The New York herald., 1870-10-24

The Great Love of God Toward Mankind
'sWalkiD9 According to the Course of this
WOrld'-SOciety Plunged In Iniauiiy y--.es-
mon by the Rev. Charles b. Smyth.
An interesting sermon was preached yesterday by
the Rev. @. b. Smyth, at the American Free Church.
Masonic Hail. Thirteenth street. After some pre-
limlnary observations relative to the marked in
crease in the congregation, and the benencent re-
suits attending his late disc0urses, Mr.. SmVh Sc
lected his text from Ephesians IL, 1-7--"And you
hath he quickened who were dead to trespasses and
sins, wherein in times past ye walked according 20
the course Of this world &C." In this passage
the natural condition OF all men, the chanRewhich
wrought In such Of them a. are saved, and the mo-
tves by which the Almighty Is actuated IN proouc.
ing the change.
II Is remarkable that while mankind are de-
scribed as dead" there certain things attributed
to them which indicate that they are also alive In
some sense; for
THOUGH "DEADn THEY "wALK."
The meaning is Illustrated by the facts In regard to
all who die literally The spirit takes It's fight and
leaves the body motonless; the eye which had
sparkled with intelligence Is now set In CLASSY
Stiffness; the ear which had been trained
to music is now deaf to the sweetest strains OF the
most enchanting melody; the form OF the man is
there, but 1t Is unconscious to all SURROUNDINGS
the very house In which 1t is may be In names but
SPIRIT rs NOT INACTIVE.
1t has taken Its fight from earth bat wherever II ia
tc Is busy. if In heaven IL Is occupied With the
concerns OF heaven; ii in nell, with those OF nell.
Thus though dead TO tnls world the mNI Is
alive TO another world and Its rea,iJies.
SO mankind III tneir natural state are
dead in manner lhe reverse Of this;
the most interesting representations OF celestial
things may DC placed before them, they see them
not; the most delightful instruction IS 20 the true
sources of happiness may be addressed To them,
they are deai; they are IN regard to Oil spiritual ua
ters Ike the
DEAD MAX TO THIS WORLD,
while as to those winch worldly and sinful they
are all life nnd energy 10 them-waiSing IN item
s'according 30 the course OF tis worldn "accordug
10 the prince OF the power 0i rhe air.. 1.-THE sp.llt
that now worketh IN tue children OF disobedience.
l In this description the apostle makes no
{ exception; for he adds, ''among whom We
al had conversatlono DC. Jews aud
Gentles apostles, prophets priests, ministers and
people are all alike by nature. VINO Unat uses his
power or observation needs any proof OF this fact
tions your social companions, the persons with
whom you do business lake the entire state Of
society, what 40 you behold pui
A SAD DEMONSTRATION
OF the truth or the textf And the dlurna record
OF passing events cOnviDcos u5 every morning and
evening that society s now
STEPPED IN fNIQUITY,
so history records sufficient 10 indicate that man
kind never were better in any age OF the wOrd and
yore IN existence now for daily recording Gle
news we should find that from time immemoral the
condition Of mankind has always been the same.
The reverend gentleman continued al considerable
length to expound the entire scriptura passage "
very attentive and appreciatiye audience.