The New York herald., 1871-09-11
SIXTEENTH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.

Sermon by Rev. w. =. EIikes-rhe Children
s... ~ God In the World.
After the usual exercises at the Sixteenth street
Baptist church ycsterday morning, Rev. w. 8.
Mikes the pastor. preached very interesting SER
mon. taking for his text. ''Ye are children OF God
through faith IN Christ Jesus" Galatians ILL.,, 2e.)
All mankind are children OF God by creation. but
they become Christians BY special grace. St. John
says, ITO them who receive this special grace is
given power" &c. This blessing is received BY
faith IN Jesus Christ US in context. The text pre-
sents q new revelation In reference to Christians
beng
BROUGHT TO GOD BY FAITH
In Jesus. aye children OF God through faith In
Christ Jesus" Behold what manner Of love God
had Tor when lie gave HIS Son 10 save us. And
we are told that we are His children. What manner
OF love that we should be called children OF God.
mot by might, not BY power but by My spirit"
saith the Lord. Redemption and regeneration arc
both essential for salvation Ono IS not sufficient
without the other. We must be regenerated ''Be-
cause We are sons God has sent His spirit"
WE ARE NO MORE SERVANTS.
but children; we are sons OF God. Tho world re.
ves and despises Christians. but they are the chill.
dren OF God. The others have wealth ana plenty
but, alas how sad would ir be IL this was all that
was to he given to them. We md people OF the
world proudly claiming kindred with, or tracing
their descent Dack 10, noble or learned ceie
brated person. The Jews boast O their being OF
Abraham; David asked II was not great to be the
son-iE-law OF KingY But how proudly can tho
Christian point up towards God and say, .'Thou art
my father. Whom God loveih He claste ieth.n Yet
also He says, ~ spare them ..n
AS THE MAN SPARES THE CHILD
he loves" When you nnd yourself oppressed by sor.
row and almost ready TO despair. When your way Is
In darkness, with no light to guide your steps, bOpo
III God ana stay yourself on your God. When YOU
can realize the w0rns 'Now you see ShrOugn glass
dalkly," when 1t seems Us II the light would never
come, there VIII be a rent In The dark, Overhang.
through. and you win then perceive that through
nl! your journey you have been led along by tie
hand OF o loving Father to higher plane. In HIS
wisdom He sends trials Tor our gOo 10 1T Tor the
reception Of the inheritance prepared Tor u.s. beyond
reach OF "muth ana rust and thieves" II we
ARE CHILDREN or GOD
we not only ought to love Him. but we do love Him.
For this very love Is evidence OF our new blrtn
or regeneration. In addition to loving God we
Ought also TO lear HIM; not with servie iear such
| as servant has Tor his master; but with nlial
fear, such as the fear OF son fpr Kind parent.
| fear OF OFFENDING Him because we love Him should
acriiate us aud keep IRON DONG ought to dis
please HIN. Have we faith In CHRIST Jesus. and
part or the question the text furnishes us cn answer
'Ye are cnlldren Oi 0Od through
FAITH IN CHRIST JEsUS.0
The reverend gentleman closed his discourse with
iervent appeal to ms hearers to preserve this
fain IN Christ and to persevere until the end, until
they SHOULD see Him lace to lace, and hear fall from
His lips the welcome Words "Come my childrerl,
enter here this Is the inheritance have prepared
Tor you"