The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-10-09
ST. M2aH'S EPISCOPAL CLUE Gil.

CHRIST the Friend OF sinners rhc Duty Of the
Cburci Shepherd OF Sou,s-Discourso
by Rev. DIR. Eylaacc.
The attendance at ST. Marks Episcopal church II
Stuyyesant street, yesterday, quite large, and
an eloquent discourse the friend OF SHINE rs was
delivered by the pastor, Rev. Dr. Ryance, who took
for his text Luke xv., 2-"This man Ieceiveth sin
ners.n
This he said, was the language OF reproach, of
resentment, Of an almost unmtigated scorn. There
Is an EMPHASIS OF anger and embittered contempt In
the passage.-"Tne Pharasees ami Scribes muir
INJURED, saying, this man receiveth sinners and
eatcth with them.n Yet these men were the pro.
fcssors and teachers OF
A RELIGION OF MERCY,
believers In God OF infinite plcfy and love. Rigidy
orthodox in sentiments OF conventional piety they
had nevertheless, lost the inward grace and tender
ness without which all religious service Is empty
and vain Having form OF goodness bat deny.
ing the powcr.n A miserable state OF contradiction
and antagonsm between faith and feeling between
dogma and duty, between the body and the soul OF
religion, repeating truths which TO them have lost
all virtue, holding
TRADITIONS THAT ARE BARERN AND DEAD,
bulding the tombs OF the prophets, paying tithes
a. mechanically punctual 10 appointed fasts but
forgetfu OF the weigutlcr matters OF the law judg
mcnt, mercy, faith-such was the spirit that MUIR
INJURED against
CHESTS COMPASSION For SINNERS;
such is the spirit OF Pharlseelsn-Jewish or Chris
tan. For there is such thing "Chrsttan Phari-
seeIsm,r toward which there is an ever pres ent
danger--I had almost said tendency in profess
sional Chrlstlanity-to degenerate.
Though these words come rom the embutered lips
OF enemies, they express
TIE HIGHEST AND DIvISEsr TRUTH:
they are the briefest but fullest eptome o, the
Gospel given by evangelists and apostles, they
gather gp into themselves and express the pith ana
power OF hundred other texts fullest OF comfort
and strength. God so loved the world that lie
gave BIS only Degotten son that whatsoever beliey-
eth In Him might not perish but have everlasting
ue.' "rhe Son o. Man has come to seek and 10
save that which was lost.u II come not TO call the
righteous, but sinners 10 repentance 1T is q
faithful saying and worthy OF all acceptance that
Chris, Jesus came into the world TO save sinners"
rae GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES.
the very essence ana funess Of the Gospel, are
ccive,h Sinners And 50, being words OF deeper
import than The blinded Pharisce or scribe could
perceive, Christ does not REJECT them as reprolch,
but accepts ana apples Hem az an unconscious
tribute 70 His wors OF mercy among men. Tns
taunt OF an enemy becomes the theme OF the dis
course that followsthe great truth which He opens
anu illustrates IN the parallels Of the lost sheep the
lost piece OF money and the lost son.
The 6fst parable Is nat ot lost sheep. what IS
CHIC type OF character - represented by tns
symboii
CHRIST DID NOT USE IMAGERY
for lie own sake; III every such case we may be sure
thai The Imagery Is the mere dress or drapery Ut
some moral thouqht-some deep human trnln. Thls
represens those who wander from the guardianship
and government OF God chiefly under The influence
OF error Tie sheep Is an easy and natural SYMBOL
OF sort OF silly innocence or weakness
OF CHARACTER which goes wrong through
Ignorance or Is led asray by deception rather than
by rebellons affections or "A pefverse VIII. How
large class OF those who neglect their duty to Cod
anu live,
OUTSIDE THE FOLD or MS CHURCH
does tnis lmaye OF q lost sheep embriceY In the
exercise or discriminating charity, VIC are COM
peled III our judgment OF men TO say OF many, they
err not knowing better, rather tnan wiliuily sin
against the light and the truth and the spirit OF
God. We reminded of such "A class In one u the
TENDERRsT PEI ITI0NS OF OUR LIrASY,
when We pray that God would bring into the way OF
truth all sucn as nave erred and are deceived aud
beyond all doubt the judgment OF the last great day
VIII be graded TO these diverse conditions and re-
gpOns,bilites OF man. not cxpectinR mach where