The New York herald., 1870-08-15
CEuRcu OF TaE STRANGERS.

The First Christian Mtssionary-Scrmon by
Rev. Or. Deems.
The rain OF yesterday morning did little to thin the
congregation in the Church OF the Strangers. Alter
the usual services the Rev. DR.. Deems preached
from the woris found in Acts vlil., 5-"Phiip
went down to the city OF Samarla and preached
Christ unto them.n 1t seems wonderful, he said,
that through all the ages men fail to learn the use
lessness OF persecution for the purposes OF the per-
secutor. Fire Will burn dry wood to ashes, water
WIN quench fire, material things can be modified by
MATERIAL but the soul cannot be stretched by the
rack nor murilated by crucihxion.
Here Is also lesson for the godly. Gods ways
are not ours. We plan; He capsizes our plans.
We are frightened or sulky. 1t is all wrong. God
charges himself with care over the immortality OF
Truth. You cannot crush 1t out You may drive 1t
about;
TITS NEVER ADRIFT.
God guides II. A persecution Of great ferceness
pegsn tae missionary iabors OF the Church. Better
Tney scattered the friends Of Jesus all about, but
did not pluck Jesus out Of their hearts, AS they
went they preached. This deacon went TO the "cty
OF samara." There Is much In names.
Here are two things. ''city,n "Samaria."
What u great thing city Ii. Some one has said
"God made the country and man made the city,"
10 dsparage cities. But who made man that made
the city, which is so great an Improvement ON the
countrys 1t was God Cities are lust as much a
product u operation OF the laws OF nature as plan
cts are. The Doctor dwet on cities as condensed
humanity" such q "1eld for the play OF the pas
sions," 'such centres OF influence" .'The coun-
.ry,n said he may be the cradle of great thoughts
but the City Is the birthplace Of great deeds.n
Pnlllp went to a city, II was ''SamarIa.n the seat
of those VINO were the political and religious
mics OF the Jews. But he went with such theme
discourse and such faith in 1t that he carried
1t right among those who were Inveterate in their
enmity against the very civilization he was used to-
HIS theme was Jesus Jesus the Jew, the Jesus who
had been crucined the Jesus Tor testimony OF whom
Stephen had just been stoned. 1t showed how
Philip believed IN Christ IL was no mere proposi-
ton to which his intellect was 10 give It's assent
1t was peril to declare for Jesus. 1t was ques-
tion Of lie and death. III any doubts had crossed
his mind as to the divine power OF Jesus he never
could have tn US boldly proclaimed him In tue midst
oI enemies. The1, again, 1t showed
HOW FULL PHILIP WAS OF JESUS.
He could not foroear 1t sprung up IL MIN as wen
thing is lor disciple or Jesus when he does not
have 10 urge himself up to speaking good word
Tor his Lora but when his love Is SO overmastering
tnat 1t Is out before he knows 1t, betraylng ITSELF
And, moreover IL showed that Philip believed that
there was nothing like Christ to break down the
errors or Iaen and save them He did NOT go preach.
ing Noses, and Levitcism, and lone altar" ana Je
rusalem and rltuails, ana politics, aud educatlon
on oil Jesus the Anointed of God the Gver OF the
Holy Ghost, the Saviour Of Men, that would correct
every important error Of latn or pracnce.
Wat topics Philips theme opened How end
lessly beautiful and good Is the preaching OF
Christ. Christ-the man, tender. sohcitous, loving
waves Of tie lakes 10 have celestial CLINT,
the nsides and the valleys to bloom with
new fowers. making humanity lotier thing for
ever; the Teacher speaking as never man spoke,
revealing humanity TO itself and the spiritual word
TO humanity, laying the foundation or morality IN
the heart OF GOD and
SIMPLIFYING THE ETHICS OF ETERNITY
to the comprehension Of children; the Sufferer en-.
during all and all for others broken down by crush.
ing weights OF suffering, yet lifting every sunerer,
loving MS murderers, loving Samaritans, suffering
for ALL making all OF one blood, and that his own
blood, destroying the superstition that suffering
implies SIM the Risen, demonstrating power
greater than the power OF the grave letting through
the nit sepnchre the purple light OF immortality,
setting lie and death In that light till both were
splendid TWINS. sister Life and brother Death; the
Gver OF the Holy Ghost, that had at PentecosL
bringing holiness OF heaven the struggles OF
earth, and furnishing men with the preparatory
sancti1cation. what theme What topics The
Doctor dwelt on these with apparent fondness, and
closed by urging all his people TO initiate Philip who
was oniy a deacon, and In this city everywhere
preach CHRIST.