The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-11-21
NEW ENGLAND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

NEW ENGLAND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
First Sermon by Rev. Merrill Richardson
Ater His Installation as Pastor Eloquent
Discourse on the Design OF Preaching
OH inRl Sins and Sins Not OriginaI--Ihe
Stumbling Blocks Of Doctrines.
At the neat and elegant New England Congrega-
tiona church, corner Madison avenue and Forty
seventh street, which, although one OF the younges,
in the great sisterhood OF our metropolitan churches
has already attained the full dignity OF majestic
maturity, there was the usual large congregation at
the services yesterday morning. The steady growth
OF the att ndsnIs Al THIS sacred tempe OF worship
attests more tn2n sng thing else can the growing
popularity Of iis newly chosen pastor, Rev. Merrill
Richardson. WHO conducted the exercises. Though
the congregation is composed manly or tae
representative Culture ana refinement Of New
England. there Is Nothing clannsh either
IN its organization or management, nothing pro-
scrirtive. The doors OF the church are open to all
ana with minister OF sa forcl0le power o. logic
ana eloluente as us present pastor thrOnglug
crowds are sure 10 pass through the doors ana al
the pews ami ais.es. His sermon Yesterday was
oil unusuai powcr-a seeming new Inspiration from
his recent installation on last Wednesday. ne sub
lect was The Design oil Preaching aGd the
SCOPE AND OBJECTS OF PULPIT LAMENTATIONS.
or rather what In his view they should lie, were
most clearly, punsenlS and eioqueat!y set forth.
The basis OF
TIE SERMON
was the text First CORN hans, XIV, s.-"If the
trumpet gives an uncertain sound. who shall pre-
pare himself for The Datber' Paul, he began. was
here considering the method and CD ect OF preach
inx How could they be Duilt up In the truth II mat
truth was not cearlf uttered THIS comparison was
Wen chosen. The duty OF the trumpeter was well
known; noL an officer or private must mistake Its
meaning. The safety peril OF the army depended
upon being rightly understood. Carrying out THIS
comparison aud applying |. to preaching, he in-
sisted mat the gea design OF preaching was to build
man Irutl nj nd fnpnt fnr Itl
Kingdom. HIS first CONT was that revelation Is a
system OF truth which the preacher should under
TIE BIBLE IS OF GOD
then, like nature all It's truths win harmonic.
There will be no Contradictions. God Is exact. IL
referred 10 The per ect system marking the iegaa-
ton and mo cnents If the planetary world 10 snow
this exa-tness. Few years ago astronomers were
ali agog, tiilnk.ng
THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG
and irregular In the movements oil the heavenly
bodies. 1hey pointed their telescopes skywarl,
seeking to penetrate the MYSTERIES Of those far away
worlds ne result Was the discovery OF q new
panet-the discovery that all was Sill harmonious
In those my jad worlds also
Singing forever they shine
The Aand tGat made divine.
Yes. this was The great song OF the stars. There is
no chance IN hod's universe. THIS point was most
e0quenty Illustrated IN variety OF ways by re-
ferring to the wondrous works OF nature III every
de artmenL oi creaIon. Gods book OF nature was
ope TO ali. IL 80 with the Bible. Rightly IN
tei prcted-and THIS the second point OF his dts
course-.he scrip ures give no uncertain sound. The
greatly important point was for the minister TO
rightly interpret tne scriptures; 10 give forth IN his
teaching NO uncertain sound. They must enumer-
ate the
rightly. This word doctrine was great Stumbling
block 10 many. The word meant something stupen-
dons, something vague, something mysterious.
The word meant simply 10 teach this, and nothing
There were doctrines IN nature as well as IN
the Bible He prOce dcd 10 speak OF the doctrine OF
sin, ana showed the divine sounds given forth fom
the pulpit ON this topic. Some collected to the BIBLE
because IL was ale Ell TO teach that man was by
ueDTaVeQ /
basis Of objection, what must be thought OF
TIE NEWSPAPERS.
in nearly all the columns or which every day are
10 be found records of depravitY and eyl dong
TINS mater oil sin was yegy simple. Paul defined
~ a. uansgresslon OF the law. This told the whole
story. IL rs doing wrong. IL Is discbsdience. Let
tine minister know this and then he can sound form
what sin Il from the pulpit. lie described with
wRANGLISGs AMONG THE CLERGY
and In the Churches upon this subject OF sin. The
whole great prop.esn OF lie ana duty as pertaining
20 the minister was 70 know what sin Is and
man duty regarding it. Having Gnisneu this
branch Oh his discourse he proceeded 10
speak OF regeneration. This was doctrine upon
which the preacher must give distinct uttcrlnce.
IL had peen said hat the work OF reseneratlns
sou! called form AS great display or power as TO
craze the universe. lie would leave this matter 10
God aud
NOT BLOW Any TRUMPET
about 1t. Regeneration was Gods work-a
Inystery-and no man could 1ahon IL The next
subject touched upon was the doctrine OF divine
sovereignty lie was particularly eloquent upon
tins point lie traced the great designs OF great
Creator with all emphass aud clearness rarely seen
In the pulpit. They could trust God. lie
Moves In a mysterious way
HIS wonders 70 perform.
He was sovereign OF ali. lie raised up nations and
Kingdoms ana nc demolished them for his own pur-
poses. lie had raised up
0Ua REPUBLIC,
he trusted to show 10 the world the golden fruit
ton or the glorious principles OF freedom From
this ne went Oh to speak o Coos purposes anu the
connection OF law and grace. He was ex.
cecdingy happy In both his arguments and
iliusrat. upon these two points, deprivng them
greatly vi tueir natural dryness aud technical cha
Iacter. HIS una picture OF the duties oi the minis
ter glowed Win an eloqneace vi description eAec
tive 40 1t was inpassioned.
~, There stands the lesate OF the skies,
- hls then usine, his o1ce sacred, his
~ CfedeGtizIs real. by HIM the violated
Z Law speaks out lis thundrrs, an "A In tones a.
I swee. az angels use the gospel whispers
Peace
In conclusion he alluded TO his recent installation
aim To do aud what doctrines teacn IN entering
upon his new field OF pastoral duties. lie hoped,
INST OF all TO make himself acceptable In Gou's sigh
and TO preach that Gospel which Christ bade his
disciples GO fortn and preach 10 the whois
word. lie pledged his own best eHort'
to proclaim abroad, 10 the extent OF M
the truths OF the Bible and 10 call sinners 10
repentance. lie would Invite 10 the seats OK wor,
ship the poor aud owly as well as the poWerlu anu
rich. tie Invoked their and aud thelf prayers the
rest he lett to Col and the future
The sermon was listened 10 Sltn the most earnesI
attention. Ig WIS announced that there would be 2
morning service In me church on next Thanksgiv'
and the Deuedctl0n we're terminated inc eAerclses'
TRlSETII CHApEL.