The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-12

Oh ner 10 course Oh TENOR, LalRtuDeCk,
Ia well known at this church.
THE AMERICAN FREE CHURCH.
~>-oo~->-No>~~~~~~~~~~o
Anniversary Services OF tho Church-Sermon
by the Rev. &. b. Smyth the Confidence
Of PAULA Retrospect of the Year, and
Commendation Of the Press Of Now York.
The anniversary services OF the Inauguration OF
the American Free Church were conducted by Rev.
Charles B. smytn. yesterday. in the new chapel Of
the New York University, SO Waverley place. They
consisted IN the morning Of sermon appropriate to
the OCCASION reported below, and the dispensation
OF the Lords Supper to the members. The text
selected was:-"I can do all things through Christ
which strengthened me."-Phil.. w.. 49,
Twelve months ago to-day. according to the
day OF the week, nv beloved hearers. the
American Free Church was inaugurated. The circum-
stances which led to the Inauguration are known to
all men, inasmuch as they were published in every
newspaper OF note in the city, and may say In tho
whole world. Yet the present occasion must not be
allowed pass without our adverting to them, and
that nope to do before the close OF this DISCOURSE
In q way that Will be edfying to you. In the mean
time let US consider, In the first place. the perform
ance contemplated in the text. Secondly, the posi-
bllty thereof. l. The performance contemplated.
It Is plain from the context That the perform
ance referred to Is that of univera personal
obedience. ~ can do all things" that Is all that
duty toward God and my neighoor demands. The
principle OF all obedience is very simple: is love;
but 1t branches out into great variety Of partcu.
lars, not only into all the precepts Of the first and
the second tables OF the decalogue, as viewed on the
surface thereof but into all those as modified and
varied by tho m6nite multitude OF tho circum-
stances which spring from the relationships and
transactions Of life. Christ in His Sermon ON the
have exhibited a great many applications
OF this principle Yet even they neces-
sarly left unnotlced o thousand possibilities
in the condition OF man; but by bequeathing to US
the general motive OF oil true obedience and teach
ing us to govern ourselves accordingly. they have
supplied us with all needful direction for every
state In llfe and therefore Paul, when he had men,
toned some OF the exhibitions OF this great prin
ciple, concluded by saying, "If there be any other
commandment 1t is briefly comprehended In this,
Thou shalt love thy negnbor as myself "-Romans
kill. 10. The duties which now from this copious
source Of human conduct are as innumerablc as the
little ingredients that compose mighty river, ever
rising and rolling on, as we
SAIL ALONG THE STREAM OF TINE.
They are as mantle which encircles our whole
France they float In the atmosphere we breathe; ny
In every fraction OF time, and arc our companions
through the whole course or our experiences; they
nestle in the food we eat and swim In the uid
which we drink. that whether we cat or drink or
whatsoever we do we may do all TO the glory OF God
In short, there is in human life not conceivable
situation in which God has not a law and duty for
us. In your store, In your workshop, In the feld.
in your office, at the bar, on the bench. In the
pulpit and In the Senate AMI halls OF
legislation, and In all the executive
departments OF government, His law comes
in with supreme authori ~ and commands
respect and obedience on the principle OF loving
God with all our heart and soul and mind and
strength, and our neighbors ourselves; and SO in
all the widespread diversity OF human affairs there
is not case In which there Is no room for the ques
ton, "Lord, what will tnou have me TO do :" {Gai.
", 22-24; II. Pet l., BIS; Rom. Kill; Cor. xiii.
second head which we have announced. The pos
slbity OF universal obedience y here plainly de-
ported by the TACT that Adam was perfectly right
eous until he ate the forbidden fruit, and that
expected to be perfect and assured that without
Holiness no man shall sec the Lord.n IL Is supported
ny our omn ss zee 9Sv
church Is not because they cannot walk thither and
why others do not conduct FAMILY worship Is not
because they are without families; and why others
do not reaa the Bible IN private is not because they
1t not or cannot obtain IL; and why others do
which to ask, because there Is throne OF grace
TO approach; and why Others DO not believe Is not
itself: and why others are not pardoned Is not be-
cause God Is unwilling to forglve-but because
thingsf 1t lies in Christ. ''The flesh" says PAUL.
lusteh against the spirit and the spirit against the
flesh, and these are contrary the one to the other,
so that you cannot do the things that ye would,
"Without me-" says Christ rye can do nothing"
~ can do oil things through Christ, which strength
the principle contained In the text is far from being
acted upon as 1t should be- Paul does notfay. al DO
all things'; nay, Duo only III can do all thngsn
matters i may be quit. possible 70
regard to the universal personal obedience or Sunless
perfection referred to In the text However possible,
II Is never actual and, therefore, IN all the ~alks of
life we ind not PERFECTION but imperfection on all
hands. II we come In sight OF those who place ali
THEIR PERSONAL MORALITY,
what deficiency do we md even among them9 IL
own hearts IN such light as might enable them to
see through the nmsy network OF their own unsub-
stanna accompanying, ,n hidden deiormity and
washed recesses OF their hearts, But o ray from
.the Son OF righteousness" carried thither by the
Ing Cod or rejected from his Word i."t can
pierce the veil that .conceals them, and
then, oh, what wees are made apparent And II we
turn to those who admire ana love the Christian
system and place all their hope for mercy and sal
yation upon "the redemption that Is In Christ
clency among them whence IS that general forre
funcss OF God and Christ in the business OF the
weckY Whence the talebearing and censorousness,
the POISONOUS breath OF which mingles disease with
the moral ienuid and carries death to the vitals OF
spirituality Whence the puerility and Intellectual
dwartshness and the want OF frankness and truth
rulness which we perceive among all classes, in
stead OF the lofty bearing oil noble. Christian minds2
Whence the too frequent dissertation OF private from
| whence is It that when a minister lectures sucn
people upon the practical duties Of Christianity and
| insists upon universal obedience TO the laws Of
| Christ he Is regarded as stepping aside from the
path OF propriety and IN the pulpit acting upon
tiiegitimate censey But we must not expatiatc too
widely upon the faults Of our hearers lest those OF
kprQ m NV maelv