The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-06-27
ST. FAuL'i REFORMED DUTCH oauncE.
The Leadership Of G0d-Serman by' Rev.
Alex. Thompson, ID. ID.

Alex. Thompson, ID. ID.
Exactly at haifpast ten O'Clock yesterday the solemn
strains Of the organ announced that DR.. Thompson
was about to celebrate divine service and 10 preach
his last sermon for the present season. PhGbus was
IN the ascendant, and lgh the dim ana sury at
mosphere oil the church bright visions oated before
the eyes Of the audience OF the beauties OF rural life
and the pleasures OF sin FOR season by the seaside.
Small as were the numbers present, there were
among them many fair faces ana fashionable figures
whom the heat of the day had not prevented from
coming TO delight the eyes Of the worshippers ia st.
Pauls. AS suitable to parting sermon the pastor
took an opportunity in the opening services OF read
ing some portions of the Old ami New
Testament, watch gave. in manner that
could easily be remembered, q general view OF
THE MAIN FEATURES OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE.
Taking as his text the words OF Isaiah: -.They
shall not hunger nj thirst, neither shall the heat
nor sun smite them, for lie that hath mercy them
shall lead them even by the springs OF water shall
lie guide tncm." Or. Thompson preached IN ap.
prJpriate ana eloquent sermon on the leadership Of
God The people q the East said the pr. acher were
remarkable fof their pcturcsqueness OF character
and Tor the beauty OF their imagery III all they s.il
and wrote. Inc comparison OF the shepherd 70 a
faithful and affectonatc leader was 10 the Eastern
mind favorite as wen as familiar one In the
gradual unfolding OF Gods revelation to tie world
the same idea Is exhibited from time 10 tune ~ the
character and teachings OF His delegates 10 man
the person Of Christine Great shepherd and Bshop
o. our souls" No image was more sign tclnt or
Urc.ble. The
OCCUPATION OF THE SHEPHERD
among the Jews was an ancient AMI an honorable
one. Abraham, the great father OF their RAGE, was
prince among his people and distinguishes Tor the
| abundance vi MS l0c&s and herds. Davd, the
heroic Champion OF israel even Ut time when jew
Ish civilization had risen into spIcndor among The
nations OF the earth, was taken from the sheep oil Is
The people OF the East were, therefore, anihg with
| the occuna ion Of the ahephed anu Knew his a1e,-
their very hearts and ives. II reminded rh1n OF an
that was sweetest and dearest in their history IL
| glorious national rcconecuons. 1t WIS to mem
| beautiful picture In witch were united ths LOVING
associations OF nome wan the tranquil scenes ana
| Innocent delights OF rural lie. Ihe woris OF
| the Twenty-thri Psalm were but the pgctieal
| expression OF The real sentiments Of The
| aye in which II was written; they were
out the amen 10 the idea OF the text In tn deal
ings of God with His people we nave another illus
| tration OF this lavorise image OF the East He de
| lights not merely TO owen among singing an gels
VINO breathe no sentiments but those in layor OF lis
attributes. MS greatness mas not prevented Him
from communing free ana frequently VITA nlea.
In Hi goodness he led the Israelites through
TIE DAaGEas OF TIE DESERT,
robng him self during the day in the darkness Of
cloud and by night shining along tine bew lGering
monOtony OF the waste IN pillar OF re lie d,ti not
act towards them a. lie did Oh account OF His cove
nant with Abraham, but bee iuse II was His nature
to DE mercifui aud benevolent. He wished 10 lea g
TO mankind al everlasting example Of the spirit
with which lie governs ms creatures. The careful
hand wn CHI sem the mlnna and opened the ninty
bosom OF Horeb SIN makes the rivers now and SC IT.
ters the earth with luxury aud abundance. The
same shepherd still lives - lead Without the
Divine guidance VINO be OF tomorrow or OF
the things IL may bring iorl In
THE MOST LIMITED RETROSPECT
we take OF life how many errors have to mourn;
how many the humiliatons we have TO depore I
SO perpleXed, indeed, do we feel at the miserable
catalogue Of failures and mistakes that feel
ciined In our bitterness to doubt the suIetintend-
eace OF a Providence in the aIlairs OF men alto
gcther, and TO call out, as there no right way Is
there no guidef' The guide Is Goi, anu the night
way Is the way In which lie leads those who nm
pcit!y and truly trust Him. In Ills mercy lie leads
all who come to Him, not as one who knows not the
mserIes or men, bat as one who has expes fenced
them In his own person aud whose nature oyeriiows
with
SYMPATHY AND LOVE.
The pledge He has given us cannot deceive. II IL
given In His own Divine Word, spoken for the com.
FORT OF the world. II Is given In the testimony Of
those who have found tie way; in the testimony OF
the red emed dead, who speak 10 Us from lhelr
tnione III paradise, and who by His hand were led
| through the dark we.s Of death m triumph. lie
Offers TO be the guile oall OF all who submit them
| selves TO Him m humility, conhding in Ills wi dom
| to lead them aud HIS power to saw.