The New York herald., 1871-03-20
CEAssos AVENUE PaEssyTEaAs CHURCH..

eermcu by Rev. Dr. Dury ea.-sThe Ten,Psn-
lion OF Christi,
There was an immense congregation in attend-
ance at this church yesterday morning This large
attendance probably caused, 10 certain ex-
tent, by statement which was published ia one Of
the papers Saturday the effect that the pastor,
Or. Duryea, would make some explanation or re-
marks in regard to q sermon recently delivered by
him. in which he set forth his views on the total
abstinence question. There was no truth, however,
in this publication. DR.. Duryea had no iutention
OF advertlng to the subject. The sermon in ques-
ZION viii shortly published in fun by one Of the
religious newspapers.
The text Of the sermon yesterday was selected
from ST. Matthew L., 15-"Then was Jesus led
up Of the spirit into the wilderness TO bc
tempted OF the deyn.n DR.. Duryea said Thar
the first event In the history OF man was
when God gave him life and placed HIM in Paradise.
Nan was adapted TO all the conditions Of his exist
ence, and all circumstances OF his existence We're
adapted 10 HIM. IL is singular that the narrative is
hilelt couccrning
MANS LIFE IN EDEN.
II wonld seem that there was no history un,I
mans mora, nature was called into action, and that
by temptation. rhe first event In the history OF the
pubic lie Of Lord is a trial. The same person
who appeared IA Eden appeared to Him. First
Adam, the primitive man; second, Adam the ult-
mate man. tempted OF the same person, the adver-
sary OF God Let us place between these two eX-
amples OF trial any one ol ourselves. When is 1t
that we first awake 10 distinct consciousness OF
oar personalit. and distinct conprehe lon OF our
destiny In IL not when we are rst called TO debate
with ourselves concerning right and wrongy Is IL
no, singular that that which Is first In our moral
history should have been recorded "a relatively. n
not absolutely first In the history of The first man.
and reiatiyey, not absolutely, first in the history
0 tie B;AeY We desire, then, TO stana before this
great fact 81
TUE TEMpTATroY OF OUR LORD
and gain comfort ana nelp from thought OF ii. In
order to obtain . correct understanding OF 1t We
need TO bring upon ourselves n distant conception
OF als person. II we regard Hum as only divine we
cannot see how he couIl be tempted. Ii We regard
Hun as human we cannot see how lie coma have
withstood temptation Regarding Him as divine
human we can see now, on the one hand, He could
support Himself by the energy OF His divine re-
sources ana at the same time expose Himselr by the
desire, affection and weakness OF HIS finite hu-
inanitY. We canuot conceive that He was aI ali
unconscious Of Himself. HIS language always
yeys the impression that
KNEW WHENCE HE CANE
ana whom lie was He speaks OF Himself rs having
eome down from heaven. what, then, was the rela-
u0n OF the divine person TO the humanity? He did
not take upon Himself merely the form OF man. but
lie Took upon Himself our manhood in all Its essen
tial elements Why, then, must He become incarnate
afterwar0sy Because He lnost take upon Hmself
artal humanity and become completely man. Not
SIMPLY TO walk earth II divine person shrouded IN
the form Of human flesh, but TO walk among men
completely divine man. He therefore must be
born We must CONCEIVE that lie came down to
HUMAN WAYS OF THINNING
and feeling else He woid not have been real
man. lie had finite mind and q finite heart. let
US conceive Hun Withholding His VIII from drawing
upon divine resources. The circumstances OF this
;cmptation Were peculiar, indicating that II was a
peculiar temptation. No doubt lie subject 10
temptation, as We all are nom the very moment or
personal consciousness. The very moment He be-
came conscious of self and action lie became ex-
posed to trial. DR.. Duryea spoke OF the temptation,
and III connection Herewith said that
HE BELIEVED IN THE DEVIL.
~. dne deyll Is very slrewd being and altogether
mnch influence DIR. Duryea SAID he was
not willing 10 make the devil ghost ana laugh at
HIN after he was afraid or him. We had the example
Of one who had met trial in al its forms and
passed successfully through. Let us. then, iemem-
bcr that it Is by faith in Him that ourselves shall
be able 10 overcome evll.