The New York herald., 1870-03-07
MURRAY NIL BAPTIST CHAPEL.
The Treasures Of Dnrkness-SermOn by Rev.
sidney A. Corey.

The Treasures Of Darkness-SermOn by Rev.
Sidney A. Corey.
There Is no more dimlnutive chapel in this city
II will not seat over two hundred persons-but none
Of more delicately elaborate and exqulstey chaste
design and finish than the Murray Hill Baptist
chapel, near the corner OF Thirty seventh street and
Lexington avenue, where the small but refined con-
gregation over which Rev. Sidney A. Corey In pas.
tor meet on SUNDAY for stated Christian worship.
u viii be remembered tnat Rev. Mr.. Corey was the
former pastor OF the Twelfth street Baptist church.
and that his large and worthy congregation sub
scribed for building the paatial church edince at
the corner Of Fifth avenue and Thrty-Hfth
street, but through the sweeping reverses Of
the great financial panic OF 1857 were unable
to carry 10 completion their splendid purpose.
thus 1t was that the reverend clergyman became
seSed over his present small congregation. but with
bright hope in the future OF soon assuming the
pasIorate Of the grand Fifth avenue temple OF wor
ship. But for chapes, the one IN Tnirty-seventh
street, to which we have referred, and where he
preached yesterday morning, is beautiful gem OF
this class OF structures ana as unique a. 1t Ii beaut
ful. 1t is lit from three domes, through the stained
glass windows Of whose vauted arches q "dim,
religious light' Is shed upon the worshipping con-
gregatlon giving, with the superbly rich frescoing
or the walls and ceilings, unsurpassed In their
splendid c00ring and pleasing harmonious effect In
any public or private ediAce In the city, richer
glow OF beauty to the nne church toilets OF the
ladies. to say nothing OF ruddier glow OF health 10
the countenances OF the men, and thus robbngithelr
uniformly black bfOadcloth attireS of their other
wise sad and sombreike hue. In little gallery
there Is petIe organ, but OF very rich tone ana
choir OF singers whose singing IN point OF culture
and expression ves with That OF our larger and
more ambitious churches.
After the usual PREDATORY services or prayer read
ing portions OF the scriptures aud singing Rev. Mr..
Cory preached sermon from Isaiah XIV, 81
WY give thee the treasures OF darknessn No brief
abstract, such as our limited space only allows, can
do justice TO the sermon. His style Of elocu0n Is OF
that grandly ervid and impressive school OF pulpit
oratOry In which the presence and manner OF the
speaker are everything and without wnich are lost
half the beauty and impressive force and power OF
the sermon. lie began with explaining the crcum-
stances under which the words OF the text ut
tered-the capture OF Babylon by Cyrus. 1t was
cut away the river they had to level
the strong encompassing walls. When at length the
proudly victorious army entered the city tney saw
no magnificent trophies OF war; no rich stores OF gold
and silver that had been hid away darkness.
thus 1t was IN the great material world. The ricn
treasures were hdden In darkness. The grain GER
minated In the dark bosom VI the EARTH All the
great forces OF nature Work In darkness; hidden from
The eye OF moras are the beds OF iron bosomed IN the
great mountains waiting TO be drawn out into rail-
road tracks spun into machinery or sheath
ing for mammoth SHIPS. IL was 30 III
silence. Darkness ana shadows are round
about them In this connection he spoke OF religion
as viewed from an intellectual Standpolnt-the
he urged, has It's basis Gods love; but the amply
hidden treasures Of Gods grace and Cnrlsts redemp
ton were not seen by those men who make religion
one or esLhetical philosophy. Alter next adveriing
TO the hidden treasures OF true Christianity and
drawing coplous illustrations from the OLD and New
Testaments he iaiu bare, with singularly graphic
power OF description the mysteries OF the human
heart Upon tne humbug OF benevolence he
was scatningly eloquent, and 30 upon modern demo-
gogsm striving Tor personal aggrandzement ana the
spolls OF ofce. He also drew a vvld contrast up0 II
the pseudopatrot who only scented the battle from
aar, and the manned solder, winning his scars IN
the front o the 1gnt; and yet the former got the
glory and the latter turned hand organs In the streets
Tor ptiiuly bestowed pennies. keverting next TO
the more arect theme 0i his text, he showed con-
cluslon that death heaven each treasures OF
darkness. Most elOquently vivid was his picture or
mortal transit through dark valley OF death. and
how 10 the CHRISTIAN the clouds OF Overshad0wing
gloom are gradually dspeled and through the rlted
clouds bursGs through with ef1ulRent beauty ana
brightness the Illuminating sunshine OF Gods face
His closing sentences, revealing the treasures OF the
life TO come TO the great victors over the nesn ana
the dev, and the temptations Of this lie ana those
accepted OF COD hereafter, with the redeemlng
words "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter
thou INTO the JOY OF the Lord,' were granoy beaut
ful. He was listened to with Dreatnless attention
Alter prayer, singing and benedictl0n the small
greg 2ation wltnarew, while from the dlmInuLve
organ III the small gallery was poured forth wealth
OF rich, excellent melody, seemingly forecast or
the JuDilant music OF SAINTS III heaven that had lust
been SO graphically described.