO change his religion He carried out this ilusra
ton still further by referring to the Esquimaux and
MORAY ans. The TACT IL all
NATIONS HAVE BARBARIC ORIGIN.
Where was england in the third century, Where
was France In the firth century, II we go back to
ancient Rome and Greece it is the same. All were
raised from The lowest depths OF barbarism to the
highest acme OF civilization. 1t is true, no great
leaven is working Cod in the iulness OF his provi
dence Is bringing In other agencies. There is not
ingston says this of the tribes in the interior Of
Africa. II Is Gods will that centuries required
TO develop nations; thousand years are with Him
IA day; already
CHRISTIAN NATIONS RULE THE WORLD
The Chinese are fast coming under the influence
Of our system; they revere ancestry. The only
thing Is TO divert this reverence to reverence OF
God. Christianity f. aggressive. The time is COM
ing when Christianity will be universal 1t is hard
Forty years ago the Russians would not view now
ing machines and reapers. In England the great in
vention OF Arkwrght was secuted at when first
made known. There are days when education and
liberty prevail. Prophecy declares the time will
come when kings shali be nursing fathers and queens
nursing mothers to the Church In sixty years an
American Board OF Foreign Missions had accom-
pllshed an Unreasonable work. The leaven was at
work. 1t was simply matter OF arithmetic. The
PRESS, TELEGRAPH AND STEAM
were doing their reformatory work. God had CON-
menced his work. That Being who created this
world, these bodies, the air we breathe never be-
gins work He does not accomplish Already one
fourth OF the Inhabitants OF the globe knew OF God
and the true Gospel. This Gospel would become
known to the other three ourths and accepted by
them. Men object that this Is slow progress
OF converting the world God takes His own time
biologists teach that the world that was called
chaos IN Genesis went through before that ages or
changes. He would not undertake to fathom the
ways OF Cod Let us believe 1t that while In Gods
providence there Is no haste, that the time s surely
coming when all the world will be subjected to Him
and become His children. In conclusion he pointed
out the duties devolving on each and oil OF them