The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-18
sFlsR GAJ FREE CaUaCH.


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The Erunro-Prussi;sn Wharf.-The Coed Fight
of Faiiil--sser,nor by the Rev. Ctnrlea Is.
suyiss.
Tie American Free church yesterday wen
attended, despite the extreme warmth OF the
weather. After the usual devotional exercises the
Rev. Mr.. S.nyth preached o heightened sermon,
aking his text from Paurs Ep site TO Timothy, vi,
flight the good fight OF faith" The reverend
sntleman said:-Iruly, Chou klOwest not what
~ may bring forth,n Who could have seriously
opposed one week ago that the whole world would
" this time pc filled with the almost incredible
aews which has been placed before the eyes OF us
all within The last two days? Those wonderful
Instruments WhicA have been created by modern
science and art, IN The form OF The telegraph and the
steam press ana whicn had lney been predicted TO
our fathers, would only have been laughed at scep.
tlcay, have clcula tel to the distant ends OF the
earth IN moment an announcement which now
agltaes ali men. Standing as We do in America
upon
AN ELEVATED POINT
Gf observation, and looking down over 4 widely ex.
tended field, which is soon TO be deluged with the
blood Of thousands, perhaps millions OF our fel-
low beings, we shOald scarcely deserve to be
called human ourselves were to allow
the coming events, which are casting their
shadows before them, to be unnoticed by
n. Tic last week has been eventful. We have had
wnr at home aud rumOls CT war from abroad; a
di&sracefnl riot in our own city ana not much less
siisaraceful war ito be In the nineteenth century,
looming up In Europe And we have had number
Ut assaults and Standings, and shoOtngs and MUIR
ders truly deplolable. thought III mind may
naturally ask, Why all this ? What the occasionS
What do men seek by such brutality one towards
sno herr is there any OBJECT TO be gained worth 90
dear price Why do people not contend for
something worth lighting for? Why are they not
snch only as enIite them to be numbered among
savages or lunailcsf Have private individuals
and societies. and gov ernmcnt5 all gone mad Us the
whole world
ONE VAST BRDLAM,
where every one from prince to pauper requires q
er worth seeking and bettef worth lighting for than
often thrones, or tsnsei cFo 'f " or muddy G
smpires, the Climax to al OF which is only a
70 iced the hungry maws Ct worms Yes there are;
and they are such as Diines OF gold could not pur-
chase, nor sons OF monarchs Inherit nor peoples by
even unanimous vote confer, nor armies conquer.
But who secs them? Who knows them9 They
are not seen because they are invisible They are
the same to which Paul aludes when
eternal lile.5 the greatest battle that ever was
fought was the one That ragged around Mount Cal.
vary and the dearest things that ever were in
jeopardy or dependent unon fight were those for
which Christ died. And the war which has all along
ness Is The most terrific and exIrpatlng that has
ever existed though unseen except by The eye Of
II Ia explained by the Spirit OF God. 1t becomes
OBSERVE PASSING EVENTS.
and to pluck from them the means OF illustrating
revelation AMI at moment Wien the thought of
war fills every mind, and the din OF arms and the
VIC rifles crack and the lannon's roar summon
ng the nations to struggle which will be the most
cr own late domestic contest to consider what les.
'ns we should learn herefrOm as Christian people.
The frst place. the news Of the week may
has been raging Tor centuries. Since the frs.
aatlon OF the approaching European struggle
gwen many weeks ago, with remarkably pro-
tic sight, by distinguished journalist Of this
az ne viewed the covered intentions Of the two
At imperial rivals through the preparations
Inch both were making for war as yet undecared,
many leaves OF history have been turned over by
oral savans ana others TO make their memories
siculary familiar with The facts OF modern wars,
sat they might instruct the numerous and proms.
time been doing Have they been Preparing to give
lessons to their people upon The greatunseen but
afe!t war which Christ ever since his first advent
been waglng against all the combined forces
powers OF evil, overcoming all enemies and
rely bringing about the destruction Of death It.
sreat spiritual contest is called s.he fight
thsT have been objects of faith rather than Of
sight; secondly the achievements of the captain
Of our salvaon are objects OF belief; thirdly, the
ends to be ultimately accomplished are objects Of
belief fourthly, the spirit in which all who enlist
under the banner OF Christ IL one Of faith, AL
though this s q spiritual warfare c0gnzant us such
5y the OF faith only. yet many Uf the steps OF
Cnrlstis conquests are seen and felt by oil men,
even while they do not acknowledge the triunphs
~ De Chrst's.
fRTEDOM OF THOUGHT
personal social ecclesiastical, civil and religious
hberty the art OF piiuting, the discovery of tue
{ steam and OF electricity; the steam engine The
steamship, the steam press, the lightning telegraph,
.he camera Obscura and Photographic art the tele-
scope, the microscope, and all the works that belong
10 modern civilization, not excepting even the
Oliver, the chassepo and the needle gun (Which are
dselui In their place. are some among the numerous
dressings to mankind which the great Imperial
Chieltain OF our salvation has achieved against
,e parDaric despOtlsns OF Satan and the dark ages
enu tlese instruments which now constitute the
her,iue engincry OF war he will employ and con-
~ an W make them peacemakers and to cause men
Ia, Deat their swords into ploughshares and
rome OF the universe, thence Commanding
lM nie armies OF heaven and the hosts
sNii, ana combating the prince OF the power OF
.rHsr .'snDduiny all things unto UinseifU and
tic Ap0stle says, 'Ho must reign until ia NATL
70 all eneDllcs under His feet - until ,.Eie shall
we put down all rue ana all anfhoritv ana
Reru Their SHAH God be ''all I'm ALI;
"a earth one vast United States emma,
The c,seunfereBAe OF the globe, the arina
snt with ~ blue expalse AMI the aDark-