The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-17
AMERICAN FREE cHUaea, MASONIC HALL.

go 49,. -~.4s.s
Emancipation Through the Death OF Chrisr-
The Ancient Prcsbytcriun Mode Of Sitting
mt a Tabls-scrmon by the Rev. Charles b.
Smyth.
Yesterday being communion Sabbath at the
American Free Church, Masonic Hall, Thirteenth
street. the attendance was unusually large and the
preliminary observations made by the Rev. G. B.
Smyth were listened to with marked attention. A
list was read, before the sermon, announcing the
addition OF seven new members to the congregation,
most or whom were from the PASTORS late charge In
Eleventh street. The services were conducted
according to the ancient order OF the Pres
bytcran Church. table being placed along
tue transept aisle, covered with white
CLOTH The reverend gentleman selected his
text from L Peter, H., A--sWho his own
self bare our sins In HIS own body the tree that
we being dead unto san should live unto righteous
ness" This text, he said, introduced subject
which was the most appropriate for the occasion.
The preacher, after an introduction based prnci-
paliy upon the context, dwell upon the two points
contained An the text, yn.:-First, the work which
Christ Is said 10 have performed, that or
BEARING OUR SINS,
and, secondly, the object sought, ''that We being
Unoer the first head he combatted the ancient Gnos-
tic doctrine, that Christ suffered only apparently,
and argued that the word ''Own," as used, showed
that his sutlerings were real and proper; he also
sustained The evangelical view Of the atonement,
arguing tnar the Savi0ur's affiictlons were not
merely intended to exhibit an example to us 10 fol.
low, but also to make vicarous atonemenC for all
our sins. Under the second head ne earnestly urged
N' CONSIDERING THE AroSEmENr
as not designed 70 excuse us from obedience, but to
lead US thereto, inasmuch Is Christ came not to
atng upon these ideas he illustrated b. reference to
the subject matter OF the sixteenth chapter Of Levitt
Gus where the atonement appointed TO be made
under tue law Is mentioned ana the priest Is repre-
sented as laying both his hands upon the head OF
the scapegoat and conesslng the SINS Of the
people. This, the preacher said, was typical or
Christ, whom the Lord hath laid the lniquiues Of
US al' and to whom John the Baptist referred when
he pointed out Jesus and said, behold the Lamb OF
FL THE SINS OF THE WORI.D''--
Inc bearing 60, o. our sins meaning no. only the endar
carrying OF them away from Ms. SO "a 10
free ns from the existence and dominion
or sin. In this connection he introduced an appro-
PIRATE slmlle drawn from mercantile lifc--a mer.
chants LEDGER with u debit and credit account. He
compared God 10 generous creditor and the sim
ner to an insolvent debtor. In the account there
were no entries to the debtors credit showing any
payments made by him. The entries were all
debts But on the credit side there was entry OF
full payment made by Christ for the debtor and the
Father, IN view Of That, had drawn over the other
entries has pen,
DIPPED IN THE BLOOD
OF his son, and this bloted them out forever, that
they should not appear IN Judgment against the
penitenr believer 4T ~4-
The sermon being ended, he explained the nature.
use and end OF the Lords supper, warned the I'M
penitent against unworthily partaking OF IT, and In
vited all true believers to join III the celebration,
after which and the singing Of psalm ne de-
scended TO the aisle and commenced the dstribu-
uon Of the elements by reading the words OF the ln-
stitutiOn and prayer. The commandments sat AT the
tables and when the first set had partaken psalm
was sung and during the singing the next set moved
forward and took their seats. Al each table adj
dresses were delivered on some practical theme
and at the conclusion Of all another address, based
on the f0nrtn chapter Of the Hebrews
NJ, communion service conducted after that fashion
Is something OF interest IN these times, as ii Is not
often witnessed. Mr.. Smyth considers the ancient
Presbyterian mode OF sitting at table more In ac-
cordance with The original Institution.