The New York herald., 1871-03-06
NEW ENGLAND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

The AtOnement Of Christ ~ Revealed In the
Bible-SermoE by Rev. Morrill, Richardson.
Springs opening Sabbath brilliantly bright, with .
golden glow or sunny warmth attracted an unu-
sualy large congregation at the serv es yesterday
morning at the New England Congregational
church, corner OF Madison avenue and Forty seventh
street. Prayer, singing and reading the Scriptures
led or the exercises, as usual. after which Rev.
Merrill Richardson, the pastor, delivered
THE SERMON.
He took for his text II. Corinthians K, 1s-"God
was In CHRIST reconclling the world unto himself
The text Was an exact Interpretation OF the atone
ment. The scheme OF the atonement was TO bring
nan back to God. It originated In Divine love- Its
object was reconciliation; sin WIS ruin. The great
thing was 10 uphold the sacredness OF the law and
vet reconcile man to God. To save man from sin,
to bring man to God was Its high purpose. Gods
love coipassed this great end. After further intro
ductory remarks, In general explanation OF the
elucldated the subject, as expressed through the
terms OF the Bible. He took up nrst
THE LEyITICAL LAW.
The Mosaic institutes, he urged, embodied the
Jewish worship. As to the matter Of sacrifice, II
was as old as Abel. The 1rst thing after the mood
Years before the Bible was known sacrifices were
made These SACRIFICES carried with them the spirit
day, and 80 In delving among the mysterious
mounds in Central America AND Mexico were found
m Isa q ases wr m
have felt the necessity OF this. It Is q want OF
mans nature felt aud known through all the ages.
are sins where restoration is essential the THEFT
OF money. The man wants reconciliation. There
is no way man thus having erred can be recon-
ciied except by confession ana restoration. The
Catholics understand this principle Of confession.
Then there 10 the second class Of sins, the sins
| against the conscience These are the
MEAN SINS OF MEN
that require atonement as well as those OF the first
a a hnW nr ynbn
son. the photographer. stood out In the rain through
three days ian and nights 70 tS atone M for SIN me ne mad com
ss' 5 ~ ns ssss1s. 1s' sssn.! R''esS ssS sss sss
nas to insure ess9n ar o9
and peace and content Of mind. Underlying TINS
or sackcloh ana ashes. fasting aud lying on thorns
and biting and tearing ones flesh. Through these
scribing the kinds OF aioning sacrifices men
toned In the Leyitical law ne spoke OF
THE SCAPEGOAT
as an outward emblem showing the bearing away
OF sins. The crime OF theft or fraud or murder
could not be laid on the goat. The SINS were
iorsaking OF sins OF which this was an emblem.
such seapegoat was Christ He bore away our
also as being made curse for US. and then again as
ransom. AFTER explaining the meaning OF these
s Son y "S S that n giving
ceeding ell other possible sacrifces-an exhibition
Of tie great and incompatible goodness or God to
OF HIS love. Though Christ was vicarious atone
ment he did not suffer cur sins In kind Dwelling at
length on this topic he next showed the
UNFOLDING OF THE Law
by Christ's atonement The grand dignity OF the
Law was upheld. Not jot or little or 1t passec
away. And yet, he argued, man cannot be recon.
ced TO God until he Is reconciled to the divine law
Most eloquently In this connection was portrayed
the benefcence Of Gods grace, and then, In cOncu.
sion, with like brilliant eloquence, pictured the
results OF the sublime sacrifice OF the Son Of God.
The sermon, OF which this is but brief abstract,
WAS listen q TO with the most earnest attention.
Prayer, singing and benedicton succeeded tho
sermon, and then followed the communion service,
In which ali members In good standing In Other
evangelical churches were cordially invited to par.
lciDaIo,