The New York herald., 1871-03-27
BEDFORD STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL
CECRCE.
The Power of the Cross and the Progress OF
Chrstianity-SermOn by n Sfrauger.

The Power of the Cross and the Progress OF
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES by a Stranger.
The Methodist Episcopal church in Bedford street,
corner OF Morton street, was crowded yesterday
morning, as usual; but the pastor, Rev. John E.
Cookman. was absent and a stranger from the
theological Seminary at Morristown n. j., occu.
pied the pulpit The minister read Scripture
lesson from / Corinthians, l., and subsequently
preached from the eighteenth verse OF the same:-
'For the preaching Of the cross is to them
that perish fooishness; but unto us which are
saved 1t Is the power of God" The preaching OF the
cross, he sald has always been considered by some
persons fooshneSs, just the apostle found 1t IN
his day. This Is the more remarkable when we con-
slider that the apostolic age was age OF learning
and science. But with all its knowledge and learn.
ing the worldly wisdom knew not Col. The an.
clients
TAUGHT PLURALITY OF GODS:
gods for war and peace foc adversely and prospe.
rity for storm and sunshine; indeed for everything
they had their gods many and their lords many.
Human sacrifices were sometimes offered to these
gods and the multitudes Waowed in the depths OF
darkness and error; and there was no means
OF dissipating this darkness until Christ came and
brought life and immortality to light through
the Gospel. Jew and Greek admitted that He spake
as never man spake. He convinced them by His
doctrines His miracles and HIS life that He was the
Son Of God, and even devils were subject unto Him
and unto his disciples through His name. The
apostles lifted up the as Moses lifted up the
serpent In the wilderness and everywhere men
looked unto it and lived. Paul went forth a herald
OF The cross and entered into the synagogues OF the
jews, the schools Of philosophy of the Greeks and
the market places and resorts OF the multtudes and
kings and rulers trembled before the mighty mower
OF God as presented through the cross When he
was abused and Knocked and driven from place to
Of the cross but chung to them the more closely and
In the exutation OF his soul declared that he was not
ashamed OF the Gospel OF our Lord Jesus Christ, be-
cause l. Is
THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION.
unto every one that believeth. God forbid, he ex-
OF our Lord Jesus Christ Jew ana GentiIe agreed
IN their contempt OF the Gospel. The former re-
the supernatural demonstrations which they had
wltnessed-beiore they believed. This they had at
s0%.dsn waea the Holy Ghost, in bodily shape IKE
voice from the Excellent Glory declared, s'This is
my beloved SON. still they did not believe. The
prehend religion which was not laid down deep In
their philosophers and yet which all their phiIoso.
child can comprehend 1t, and vet 80 grand that the
archangel before the throne cannot compass 1t ALL
mustard seed the leaven In meal or the lily OF the
Held, was
TOO MEAN FOR THEM,
and they turned away from IL. But, he asked, have
ell the Jews and Greeks, the infdeis and scofers Of
Christ and His cross passed away Nay, verify;
tnere are scores and thousands OF them still even
mere IN our midst in this city and In every city In
the land. And when the minister OF Christ presents
the cross and declares, In the language Of inspira.
tlOn, that there B no other name under heaven
among men by which we can be saved, they turn
away, and with contemptuous sneer tell US they
win not have this man TO reign over them But the
time VIII come when those proud hearts will bow
and those tongues confess that Jesus christ Is LOrd
to the glory OF God the Father.
The cross Is the power OF God This was clearly
perceived by the prophets OF old, who fOresaW the
idols Of the heather Overthrown their temples con-
verted into Christian churches and the worshppers
turning unto the true and living God. We may talk
0I the victories OF Alexander and Napoleon, of
washington and Marlborough, OF Grant and Sher-
man, put none OF them can compare with the
BLo0DLEsS VICTORIES OF THE CROSS.
NO sooner had the banner OF Christianity been
nung 10 the breeze than pagan idols and priests be-
gan 10 tremble. Had not Christianity a divine life
within itself 1t must have perished from the earth
long ago. 1t could not have wIhstood the persecu-
tions brought against IT, But to-day 1t towers to-.
ward the sunlight IN all the strength and majesty of
the Qedars OF Lebanon, and before IL the most stu
pendous systems OF idOlatry have Disappeared
Where are now the systems which existed when tile
apostles livedY Where are Apollo, Jupiter Mars
Juno, Mercury, and the host OF gods and the TEN.
pies devoted to their Worship The fire has gone
out on their atars and their worship has ceased for
ever; while the cross with all Its gores rises still
higher to gid the nations OF tho earth. The cross
has trlumphed over Jew and Greek. Its banner mas
noated from Mars hill, and the people fall down and
worship Tue l0Wly Nazarenc. In less than q yeAr