The New York herald., 1871-10-30
JOHN STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL
CHURCH.

The Origin, Means and Purposes Of Mans
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. by Rev. Thomas
Guard.
One hundred and three years ago the first Metho-
dist church on this Continent was erected where the
present eddce In John street stands. At every
recurring anniversary the present ana old
members unite together In celebrating this
important event. Yesterday the old church
was crowded from morning till evening. The Rev.
DR.. Jesse T. Peck, D. d., President OF Syracuse
University, preached able discourse In the morn
ing, and Rev. Thomas Guard, OF the Irish Wesleyan
Conference. preached eloquenty In the evening.
The intermediate hours, save those required for
home calis were spent in prayers and experience
giving The annual report OF the treasurer showed
that on the estimated
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE
(s4,6oO) for this conference year there would be
deficiency In the receipts OF $2,5oO This sum was,
therefore, raised by subscription during the day
5000 of 1t having been raised In the evening and
81 900 in the previous part OF the day. There was
not standing room in the old church last evening,
and the PASTOR Rev. L. S. Weed cautioned the people
against crowding. MI. Guard offered up fervent
prayer and afterward preached a most eloquent
sermon from James L., 1s-"Of His own will begat
He us with the word OF truth, that we should be
kind of first fruits OF His creatures.n His theme
was personal salvation and he divided his text
according TO Its natural divisions; First as to It's
Origin-"Of HIS own will begat He u.s." second, the
means by which 1t is accomplished-"with the word
OF TRUTH and thirdly, the end proposed by human
. KIND Of nrst' fruits of His GREAT" creatures.% y
Our salvation is the result or design and
merely in its poentialty but In the thoughts Of His
heart toward us. II God mad not saved US OF HIS
apoundng love Of God is mystery and ever viii i, be
TO us. The objects and charcferlscs OF human love
were portrayed and applied to Jehovah's love for
Va q vi
at ALL He said, yet He loved Us, and II could
only understand Him how much OF loathing that love
had to rein in-our hearts mass OF corruption and
vice-then should we understand how that none
bu5
BEING or INFINITE LOVE
could think OF uA The sDontanelty impartlaty,
patience &c 0f this Divine love, the condescenslon
ana humiliation att ,r Sf Christ st. IN % manifestng it were
that not until we can understand all this can we
fully appreciate the amplitude OF this love-of the
said it Is a dificuI thing to accomplish the
sOuls salvation This was amply Illustrated, showing
the free agency Of man. the restraining grace OF Cod
the quckenng OF the spirit and the elimination OF
various events In mems lives leading them to God.
swept away. Commercial failures, disastrous con.
nagrations, financial rcvulsons-the props upon
which men build their hopes are cut away as In
moment by these. Like as an eagle nuttereth over
Ss @ deaen wih sr cndrsn ne se
knocks on twig OF the nest here aud there.
as It were, until the young caget finds her too
uncomiortape and Is compelled to make an at
lasting arms underneath and bears the soul aloft.
The nature OF sin and the different theories OF men
respecting It's origin were detailed, and therefrom
was drawn the necessity for the
AGENCY OF THE DIVINE SPIRIT
to accomplish This great work. The second divi.
sion OF the subject was very beautifully illus
trated and enforced Gods interest in man was
shown; the subJecton Of human souls TO moral
restraints, the conduct OF life which Is the
result OF the creed, or what every man
belicveth In MS heart and the governing influence
ana power OF ideas, were clearly set forth. II you
VIII change u mans conduct, said the preacher,
you must change MS character and II you would
change that you must change the IDEAS that govern
him. This point was varl0usly illustrated Cod q.
changes our character aud conduct by truth--'rhe
word OF truth,n the gospel OF the grace OF God.
The law s the acn0olmaster which drives us to
Christ. But then we must have an intelligent
faith in Jesus CHRIST as divine saviour,
universal saviour and living Sa-
viour-ever living to make intercession for
us and hence able to TO the uttermost
all who come unto God through Him. The idea OF
first fruits as dedicated things as good and pure
was descantcd upon and then 10 was shown what
tion. And under tIns head Mr.. Guard very Justly
held up to execraton the vulgar and obscene prints
and publications which are 10 be found on almost
every street corner. Art, photography, poetry,
song ana the press are pr0stited to vice and crime
Great indeed must be the liberty OF the country that
allows those things to exist at all. He regretted
that his eyes should ever have rested on them iie
closed with an eloquent appeal to the uncovered