The New York herald., 1870-08-15
TWGElY-EfGKFH STREET CuR.ST.Ay
CnUkCH.


Definition of Truth.-sermon by Rev. G. G.
FOote.
Notwithstanding the gloominess and rain Of yes
terday morning there was a good attendance at
this church during the forenoon services winch were
conducted as usual by the regular pastor, Rev. G.
c. Fooe.
This large body OF Christians, numbering more
than five hundred thousand communicates in the
United States, with many congregations in Europe,
styng themselves "Christians'' because the disci-
pie converts to the new doctrine taught by the
apostles were given this name at the city Of
Antioch BY some of the antagonstic sects they are
denominated, in derision, "Campbelitesn after
one Of the great exponents OF the Church-Alex-
ander Campbell, OF Bethany, Va. now deceased.
One OF the chief designs OF this people
in assembling themselves together upon the Lord's
day is to parake OF the noly sacrament Of the Lords
supper, which sacrament Is administered by the
congreg atons of the church every Sunday In imua-
ton, as they intimate, OF the example set by the
first Christian congregation which met IN Jerusalem
and composed Of the twelve apostles The Chris
tlans hold that 'the breaking or the loaf and the
joint participation OF The cup OF the Lord III
memoraton Of the Lords death, is an instituted
part OF the worship and edl1cauon OF all Christian
Congregations In all their stated Meetings. The
administration OF the ordinance always follows the
pulpit services of the morning The exercises were
upon TINS occasion commenced by The congregation
singing the old, familiar hymn,
There is a fountain filed with blood,
Drawn from Immanues veins
the hymic conception Of the David OF English
poetry, COwper ''of the fountain opened TO the
house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem
for sin and unceanness.'
| The Rev. fooie delivered an interesting DISCOURSE
taking his text from the twenty second and twenty
third verses Of first chapter Of the first episte Of
Peter-"Seeing We have purified your souls In obey
ing the truth through the spirit into uniegned love
OF the brethren see that ye love one another With
pure heart rerventy. Being born again, not OF cor
ruptible seed but OF incorruptble by the word OF
! GOd which llveth and aDideth forever.r
The term truth, he said, used IN this connection by
the apostle, Is the holy gospel called so In many
parts OF the New Testament The spirit Is the instru
ment which leads the human heart TO obey by re-
vealiDg the fullness OF the truth
UNM1XED WITH ERROR, N
and by Its personal influence II aids us very much
in this work OF obedience No element contributes
largely TO the success Of any enterprise ss the
very presence OF the creator OF the design, which
fact Is completely illustrated by facts from everyday
life The lobbyst-rne very parasite OF the national
measure he essays by his indeiatgable personal
efforts and presence; the stock dealer at the Ex-
change works up" the price OF the uncertain,
doubtful character OF the securities ne deals In by
his personal presence, thus by buying what he
desires TO sell inspiring others TO "lOadn them
selves with the worthless commodity he would
SELL How much more successfully can worthy or
holy objects be attained In the way. Thus the
spirit aiding US In obeying the truth leads us to the
purifying FOUNTAIN. Our text speaks OF the purify,
body soul and spirit. In his fall these elements
all involyed In his salvation his entire nature is
| redeemed. ST. Paul says, II pray God that you
may be wholly sanctifed, spirit soul and body.n
The body Will be made pnre by the resurrection; the
spirit Is cleansed by belief in 1.-THE TRUTH and love,
and the text teaches that the soul is purified by
obedience. The term soul signifies life or charac-
ter, the cleansing OF which Is twoiold-nameiy,
LEGAL AND REFoRMAroRY.
The former Is by forgiveness. A person guilty OF
capital offence against the State can only be re-
stored TO citizenship by the clemency OF the Gov
ernor SO we must be forgiven IN order to ENJOY
citizenship IN the kingdom Of Christ. Having sub
mitted ourselves TO Him we to refashion
lives accQrding TO His revealed Will. here called the