The New York herald., 1870-03-21
EIRsr PRasBYYEaiay CHURCH.


David's flight frcn. srrassllem--scrraon bs
the rev. Dr. paxron-'Fnc Church and the
Preacher.
AS It's title indicates this Of the oldest Pres
byterian CHURCHES IN New York. and one OF the 1rst
OF the down town ones 70 move n0rJhward. 1t has
now one ofthe most eligible locations In the city, on
Fifth avenue and Eleventh street. It Is large
plain substantial edince. and Is capable OF seating
about 500 persons. The woodwork OF the INTERIOR
seats, galleries, pulpit Is finished IN black .kainut
style, and the walls IN alternate shades dark and
cream cooy. The interior has very pleasing effect.
At the OF the altar stands tablet appropri-
atey inscribed to the late Rev. DR.. Phillips, who
died in 1865 after having for forty years
m.nisered TO tue congregation. On the
west side OF the ehancel are TWO other tablets
erected to the memories Of Lieutenant Gov
many years were ruling elders In the church. On
the east side there Is another more beautiful and
elaborate than the rest inscribed to the memory OF
the late Robert LennOx, who was for lifetime q
ruling elder IN the church, and died IN the
TRIUMPH Or THE CHRISTIAN FAITH
family are st members and constant IN their
attendance This church Is, perhaps, the only one
In the city or any pretens0ns to wealth ana influence
that mas not an organ In IT, But though IL has stood
on Its present site for score OF years. 1t has TO-DAY
but single quartet not only TO guide but 10 DO the
the Old School, and viii not admit any instru.
mental music into tlelr worship. Great com.
plants nave sometimes been MADE that chOlrS In
churches with organ accompan ments are destrnc-
tive TO congregational Staging but stranger visit
ing the FIRST Presbyterian church must be convinced
that the choir without the organ IS far worse DAVID
evidently, was not an Old School Presbyterian for
we read tnat he provided instruments Of ana
organized regular band Of musicians anu yocalists
to serve III the Temple And while 1.-THE singers
went before, the players on instruments followed
after, and among them were damsels playing on
tmDrels." Ihe.ycry last psalm exhorts the people
TO
PRAISE GOD WITH THE SOUND OF THE TRUMPET
with the pSatery and harp with high sounding GYM
balls and With strngcd Instruments and organs
which arc more devotionay inspiring than stiff
trained choir, who cannot he followed by the con.
gregaton.
About four years ago the Rev. DIR. Paxton was
called to tho pastorate OF the First Presbyterian
church, anu his Deopie think there Is none Ike nim
lie IS certainlydp very earnest and, when warmed
about forynve years ofage, and IN the pulpit wears
a black snrpice HIS text yesterday morning was
sam. xy., 70, 26, which, as part OF the narrative
DAvID's FLIGHT From JERUSALEM
during Absaloln's rebellion, shows the power OF
true religion 10 sustain aud elevate the In times
man more concerned for the safety OF Gods church
than for himself IL absorbs mans
thoughts; 1t sees God and recognizes His
hand IN all our trials. But 1t does
reach. Religion " intelligent as well ss enthusias-
tic, and hence while David had the utmost falrh
and confidence IN God he marshaled hts own forces,
sent nus spies abroad and defeated the counsels
OF AhthOphe by Eushar so tnat when the battle
was set Davds forces came of victorious and Absa
loIn was slain, and tue KING was brought back again
In triumph to the ARK OF God and to his own habta-
zion. Religion mad made him submissive TO tho
Will OF God, and there can be no true religion the
heart without the submission 0f our wills to God.
These are the lessons OF the text, and they were
dweit upon IN detail then recapituated and fer.
venty applied to the conditions OF the audience py
the reverend preacher.