The New York herald., 1871-01-02
THE CHRISTIAN FREE CHURCH.

Sermon by Rev. MIR. F0Ote-Review of the
Events OF the Past Year, Politically, scienti-
hcally and ReligiousIy.
The Rev. Mr.. Foote entertained and instructed his
audience yesterday morning in the Christian
church, Twenty eighth street, near Broadway with
review Of Gods dealings with the world during
the year just passed. His remarks were based upon
]. Samuel, viii, H. which reads-.Then Samuel took
stone, and set it between Mizpeh ana Shen, and
called the name OF 1t Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto
hath the Lord helped u.s." The historic connection
Of this event was briefly told. The ark OF God had
been brought from the land of the Philistines, and
the Israelltes, who had during its captivity there
given themselves over to idolatry, were now
directed by Samuel to gather together at Mzpeh
and sanctfy themselves previous to bringing the
ark from the house OF Abinadab, whittier it had
been taken. The Philistnes heard OF this religious
gathering, and armed themselves and went out to
battle against Israel; but while Samuel prayed and
onered sacrifices unto Goa for the people the Lord
thunderod with q great thunder upon the Phlstiue5
AND DIsoOMFITED THEM,
and the men of Israel went out OF Mlzpeh and pur-
sued the Philis,lnes and smo5e them until they came
under Beth-car. And TO commemorate this great
victory, both over the enemies OF the Lord and OF
Israel, Samuel set up this stone OF help and called
1t EDeneZer. He meant that not only that genera
tion, but all future generations should know how
great and how complete the victory over their
enemies, and t1aJ while thus contemplating its
importance they might their hearts to the God
OF their salvation. IL Is quite common thing IN
these days TO fail to recognize the hand OF God in
the common affairs of lie. The people did the same
thing IN Samue.s days; but the stone raised by
Samuel between Mzpeh and Shen rebuked the Infi-
deity OF that age and commemorated very tmpOr-
tant Interference OF God In the affairs OF men, In
the language oi the poet he said
Here raise my Ebenezer,
hther by thy help I've come,
And hope by thy good pleasure
safely to arrive at nome.
MEMORABLE YEAR GONE.
The past year has been the most marvellous the
world has ever had. We are apt think and TO say
that the age OF miracles has passed, but the past
year has been year OF miracles the most stupen-
dous that God has ever wrought. Miracles are OF
two kinds, physical and mental These were more
particularly defined, and the latter shown to be the
Kind wrought In 1870 Who would have thought
year ago That the POLITICAL power OF the papacy
would be gone before the beginning OF 1871, and that
the military that maintained it~would be broken
aud sent 10 perdltionY Who would have thought
when France declared war against Prussia that Rus
sia would free herself from the trammes OF the
Treaty Of Paris, 1885, or that Roumanla, the most
important province OF Turkey would declare It's IN
dependence Nevertheless these things have hap
pened. and ifie Turkish power is waning; the
Euphrates IS drying up, that the way OF the kings Of
the East may be prepared. But VINO can pauses at
Iaess events and as Tecagaizs ihat eYeGy MoyeReat