The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-01

hedemptt0n and Regenerati0n-The Influence
oil Holy Lives-Sormon by the Right Rev.
bishop Observation-Disclosures Conflru,nt ton.
The services at Christ church yesterday morning
were begun at an unusually early hour. After the
morning prayer the Right Rev. Bishop Potter
preached the sermon. taking HIS text from
!. John, ILL.,, 1--WE know that when He shall
appear we shall be ike Him, for we shall see
Him as He Is" These are the words showing us
the love of God. We are privileged by Him to re-
ceive back the Holy Ghost. We are assured
that we shall indeed be like Him and
Shall see Him as He Is. Il was the
sight that Peter behed at the TRANSPORTATION of the
Lord Jesus Christ, when he exclaimed in kind OF
rhapsody, "Lord 1t is good for us to be nere.n And
we are to be, like Him, TRANSPORTED. The world
around us Is wonderful. Every leaf and flower and
wind is miraculous. or ourselves we can truly say
that "we are fearfully and wonderfully made"
But of all the ever present wonders OF earth the
greatest Is the redemption and regeneration which
Is our glorious Inheritance made in the image of
the Father to be exalted to the Divine sonshlp.
There Is popularity OF expression in the text
1--WE SHALL BIZ LIKE HIM.
for we shall see Him as He is. II we see Him as He
is we must have much IN common with him; we
must have intellectual qualities of q similar kind;
our spirits must be prepared. We are familiar with
this law OF our nature; but the inference is not
exactly the truth. We are not to see Him because
we are like Him; but we shall be like Him because
we shall see Him as lie is. The vision viii draw us
still closer 10 HIM, and must be so before we can
nave any hope of The assured favor OF God. work
OF grace must be begotten IN the heart. Our great
hope and trust Is that the souls OF faithful who
depart dep are removed beyond the precincts of flesh
ny %swns; ssaus,as life heart, sa,i '1s
The body is given over for time to Corruption. but
the soul from the very instant OF Its delivery Is free
may, indeed. perceive the ioy and feicitv Of God.
Such Is the Dlessedness OF our hope. When we
be- our weakness and imperiec,lon viii tall OF. As
death draws near the flesh OF the world loses its
me SOU Ist may aready a. death have the
may be drawn to greater likeness to Him. Have
we never found ourselves in the presence OF sweet,
elevated SOUL and felt our hearts burn with love for
ltY Have we not In that living presence resolved TO
be more like the light that SO powerfully movess
When the blessed Lord was on eartn we know how
differently different characters affected by i'm.
Some followed Him with ever-lncreaslng devotion,
while others were moved 10 hatred. lie was
DIVINE TOucHsTONE,
drawing ont latent Characters. But while lie was
a saviour OF life to some, lie was Saviour of death
TO others. OF this life we may say something of the
same KIND. IL Is so with the influence O every holy
he 1t has, through the goodness OF God an absolute
converting power In the beauty holiness 1t shows
clearly wnat holiness Is; 1T kndles human hearts
and draws them to itself. So st. Augustine while
lighting conscience anu passion, catching gmpses
Oh truth anu seeking to draw near to It, mad his
spirit stirred in MN by glanclng at miracle which
and i'll after ages converted thousands was himself
converted by The example OF one Christian soul.
HOW often can we draw such examples from the
lives OF devoted Cnristlansy IL Is not a wOndrous
history. Every year, and l should have said every
day, brings US the record of some holy life We be-
hold
IMAGES OF sANCTIrY AND DEVOTION
which touch our hearts and make us better. There
Is something In the Holy Book to draw one away
from the things OF the earth. That something Is the
image OF our adorable Lord. "And L. says He 'rf
be lifted up Will draw all men unto me-" He so
influences the world that all men may triumph over
death and hell. There Is charm In that scene
publicans aud sinners drawing near to Him; men
from al sides, from all rites and from all the paths
OF sln TO
THE CAPTIVITY OF HIS TRUTH
And as many went into that captivity gave He TO
become sons Of God. Delivered from the burden OF
flesh they snail see Him, and His faithful ones snail
to say In the ecstatic words, sLord 1t Is good for
Us TO be here Such things seem too high for our
poor SPIRIT yet Tor this en- the Lord bore the
persecution o. unbelief, that might be saved
from DEATH God help US to give heed 10 the lesson
Every one thar hat2 this hope him purifeth him.
self, even as he Is pare.
AT the close OF the sermon
THE RITE OF CONFIRMATION
was administered by the reverend bsnop, and thr-
ty-five candidates admitted TO the communion.
The altar was decorated with beautiful white lilies
and baskets OF flowers, and the shrine was gar
all OF the candidates ladies and were dressed
III moving white robes, winch IN tue u Ill light OF
The cnancel made the scene very beautiful and I'M
pres,lve. me ceremony was concludes by the rem
derng OF Rghlni's brilliant anthem, ''TRe Lord is
Great" by the full cnor. Tno responses OF the
finest as well as the most dililcu parts of the per-
fOruance.