The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-17
ALL SOULS CHURCH.
Gods Government and Human Perfectibilify-
Sermon by Rev. Mr.. IresOn, Of London-A
DispMtatious Listener in Church.

Gods Government and Human Perfectibilify-
Sermon by Rev. MIR. IresOn, Of LUndOn-A
Dispmtatious Listener in Church.
There was sparse, though no smaller than usual
at this season OF the year, attendance yesterday
morning at the Church Of All Souls. Or as II is ore
popularity known, Dr. Bellows church, corner OF
Fourth avenue and Twentieth street. The sermon
was preached by Rev. Nh. Ireson OF London. He
took as his text Matthew ", 4S:-"Be We perfect
even as your Father in heaven Is perfect.n The
perfeclons of the Father invited to imitation. Jesus
not satisfied with the propositions OF
mere moral lesson, but offered with every
precept the inviting promise OF divine help
To hear Christ's sayings and TO obey them is TO
found ones house on a rock, He speaks out HI s
mission. He here teaches the entire doctrine OF sal
walton. 1t IS not salvation by doctrnal belief but
conceive and obey Gods Will with neartincss True
spiritual help brings all souls to the same COM
peXon at last. The proof and comfort Of salvation,
the very
ESSENCE OF CHRISTIANITY
ls the hope and endeavor to be perfect even the
Father In heaven. The doctrine Of the true law OF
human duty, as set forth in the sermon on the
Mount, formed the next topic Of MS discourse. The
sole object OF God's law was the good OF HIS
children. HIS laws not the arbitrary laws Of
omnipotence Sin is defo-mity. 1t Is hostile TO
Gods benehcent designs Gods rule Is the pater-
MAJ rule. SIN Is not an abstract quality capable OF
transmission 1t Is not thing in our own thought,
our temper, our deeds. The more wretched sin
makes man the more hope is there of that man.
Whom the Lord loveth lie chasLeneth. fathers
love must be administered With discrimination.
The
METHOD OF GODS PArERNAL RULE
is characterized by the widest and broadcast discrm
nation. There Is no rule here Tor plausible casuls-
try, for prestiy control OF conscience for painful
penenceS.
After further charging on this pon: he next pro-
ceeded to show who Is the administrator OF GOu's
law. IL was not theirs to restrict the law Of God for
HIS children. II was 40 act OF mercy to sinful soul
to give 1t place Tor which 1t was not fitted. They
would not quarrel with the divine work. So that
they could hold the Fathers hand they felt sale.
Trust III the Father was their salvation, their
religion. Some considered the ideal of the text as
grand. And so II was. But it an ideal that was
real. God was the great administrator The Justice
and the mercy OF God are not 10 be separated. I'm.
perlecOns are no bar to the love OF God. He seeks
the wicked and the gulty.
THE PENALTY OF SIN
which a child suffers Is good for It. Men
suffer the evil consequences OF their own
folly. There is no escape from sin. Salvation
is not the result OF pei. ection. To eradicate sin
from men and not to punish it forms grand
part in the scheme OF Gods government. The re-
demptlOn through Christ Is not effected 10y reducing
the obligations to the divine law. Terror of God
little acceptable to the iniinitude OF Gods love.
ana OBEY Him: We linen have no terror OF God.
God looKs at the heart, looks at 1t penetratingy,
but looks at 1t with fathers love.
EPISODAL INTERRUPTION.
just after the preacher mad concluded his sermon
middle.aged, thin featured, sallow cUmpcXioned
individual. but very respectfully dressed. up
front pew directly facing the pulpit, and in a
strain Of about two minutes talk was laying the
foundation OF combating the views set forth In the
sermon, when he was suddenly stopped by the
strong arm OF the sexton, who quietly removed HIM
from The church The man made no resistance. The
congregation had hardly time TO get excited upon
this unusual In .erference the before
was all over, after which the services closed in
the usual way, with singing, prayer ana bene-
dictiOn.