The New York herald., 1870-05-09
rnz CATHOLIC AVID APOSTOLIC CHURCH.

Popular G. Government and the Catholic Church.
| sermo on by tho Rev. MIR. Roberts.
| The Rev. Mr. Roberts took no text, but announced
his subject as the present state OF the Christian
Church. the body OF Christians set aside by baptism.
This Church was born on the bay OF Pentecost
when the Holy Spirit descended upon O small
company OF Jews assembled In the name OF the
Lord. new thing then appeared In the world, yet
it was not OF the world. 1t was new creation Of
Gods own handiwork, the spirit OF life and power
and the glory OF God the same which descended
upon Christ at his baptism. This manifestation was
the hrst sign OF the unity OF this group OF believers
with Christ In heaven; they began to speak with
new and, TO them, till then unknown tongues and
10 TESTIFY OF the Father. 1t was strange thing to
the majority OF unbeieving Jews OF that day. Christ
the manifestation or divine love, had died and was
buried, and was no longer present to torment them.
But on this day he manifested himself as stll pre-
sent appearing to and through
4. THIS COMPANY OF BELIEVERS.
These were commonplace persons, poor and gen.
orally unlearned, in no wise remarkable judged by
ordinary standards. But now they compel notice.
Every one is desirous to hear what they have to
say. Christ is once more among them-not IN
person, Dut In spirit. he Is alive again
to work heavens viii through the visible body Of
believers. He manifested Himself to one hundred
ana twenty to three thousand and then to nve thou
that all did not. Here was Christ In many MEMBERS
yet one body
Many paftaking OF one heard one judgment by
Him. All were held together IN Christby prayers
and breaking OF bread Tney thus realized the ideal
OF the Catholic and Apostolic Chureh-one body and
Thus should 1t always be with the Church, and
thus VIII IL be when the number OF the elect
is completed and HIS Kingdom is set up on
earth. The Churchss not composed OF inert matter.
Christ set the rule when he said Not my wlll but
pv compulsion but intel gently, joyfully knowing
that God the Father doeth oil things well. Such
Intelligent iaith the baptized should have looking TO
the Kingdom. The Church, acting Tor the Father,
gave divine mysteries.
APOSTLES PROPHETS AND TEACHERS.
But In time dissens0ns arose. One said, IL am for
Paul." another, 81 am for Apollos." aud another, al
am for Jesus Christ" The result was discord among
The hap ized In our time evil Is IN the ascendant.
Love and faith are at discount There plenty Of
fai In creeds and dogmas, but faith IN Christ IS at
their doctrines rather than In manilestmg Christ.
Wnat is the use OF the body unless 1t shows what the
Things are growing worse in the world. win
worship, scepticlsm and nfdeiy abound All
these, especially intdelity, are gaining ground. The
ah T more Sl Dser ana terrible an an ns
the wo Id has yet Witnessed Some think there s
@ 1oo much beneyoien.e IN m the world for ths;;
the evil that Is IN It. The enmity against good The
Reign OF Terror In France was produced by nddelity
with the watchwords Of "Llberty. equally, frater.
nifty" France was deuged in blood until this spirit
was at last concentrated upon sell wied ruler,
WHO would bring eNA
THE WHOLE WORLD UNDER HIS SWAY
4 The French Revolution showed that srIlan cannot
do witnout God. IL showed him with all his boasted
civilization more wicked and degraded than the |
heathen. The evil one obtains control by degrees;
he will at length gain complete ascendancy on this
earth The time mas come when evil Can work un |
restrained The time greatest desoation is at hand.
Heretofore there was some check upon the progress OF
evil. When the divine right OF kings and OF the
Church recognized some restraint could he put
upon the evil passions OF men. But the doctrine nat
all power Is from the people has removed all re- |
straint from the power OF evil: u strikes at the root
Of all law. Rulers become only the tools OF tickle |
humanity They are not free to rule for |
God or 10 teach for Christ. Truth Is thing OF the
past An apostacy from the faith WIN be the result
faith In Christ, yet fn liberty for all evil if 1t does
not restrain physical indulgence. The time ~
fast approaching when this spirit Will bs
stirred up against Goa and Christ the
English government Is one OF the indications of
epoch OF freedom for EVIL against all just and divine
authority.
1t is claimed that the only ground for the recogni.
Tie rule OF God is obsolete.
THE CLERGY ARR BECOMING MERCENARY.
What viii Decome OF the flock when committed to
the care Of hirelings. Self-wied people viii not
permit the truth to be preached. Tue pOpes OF
Rome have heretofore been hindered from assum.
ing their own nfalibility Now it is permitted.
popular governments to bring about the most terri
Bile persecution OF the true Church. How
this is to be done does not yet plainly
appear, unless 1t be by mutual hypocrisy
Is there way OF escape for the faithful? There Il.
Christ promised that when the ioretod day OF wrath
should come he would provide a way OF escape for
his followers. The preacher could not explain what
that way this OCCASION for time did not per-
NIT, but on next Sunday he would continue the sub
lect.