The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-01-23
NEW ENGLAND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.


What God Does 10 Hold Men to Obedisuce-
sermon by Rev. Merrill Richardson.
The third IN the series or Sunday evening sermons
on the Fundamental Truths OF the bible." by Rev.
Merrill Richardson. was given last evening at the
New England CONGREGATIONAL church, corner Of
Madison avenue ana Forty seventh street. There
was q large attendance, as on the re,ious Sunday
evenings. The usual PREDATORY exercises followed.
The subject OF
TIE SERMON
was what God does TO hold man TO obedience" and
the text upon which 1t was founded was Isaiah
v 4.-"What could have been done more to my
vineyard that have not done in 4" AS the owner
OF vineyard daes all he can 10 secure the best
vintage SO does Cod TO secure the love and oOe-
dence or man. His iist argument was that from
Gods character we Dlgat presume this wcuu pe
around his children every influence when can secure
tneir anecuun. In his care and precepts and warn
ings; IN his repfools and training and CORRECTION;
In the attractions OF home he VIII! appeal TO every
want and susceptibility OF the child Dues not TOD
do the sameY IL Is the euty OF civil governments TO
reward obedience aad punish .ransgression. lie next
isisted tina In creation God has all that IL
po ssioie TO hold men TO tse allegiance. ''Obcy and
he blessed; repe and suffer- Is the language OF
CREATED FOR LOVING OBEDIENCE,
Bow strong the human body when oDedient TO Its
lawsl WHAT oy IN every sensei Rightly trained, all
Its functions Will give pleasure and not pam; but
Nioaie It's laws, and disease, pain AMI premature
DEATH VIII result Vice stamps Itself Oh form aud
feature. How inspiration pictures the horrors OF
over-ndulgence-ihe lesness OF eyes, the stammer-
ing tongue. The staggering gait, the cogged brain.
the Startling visions. the woes ana sorrows OF an
abused body. What mere, by way OF
lENALTlEs,
could Goo have done Ia creation to hold men TO
obedience lie gives every nerve the power OF the
adder sting ana the scorpions lasn. What Is the
meaning OF all tnIss II rs Gods voice, saying.
Cease 10 do evil ana learn 10 do WE'LL,
His tnird point was tiat God does all lie can do
in tue rewards and computations OF conscience.
yIceregent, 10 execute his laws IL can give peace
anu JOY Una. are beyond price, anu IL can lead 10
set forth this power OF coas ienoel 10 the ev iC is
a thorn; sting; serpentis bite; vampire; a
demon. II copies his solitude with armed lures.
Il Inc suos's' !" '0i''''A'' eAe'a''s "'rs' me
SWORD OF DAMocLEs
over every guilty least OF l1e Ii may be hardened
yet 1t comes firth ".rumpet-l0reue d." After
dwelling at length on this po.n5 he pro-
encdgn for mans obedience. He VIII require only
according (, what Is given. He l. more IN ercilui
because he could not have more light tod
holus eyery one lagan or CHRISTIAN. TO the truth he
has. or night lave. ~ the il&ht use OF his powers
Wherever uol's Z, sees q heart OF love am pur.
pose to be right however ignorant, "tnat b.oAen
reed He vii not break" No one. ci.iid or man,
ever persisted because he could not know enough 10
b. saved. Ills fifth point was that Go gives HIS
spirit TO all en; "s voice Is zone cut into all the
word;' His aoirlt can work through the truths OF
nature OF revocation IL strives with all: Ana II
men would not resist HIS Impressions and gr.eve
HIS influence IL would be accepted. ''ohali not the
Judge o. all the earl do7rlshty' Right, as can
understand IT, us lie not impartial, having NO
sqect OF persons ~
III VEL Is EVERY MORTAL BEING
In perfect balance, ana not one VIII complain that
IL did noi knew enough aud have moJ,es aud IN
llaences enough TO do Gods WIN and be blessed.
Old Uneven was accepted. and C.irlst holds mp
Their rep rtauce 10 shame the Jews who
hal more llgh., The reverend speaker went
o. sly That there were sove haru que 'tious III
CONNECTION with the suoect. he could not tell why
God had III plscu lne Gosae. 10 al n .Iols more
than why i.e had not gwen thea our ar6.. But we
know the ibie IN 10 lie uo1s all Is nee
sary aud all tAat Is wise or dis vineyard. We are
NOT To 3UD IL o u rs BY OUR STANDARD
Let 0nr concern oe 10 come up 10 our know efGe
OF duty. Where God gives 80 mucn lie VIII require
the more Tue heathen word uoei not present
questions more dilicult than New orA or London.
A the moral Governor or man, Coo VIII ne impair
ual, mercilIi and just He will never gather wnere
lie not sosed. His grace and a onement are
not limited. whatsoever will may come and par
take oil the water OF lie. =
The above Is but brief sketch OF an hours dis
course, in which The positions taken We're fully Illus
trated.
1t was announced that the subject OF the next
sermon would be '.Waat Is SIlf"
Singing prayer and benedtctioD terminated the
services.