The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-01
TIE PULPIT IN ULSTER COUNTY.
FIRST REFORMED CHURCH.
Character of Christ-Sermon by Rev. u. n.
Vandevecr.

CuFISI-SermOn W
vandevecr.
KINGSTON, April 80, 1871.
The Rev. D. N. vandeveer preached as usual in the
First Reformed church, corner OF Main and Wall
streets, this morning, taking his text from Philli-
plans II. 7-"But He made himself Of no repuJa-
tion," He said:-Once, then He had reputation.
Once Jesus was all that Jehovah is. What, then,
must have been his reputation, ''who, being in the
form OF God thought 1t not robbery to be equal with
God?" But behold Heaven moves down to earth;
Jehovah wears our humanity and treads our world.
In the form of that Gallilean carpenter walk
ing the streets or Jerusalem, there was that
which had moved among angels and archanges,
cherublm and seraphim, pllncpality ana power.
The bosom on which fral humanity nestled She
daniah slept within. In the eyes that beamed with
pity upon Judas, with melting tenderness on Philip,
forgiving afec ton upon Peter there was the glance
OF omniscence. In the wall or fearless anguish
which broke from the dying sufferers lips there was
the voice of almightlness. Such mighty cOndescen-
sion implied some mysterious design.
TIE VEHICLE OF GOD TO MAN.
Spirit imperceptible to sense, the life OF God in
visible to the inspection Of man. We cannot see the
air, much less the spirit of which it Is an emblem.
We cannot bear TO gaze upon the sun: how then
upon Him who made it. Every one knows and feels
this. II is dihicult to think Of God even In moods
Of mind most favorable TO reflection. sin has i'm.
paired the spiritual vision. To relieve this ehovan
appeared as the
PILLAR OF FIRE.
So too. Idolatry, by supplying objects and figures,
attempts to assist the mind in thinking OF God.
Even the finest minds have failed to form any con-
ception OF God; the specuations of Academus and
the Porch give US no nelp or hope In feeling, TOO
which one can understand out God; there are
times when human sympathy Is vulgar intrusion.
NEED OF A prpsoyAI nEIry
Even so IN conscience theirs is reluctance to
thrust our sln-laden emotions upon the august and
dgnlted aspect or Jahovah; the want Is that OF one
VINO can understand our inirmitles, friendly, for
giving, lorbearing; in whom every sentiment OF love
subsde into love. 80, too, III prayer wandering
thoughts come from this invisible, Impapable ma
wnom we can make "cean breastii with perfect
freedom and frankness. All this Is met and master
cd in Jesus Christ: In Hum Is revealed the Infinite
I'm the fnite-the life OF spirit III that OF sense. To
think of Jehovah, the form Of Jesus comes sponta-
neousy; the stateiiest minds must revere the
pure yet plying friend; sorrow nds the best con-
solcr. Jesus Is TO us the revelation Of Jehovah
MATTER CANNOT REPRESENT MIND;
substance the soul. Matter pronounced ''go0d.n
Man alone was made the miniature Of God; the high
est illustration OF divinity is In man. But there IS in
the landscape much that the artist cannot portray;
much IN the countenance that cannot be caught
even by the speed and power OF the sun; much IN
too has soed the picture, shattered the miniature.
But in Jesus there was
a sness humanity, and. therefore, the highest
revelation oil jehovah The voice In The Gospels,
Peace, be still,' sounds Ike that In Genesis, LET
there be light" He multiplied loaves and fishes,
and every day the miracle IS repeated in house.
holds. He healed diseases then; now lie heals the
canker OF the Church and sweetens the bitterness
the nllsanthrope Naturally rather than SUPER
Naturally HIS miracles emerge from His discourse.
SO spontaneous the majesty OF His speech that
He could easily pronounce miracle. All this dis
play OF power was so
EASY AND GRACEFUL
that lie must be the same "WnO speaks ald Ii Is
done, commands and 1t stands fasn so, TOO in His
suiIerings. Nowhere greater exhibition OF mercy
than the interference OF Deity for the lost OF Justice,
than the sacrifice Of the LawgIver for law subjects;
OF holiness than when the sword was passed through
the bosom OF the INFINITELY beautiful anu good.
PERFECT MODEL OF CHRISTIANITY.
Though Peter denied and Judas betrayed He did
not seattle Them with lightning, but subdued them
by love. dis patience no hostility could PROVOKE
no insult rune his magnannity. His genleness
was the last climax OF III gniicent strength. His
was vicarious love from the cradle the cross.
TINS Is the spirit oil Christianity not selshness, but
seldena, distinguishes it rom all other religions,
makes men inquire into It, and, finding the cause 10
die for 1t. Rome aud Smthneid witnessed greatest
revival. Huss, Jerome and Rogers were great re-
formers
AN AToNEMENT
Human laws are not nviolaDle. Crime Is COM
United and the criminal escapes. Gods laws are
immutlble. He could spare His son: He could not
spare Ills law. Law IL higher than life. The axe
Rieamed above u.s. Jesus threw himself between us
and the stroke, but IL fell nevertheless The sinner
lives. but the saviour had to die. The only pure and
perfect Being was, ~ Him VINO alone could estl-
mate His worth, surrendered for our redemption.
The highest price was asked and tnat price was paid
He wore the crown OF tlorns that we may wear the
crown OF power. lie was born OF woman that we
may be born oil God.
Look at Emmanuel Not the distortions OF suner.
stition, not the sketches OF gully imagination.
AT the Bible Revelations. Purity comes 70 purify:
the saviour wishes to save.
Sgc0ya pgEOR WE'D CuVDcu