The New York herald., 1870-01-31
CEvhCa Of THE MESSIAH.
The Atoncmcnt-Sermon By Rev. George III
Hspw0rtL.

Hspw0rtL.
That large and magnincent temple Of worship, the
Church oT the Messiah, corner OF Park avenue and
Thirty fourth street, Goes not begin to be large
enough to accommodate the constantly increasing
congregations assembling there on Sundays for wor
HAp. Az the services yesterday morning the aises
weIe nlied with stools occupied by those who could
not get seats In the pews AND besides this ali the
standing room was occupied. The subject OF the
sermon was "The Atonement,n which called outone
OF the reverend speakers most eloquent, finished
and logical he TOOK for his text first Peter
IN, Is-.'Tne just for the UNJUST that he might
bf,ng us TO God.o The whole theory Of
salvation was folded up in the words Of TINS text.
1t was mystery Out OF the pity Of Chrst's great
heart was learned the desire to draw wandering
men back to the allegiance or their Father. LAKE,
wandering sheep they had gone astray. Christ came
that lie might Drng them by tile still waters and the
fields ripening with grain. He came for the fulfil
ment OF great mercy. The work Of salvation was
going on to-day. The Christian Charch was con-
ttauous iiue OF defence against the enemy. IL
fortress. Tne enemy may throw red hot snot, but
they caught the eartny bosom OF the fortress.
In the great battle or lie they made q f0rl-
ress. Christ came TO show them how TO ouid
II stone by stone. Here WAS Gil the armament they
wanted--the Damascene blade or faith, the sandals
Of charity the snied OF prayerevery thing that
needed to do the great or liIe Now the ques
tion ar,ses In wnat precise way does Chust save
usf' That he ded 10 save. all admit The whole
CHRISTIAN word " one on TINS pomt. But here is .
pronicn not yet solved by the Christian Church.
how they were thus Tilted up into a higher and bet
ter life was unknown Suiiicieat II was tor them u
wants. and ilud through nun The assistance
tney require. Although MI the world has turned
ITS back upon him, lie Jet is true 70 them. the
Macaiuery Of Heaven ls UNKNOWN 70 human KIND.
God acts IN HIS own way. He acts In very lnys
terioas manner to VI. IL fs enough To know that
he csrs Tor Us and taat He Is rather aud not TO
not know hOw--no one knows how. He would say
70 th0ss ia Clouds and darkness, look not forward
but BACKWARD INTO The noble lie Of Christ and iiiH
hign CHRISTIAN cnaracrer. They can know noti-
ing OF GOD; lie IS marvellous mystery
power. When he learns that he can have but
little of Cod he goes to Christ and learns from HIN
VII the rest he knows or can know. The church Lad
tried TO solve the question how Christ the atone-
ment and now through Tim souls are saved, but
found no sympathy with tneIr theories. Theology
ls dreadfn mudole; the more you know OF 1t the
less you know OF God The Bible was one great
work OF authority TO our aching. convuised
heart This told not how. II tells what Is, aud
this all that we to know. IL dernes the
general Interpretation Of The atonement-hOw in
Auams fall ai became sinners; how God then turned
and the devil came into existence, and how Christ
besougnt God that lie migat bear the sins and trans
gresslons OF the world; and how He did tins TO save
Sinners he protested against this theory with every
nbre oi his soul IL Ease IN every feature, He
did not care for theories but when dogmas are pro-
mugated that throw an asoersion on HIN 70 whom
everything, he will night them TO the bitter end.
lie would with apostolic fervor send the lie
into the teeth OF those who would make
God Jess Ihan God. Is II possible that
God c0tnd be Indignant with US for the wrongs
Others have committed? And underneath IS tue
pit iuLo MICH TO fall and God Will not stretch
out his hands TO us. Cod was our Father. This
principle would not apply TO household. Is he less
y rather ihan any OF US? Is he less mother than
any motnerY lie objected TO this theory because it
ned us responsible Tor the sins oil Others Altcr
illustrating this at some length, with singular co-
quence and c0geat argument he enforced his third
oDJectlOn 20 the atonenent AS unScrptQraL IN the
parable OF the Prodgal Son he insisted was shown
the exact relations between God and man. they
had listened TO the enticement OF passion and
lt had led them astray. IL they would get
into tue right they must like the PrOdigal Son. re-
turn TO their fatifcr.. God never rrowned. Christ
comes when they are most perpexed He came TO
That prodlgal when he was sitting on The trough,
TAXED TO him OF the purity Of his early days. and ne
Was saved. Next he considered how II was that the
1eath and not the life OF Christ has to do with their
,alvatlon. He reviewed the life Of Christ his hum
DIE origin, his earnestness, his devotion to Gods
word, has deatt--the great example tor others 70
oliOw. IL was this that made his life memorable.
DE instanced the lives and deaths OF Joan oil are,
socrates amt John Brown as partly parallel exam.
brother ana their teacher. lie died not simply md
only for the Hebrews but he died for them. He was
q living force to ALL He is literally their saviour.
lie iifCs them up from the slough OF deSpOnd into
true and n0lhe lie. He was the Savlour,Of the
whole world and the best friend the world has ever
known. Logic was nothing. Belief ana prayer
were everything. God De thanked tnat he mad never
that Jesus Christ to tell them that lie their
IaLner.