The New York herald., 1870-11-25
FOURTH REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION

Sermon In harvard Rooms BY the Rev. James
Kennedy-No Nation Can be Prosperous
| Unless 1t Acknowledges the Law Of Gbd.
| The Fourth Reformed Presbyterian congregation
met yesterday morning at Harvard Rooms on Sixth
avenue near Forty second street for the pufp6se OF
celebrating Thanksgiving Day. The services were
conducted by the newly installed pastor, Rev. James
Kennedy, fomerly Of Newtown.L .Limavaddy, in the
north of Ireland. The reverend gentleman, who is
OF slender build, speaks with considerable nuency,
and with that accent which is peculiar to inhabit-
ants of the province OF Ulster. The matter OF his
discourse indicated that he is man OF considerable
ability, reading and information, and he will, no
doubt be very desirable spiritual guide among the
respectable and intelligent congregation whe have
selected hun to expound for them the Holy Word of
God. The attendance at the service was large.
After the psalm had been sung by the congrega-
ron the reverend gentleman delivered brief ex-
hortat0n, In the course OF which he said that when
those who had now assembled to hear him had
finished their course and looked back upon their
past lives, and upon the events Of their career on
Earth, they would ind among them nothing SO much
worth remembrance as the trials and the SORROWS
they had endured. There would be no sincerity In
their prayers but for the troubles and aniictlons
with which they had been tried. IL was BY send.
ing afnicti0ns upon the world that God, as
1t were hewed the human character and
formed 1t in spiritual beauty. While they thanked
God let them not forget all He had done for the
world. Peace was In their bOundaries they had
national prosperity; they had had bountiful lar-
vest and they enjoyed social blessings and bless
Let them remember what they owed to God, who
gave them these great blessings Had they not seen
na we9 haa ana 80 an
poral power Of the Papacy-swept out OF existence,
and the aatisns that gave It support dropping orS
1870 France the right hand OF the Papacy the oldest
son OF the Church. obliged to withdraw the troops
from Rome, and the Italians rejoicing that they
would be able to gve1utterance to what they deeply
felt. There were other results in other directions.
The system which deprived men Of the right OF pri
vate Judgment was to be condemned The human
mind came up to a consciousness OF its own power,
and the Word OF God would be productive Of great
the republics OF America that had their origin from
Europe the Word. OF God had been max
ing progress and developing powerful re-
The reverend gentleman then offered up q
heightened prayer; he prayed for the President and
to rule with advantage 70 the whole nation. He
preached heightened sermon, taking as his text
ne exatetS naton b s
O reproacn to any people.n Mr.. Kennedy said that,
in order get correct understanding OF the text,
act meaning Of the Divine Word. When God made
all things He first put them under law Every
osssrsea tSs nature anG e
Divine SPIRIT Righteousness was keeping
man within the boundaries prescribed by GODS law,
and sin was breaking away from the obligations Of
the law and acting In such manner as to be con-
trary to the laws OF Gods moral government.
Righteousness was harmony with the divine law,
and differed from holiness, which meant moral
purity. sin was transgresson Of the law and
righteousness was harmony with the law. These
two terms not applied to individuals alone, but
they were also applied to nations. This was note
worthy because on IL he intended to base his re-
marks on the subject announced for to-day
s.Religon Essential to the Life and Prosperity
OF Nation" The reverend preacher dealt with
this question IN an elaborate, careful and eloquent
manner, showing that nations were brought within
government was the ordinance OF Goa. God estab
lished 1t by giving us rulers He gave us an intui
tive knowledge OF our social relations. When a
nation did violence TO another complaint was
made to the government OF the party aggreved
Responsibility rested on the government for the
good conduct OF all those who were under its care
Having dwelt upon this branch OF the question at
length the preacher went on to show by reference to
examples nom history, that when nations ceased to
be Influenced by religion and obedience to tn moral
government Of God they fell into decay and ruin
instancinQ the Romans, whose fall was great until
their empire was reconstructed under Constantine ;
tine States OF Greece, the Babylonlan empire and the
blasphemies or BalshaZZar, and France in the Re-
vontiOn when she rejected faith and set up an
Abandoned creature as the Goddess Of Reason, who
subsequently died mad He urged all nations and
peoples to acknowledge God and obey and follow
His holy law In all things.
The service concluded at half-past twelve O'CLOCK
and the congregation retired no doubt quite pleased
with the discourse OF their new pastor.