The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-04

sermon by Rev. Or. UcSweeny-Tho Apps.
ties Fishers OF Men.
Yesterday 81. Stephens church was, az usual
crowded at the hafpast ten mass. The sermon was
by the Rev. DIR. McSweeny, q really eloquent and
most logical speaker. He spoke on the Gospel Of
the day, which is taken from the fifth chapter Of ST.
Luke, commencing "And 1t came to pass that az
the people pressed upon Him to hear the Word OF
God, He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw
two ships standing by the lake; but the fishermen
were out OF them and were washing their nets. And
He entered into one Of the ships, which was
Simon's, and prayed that he would thrust out
a little from the land, and He sat down
and taught the people out OF the ships" The
Doctor began bis discourse by saying that on tnis
Sunday the Church celebrated the feast of sts
Peter and Paul, and 1t was opportune and appro-
pirate that the Gospel OF the day should relate to the
fisherman; for the Apostles were themselves fisher
men. The fish was symbol used by the Church 10
signify our Saviour. In the catacombs
THE FIGURE or A FISH
is very often to be seen. The Greek work chthus-
fish, using each OF its letters separatey-maEes in
Greek, Jesus Christ Son of God, Saviour; and As In
Olden times Christians had to be careful i'm their
demonstrations OF fah-1or the one hand they
had TO fear discovery from the pagans mad al
the fear OF allowing 10 bc known the mystery vi their
religion. The fish deslgnates the faithful, as by
baptism man gains heaven, and by being taken
from the waters OF baptism he becomes purified like
fish taken from the waters Of the sea. Our Saviour
said lie would make HIS Apostles fishers of men, This
simile is natural, for II any animals are careless
ABOUT their own good the nsh certainly are. When
they see fishermen bringing them dainty mor,els
tney rush NJ the bait Their folly In this Is Ike the
human race the majority Of whom are led away by
the bait In The shape OF pleasure under which, care
fully concealed, is
ETERNAL DAMNArIoN
and thus both fish ana men are caught, and Tor the
sake Of the mOrsel OF pleasure they grasp at the
food that tears their sitals. The young man who
1requents the gaming table casts himself deiioer-
atcy on the hook. The difference between the fish
and man is, the one may be erKed upon a hook anu
his comrades know not OF the or his capture;
but with man it Is different. He knows that plea
sure Is but snare, and the danger OF swallowing the
bait Is to him apparent. Still II does avail
be warned man rshes on, aud the consequence Is
utter ruin. both In body and soul. what fills the
prisons the hospitals the poor houses, the mad
houses, but this blind hcadiong or vice. No
examples OF the consequences OF this do any good
The same number young and old. frequent the gam
Ing table, the hagniO and the barrooIn. IL is not
known II any nshi caught twice; but II Is but TOO
well known tlat men are, and by the same bali on
the same hook
SOME PERSONS WILL SAY
81 have done my own Will, and no harm has come
to me; my companions have done 80 airt why MOI
lr With this foolish argument many console them.
Selves bur now many fish take the bait without be.
ing caughty Very few; and nobody should risk the
danger, for the consequences are great. IL Is moi
only destruction 10 the body, put II Is damnation 10
the soul.
THE DEVIL is AN ANGLEn,
who tries without ceasing TO hurt anu iDinre us. He
Is Ike fisherman VINO having hooked fish, allows
HIM To run on with the line to make him believe he
Is safe. occasionally he gives pull and after his
playing with his prize he lands him safely IN his
basket The devil when he has US in his clutches
leaves us 10 ourselves for while, and God leaves
us without renorse, nut sudden sunstiOke or u swift
bullet lands us IN hell.
Foolish girls, too, like the fish, are easily tempted
The bait they are caught by Is money or a cOinely
person. and they take the bait. cautioned they say
there Is no DANGER and only IL when the hook has
them In It's grasp. Priests fishers OF men, for our
Lord Himself has said
''YOU WILL BE FISHERS OF MENU
The gospel or the day says our Lord was crowded
by the multitude and lie told Peter to launch the
vessel out and then He addressed the multitude and
as ST. Andrew says Peter was the prince vi shernen
SO Is the Pope the head OF the Church. ana every bull
he issues IL signed with the seal OF the fishernans
ring. And now the Pope does what Peter did, lie
launches forth and calls his bishops round him and
tells them to cast their nets; and IN obedience t. his
command they will cast their nets, and will
catch an abundance OF sinners; ana, In ''take OF
fish," the good Will be chosen and the bad Will be
thrown on the sand to perish Those who have not
heard the voice OF God may have excuse; but
those who have been caught in tue OF salvation
ana not avaiied themselves OF 10 must ter
rtbe consequences OF their mistake.
The reverend preacher concluded his sermon by
hoping that Gil would be caught in the net and
would be chosen and not thrown on the sand.
Tie mass sung by the CHOIR was from Metner'S
Mass In q minor, 10 the Agnus Del and Charles
Wells Mass was sung TO the END. The ofertory was
from Le Prophetic" Sign0r Lati has left the choir
and Monsieur Phillip occupies his place.