The New York herald., 1870-08-22
AMERICAN FREE CHURCH.
Confidence i'm the Ainlahty-Elaqrent Sermon
by the Rev. Charles Il. Smyth.

by the Rev. Charles IL. Smyth.
There was fair attendance at this church yesrer
day. After the usual preliminary services the Rev.
Mr. Smyth took his text from Hebrews W.. 10
(which hope we have as an anchor OF the soul,
both sure and steadfast.n He said:-NapOleon Is
dead-not indeed yet st1ened for the CONN, but his
dynasty has evidently breathed its last The 'bap-
tism OF fret burned up the prospects OF his son.
Prussian sabres have shaved Off his imperial.
Prussian guns have battered down his hopes. And
whys Because he made not Cod his trust. have
looked upon Napoleon Ill as the greatest statesman
OF his time, but that time Is past / say he
was the greatest, but IN declaring war against
Prussia when he did be committed an lrreparable
blunder Pulled up with prlde-ln1ated with vanity
at the retrospect Of the prosperity which God had
given him as the ruler of the French people-he i'm
agned thai his sun would never SET and that he had
but to viii the
sUBJUGATIQE or TIE PRUssIASs,
and the Thing would be dcne. France had enjoyed
great measure OF prosperity under his reign; but,
ike Belshazzar Of Old, he became selconddent
and trusted too much to his own sagacity. The re-
,sut is seen in the news which now reaches US daily
OF Prussan victories and French defeats. We may
all learn a lesson from these facts as to the
uncertainty OF mere earthly hopes. How few
persons conclude life as IN youth they
had hoped In youth we build our castles
high, TO find them afterwards nlled wltI air, and
elevated only OH paselesS fabric OF vision. Es-
peCany is thtS the case when we follow not the
headings OF Providence, or act not IRON conviction
oi cuty. We are like person ascending some great
eminence. We rise by uegreeS, then, reaching
the summit our head becomes dlzLy and like a bird
on the wing. unexpectedly Shot by The fowler, we
drop into the abyss below 10 rise no more. IL be-
comes us as Christians 10 watch the events which
Ira1splrlng around uS-tO make ourselves fami-
liar with The daily record OF tnem as they now past
us-and To contrast their evanescent character with
the stability OF The eternal blessings oI the Gospel,
e obtained by faith in Jesus Christ. Ine hope OF the
Christian IS compared IN the text 10
An ANCHOR OF THE SOUL,
both sure and steadiasC THIS IS OF nose instances
IN Scripture III which tne put for the effect.
1T Is evident from the connection that Christ Is the
embodiment and substance OF all our hopes. As the
anchor Of the snip enters into ami Iastens in the
depths, so Christ has entered within the vale and
moored His church 70 the eternal purposes or God
with stability that never can be Shaken. But the
substance VI the Christians hope couprehends a
great variety Of minul@, such as the nope OF par
don, Of peace joy. OF regeneration. OF sanctllca-
ton, or adoption, or resurrection OF the body, OF
eternal NE ana OH tue biss OF heaven In Ro-
mans, Wills. the apostle Paul speaks OF
our hope in It's incplency ana IN It's frultioD.
and traces It through The intermediate
course through which 1t acquires strength.
AT the outset when the believer begins to exercise
faith 1t is very different in degree from what 1t is
when II has encountered ana overcome the dnicul.
ties with which 1t has had to contend through
long course OF
CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE,
as the nope OF mariner, when he Is just leaving port,
Is very different from that which he possesses when
san, after encouDtering the squalls and storms OF
the voyage Having reached his destination and
cast anchor, his vessel being safely moored in the
pay anu thus made sure and steadrast as he lowers
The row boats 10 convey himself and passengers to
tne snore he has no longer any fear about their
SAFETY 80 the Christian, assured that Christ having
entered within the vale, his anchor is cast, ands
his hopes
SURE AND STEADFkST.
This Is the great hope OF which should all seek TO
DC possessed One may start In life with the expec
taion OF becoming millionaire, distinguished
a N a
famous emperor and after all fail to reach the height
OF MS ambition, or having reached the pinnacle, 10
retain his place thereon for more tnan an hOur but
he who sets his heart on heavenly things and seeks
the glory, honor and power that come only from
oDedience to God Will find that he has cast anchor
Wnnln the vale-an anchor 70 the soul both and
Bteadiast.