The New York herald., 1870-12-12
TRINITY CHURCH.


Sermon by DIR. vinton-"rake Heed There.
for How Yo Hoar.0
Old Trinity church pealed forth its advent chimes
yesterday morning. as 1t has done for many years
past announcing that the glorious festival OF Christ
mas approaching with oil Its holy religious asso
ciatlons Often as the sc advent chimes have called
the congregation Of Trinity parish to prayer, not
often have they been heard on SO beautiful Deccm
ber morning, nor often have they been bsrne on the
breeze throughout the city when peace, contentment
and plenty ypountiiully blessed the American pee
pie. It is indeed an advent time and, as 1t heralds
the anniversary OF the birth Of the Saviour OF the
world may It with all reverence be wished that 1t
also heralds continuous season OF peace and
plenty to our people.
After the morning services appointed fer the day
Rev. Dr. Vinton ascended the pulpit and selected as
the text Of his sermon st. Luke viii, 1s--
TAKE HEED, THEREFORE,, HOW YE HEAR
The reverend preacher said that the Church, In
preparing the congregation for the advent OF our
Lord submits to their consideration the passage
the Holy Scriptures which he had read as his text;
and the minister OF the Gospel puts 1t forward In
the hope OF preparing the minds OF his hearers for
the great event OF the Church-the advent of our
Lord aud Saviour Jesus Christ. His purpose was to
impress in the words OF the text, upon his hearers
the soemnlty OF the admonitlon, ''Tako heed how
ye hear" II is the Lord who speaks these words.
IL Is the Lord who admonishes. 1t would be. In
deed, difficult to conceive reason for taking
heed how we hear more Impressive than
that presented in another portion OF the Scrip
lures. Hear with reverence. God, in
times past and for His own wise purpose,
has spoken in thunder, and the earth has trembled
il the presence or the Lord OF Hosts. Who has not
trembled with awe IN the presence Of the mighty
thunder and the scathlEg lightningr Whe has not.
In the great elemental strife OF nature felt his heart
throb quicker aud his pulse almost cease beating
: : VINO I HAS NOT rElr THE HEART HEART WHISPER fTs w '''''
en- God" When God delivered his command
ments TO Moses Mount Sinai shook with
dread and the earth trembed with fear, and
the people heard his voice with awe. But
no. for ere the thunder OF that dread vsicc had ied
away they prepared Tor themselves molten calf,
which they SET up up and worsaippsd PEI 1t was nos Gods
iesty. When he comes judge the world at the last
day, then, indeed hc Will come In power and glory,
saints that wait upon the throne. God prefers to
speak 10 His people in the small, still voice taat
sical manifestation that God always holds communi-
cation With his creatures. 1t is not amid
or the Illumination oi II the lightning nor py the
startling phcnomena oil nature that God chooses 10
SIGNIFY Ills presence Let man not LOOK for these man
fesatons Uf the presence OF lus Maker, but let MIN
take heed how he hears the still, small voice which
God through the consciences OF men always Appeals
his ther ana irIend ano, like tho prophet OF old,
exclaim, s'Speak, Lord, for thy servant hearetn"
When men refuse TO hear thls small still voice they
deiy Christ and provoke Jehovah to withdraw HIM.
self from tnem till de shall againat Ills nnal
coming In the
STERN ASPECT OF A JUDGE,
to innict the punishment due TO those who would
not hear Him, but who treated His teachings and
warnings with scorn and dersion. Let no man say
that he would have taken more heed had he heard
the words OF warning from the lips OF Christ him.
SELF or had he heard those words from Chrlsts Inn
mediate apostles. The sad truth Is that even His
disciples and followers sometimes doubted that He
was indeed the Messiah, long promised Of God. to
redeem the world from sin, The time 10 at hand
to face with God. Let US fight the good fight Of
faith for henceforth is laid up crown OF righteous
ness for all those who walk before the Lord and who
take heed how they hear the words spoken to them
through the mouth Of Gods messengers-the minis
ters or the GQSpel. -. L.. IL ...........