The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-12
FIFTH AVENUE COLLEGIATE REFORMED
CHURCH.

BIossedness ~ tho Dead WHO Die IN the
LOrd-SermOn by Row. 1T. Orn,ist0n.
This church. on Fifth savenue and Twenty-nlnth
street, was well filed with worshippers yesterday
morning, to whom the Rev. DR.. Ormlston ex.
poundedl the thirteenth verse OF the fourteenth
chapter Of Revelation-"And heard a voice saying
unto me. Write, Blessed are the dead which die in
the LORD from henceiorth; yea, saith the Spirit that
they may rest from their labors; their works do
follow them" There are two topics suggested by
this text and expressed In it-namely, the dead in
the Lord, and the blessedness OF such dead. In
former sermon the Doctor pointed out the difference
between being In the Lord and In the Church The
general belief Is that Christian is one who has
faith In Christ not only In His person, but In His
mission, His character and His work. The dead in
the Lord have been sancti1ed by His SPIRIT and are
now without fault before God they wear white
robes their lives are conformed to His life; they
obey His commands, and follow the Lamb whittier
soever He gocth. To be In the Lord is in the end
and aim OF our lives to be like Him; SO that while
we in the world we shall not be OF
the world. bat above it-in the Lord in
death well as In LIE, in time and place and man.
ner OF our departure. So that like Jesus we shall
be able TO say with our latest BREATH Father into
Thy hands
COMMEND MY SPIRIT.
Trusungly conide 1t to Him who created it, To
be In the Lord Is, Furthermore, to be able to saw
Though walk through the valley OF the shadow
Of death viii lear no evi.u WhyY because Thy
rod and Thy stan comfort mel In our ardent
desire 10 depart Jesus did and to be with Him 1t Is
every believer who can conscientiously use this
language and tins desire death. It Is not healthy
thing To be always longing for death; is FAR better
to be busy while we live here on the cartn. There
Is something abnormal and wrong In this longing,
and we should find something here TO occupy our
head and heart and hands for Cod and Tor hu-
min Rnfs larn ttfan1
restrain our longing desires 10 20 and be with
Christ. which ID Tar better. Such occasional long
in the Lord in dying as well as living. A light from
the throne VIII illumine the dying bed; and
though the aeaihglszed eyes may no more
nor the deafched ears hear the sweet sounds OF
prayer mat ascend to God from the bedside and The
soul OF the dying Christian VIII see light from
CATCH GLIMpsEs OF THE GLORY
which lies beyond. Blessed are the dead who die In
the Lord yea saith the Spritas II there doubt
IN the mind OF the believer Just. as Jesus Himself
affirmed his truth TO his ancient people. As live,
saith the Lord; even so SATIN the Spirit. Write,
In The stric;cst they only live who die In the
Lord. No more shall any gates Of the valley
Of the shadow Of death SWING on their hinges
a purer llfe-they live unto cd. Where. then.
Is that cold confortless idea OF ahnihillion to be
iound? Is it in the human heart and conscious
nessS No. Is 1t In human expericDcey No. Is lt
revealed In naturcf No. In the Word OF God No
II Is contained only in depraycd and peryerse minds
THIS IS not Tie Gospel or our Lord Jesus Christ which
has brought life ana Immortality 10 light.
souL SLEEP - CONTRARY 10 PHILOSOPHY,
to experience and 10 the Word or Cod Notice Abra-
ham, VINO lived To good old age and was gathered
to his fathers and was buried inslhe OF Mach
peah beside the remains OF Sarah his wife. Isaac
and Jacob were buried In the same place, and Jesus
declares that God IL the God or Abraham, or Isaac
and OF JACOB, and yet He II not heGod OF the Dead
but or the llyiDg. And mink also OF Abraham's
bosom aud the story OF Lazarus ana the rich
man, which parable the Doctor related aud com
inenteu upon 10 Illustrate future life and the souls
immortality The whole testimony OF the Scriptures
- against extinction Of being ormenta somno.ency
different Interpretations OF the term .henceforliir
were gwen; but that which the Doctor believed TO
I've the true one Is that 'Immed iatelyD as II were
from the moment That believer dies in the Lord ne
Is blessed. lie may have been gibbeted or burned
at the stake or stoned, hundreds of saints mar.
tyrs and coniessor5 have been, but tho moment of
his departure must be the moment or hia supreme
bessedness- henceforlh blessed, Immediately
blessed. And this implies great elevation OF
Thought and feeling. what a contrast IL prcsents,
between them ana those who lie down with the dark
and dismal feeling Of humiliation passing upon
them Now In higher atmosphere ana pnrer
light their
CAPACITIES ARE ENLARGED, THEIR SENSES CULT.
WAITED,
their powers increased, and from their loftier emil.
ncnce they can command a wider and a finer
prospect. Their faith can be firm and without a
doubt: their hopes rodant their Judgment clear: