The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-06-27
THE CHURCH on CHRIST.

An Intelligent View OF Nfan's Religious Re.
sponsbiliiies-Faiih and Obedience Only
Necessary for Observation-Disclosures Lecture
by the Rev. e. G. FO0te.
Tie congregation at the Church OF Christ West
Twenty.eighth street. near Broadway. was small last
evening compared with the large congrega.
tioa which usually attends this church 70
worship ana for.fy their spirits against
the insdious attacks Of the eyll one Various rea.
sons might be given for the fewness OF the worship.
pers last evening, but 1t might leave us open to the
charge OF being eytLminded II we limited that the
hot weather or the many facilities which are gwen
ON Sundays to the citizens OF Gotham TO enjoy them
selves by cape and bay had anything to do with the
sparsty OF the congregation.
THE SERVICES
were opened ny the singing OF the 1874 hymn, be-
sweetest s.S' pleasures .sas s' wife lie ws live;
'tsreligion must supply
Solid comfort while we die
!, An impr.mptu prayer was offered up, N which
The lives OF the older members of tue
church, and prepare them for the en-
hereafter, anu 10 make the younger members
iigent ana prosperous IN business aud steadfast OF
SPIT, ia me Sc wee OF me Lord; Another appro,
pirate hymn having been rendered IN fine and
effective manner, the Rev G. G. Foote lecured his
sparse congregation on the love and power OF God
and the Efforts which IT was necessary for man 10
make TO ensure hls salvation Before beginning the
discourse lie remarked that the unusual smailncss
OF the congregation might very likely be accounted
for by The fact that the corner stone OF
new church was being lad ut Harlem that
evening. Taxing his text from John xiii. 17'lf ye
Know tnese things happy are yc II We DO them'-he
commenced by SAYING That the words quoted con-
tauei three suggestions Tor the religious ana renec
tive utln = They were 10 know God, to obey His
commandments and to enjoy His blessings aud
graccs. lie I'D not believe IL was SO difficult thing
no KNOW GOD.
IA some people imagined II any ordinarily lnteli-
gent man or wonun studied the Gospel with can
Ola spirit aud a clear, uhprcjudccd mind, he felt
certain that he or she would step Daif pdSsu INFO
the attributes ana essences OF the Lord. AS God has
dignned man With MS image and likeness, so has
ne endowed him With an intelligence equal TO the
fun understanding OF him. lie c0mbated and dc.
MED the proposition that
GOD had MADE MAN HIS SLAVE.
TO worship Him in fear and trembling. The Maker
has given man not the spirit OF fear but that OF
confidence; not groveiling and savish mind. but a
clear ana thinking one God met man on The broad
plane OF that intelligence which He had endowed
nm WITH. lie regretted that man did not under
stand Jesus better since 1t 80 easy to do so. If
ana nobler religion than exists among most people
at present. He wished them to understand that
GOD HAD HIS PART TO PERFORM
IN the salvation VI man as wei ~ man himself. The
great difference was that God always performed His
part, While man very often neglected HIS and this
was a matter Of marvel to him, since all man was
asked 10 do was to believe and obey not in blind
and savish manner, but IN free and intelligent one
Once the lieat oil the Gospel beams shOne around
and lllumned the mind and spirit, he believed that
mans salvation was accomplished In conclusion
lie exhored them ~ study the Gospel, learn the les
sons OF trtle wisdom contained therein aud be
guided by them through iile that thelr entrance
INTO the next world would be bright and happy