The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-12
SERVICES In WASHINGTON.
Dr.. Newman in His Pulpit Again-How Chris
tians Commence Backsliding Late
Bishop Clarke's Request to tho ,hurch.
METROPOLITAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL
CHURCH.

DR.. Newman tho Various Phases Of
Apostacy.
WASHINGTON, June II, 1871
Rev. DR.. Newman. who was absent from his pulpit
last Sunday, reoccuped 1t this morning and
preached a sermon from the text ''Gray hairs are
here and there upon him, but he knoweth 1t not'-
Hosea vh.,9. We grow old rapidly, he said, yet
most persons are unwilling to think themselves or
be thought old. There Is strange feeling IN the
human soul against
THE IDEA OF INCREASING YEARS.
There some persons who Will never tell their
age yet they disguise the fact that time Is
passing and the number Of their years Is ncreas
ing. Art Is called In, not to AID, but to disguise
nature and to reserve the appearance Of youth 1t
is strange infatIat0n, for every department Of
life, infancy, YOUTH manhood or old age is beauti.
fu, and this delicacy touching the growth OF years
is as false as much Of
THE s0-CALLED MoDEsTY
that prevails IN society. The train OF thought Is sug
gested BY the bold rhetorical expression OF the text
The inspired writers drew their Illustrations from
three worlds, borrowing simIes from nature, draw.
ing arguments from history and compelling poetry
and philosophy do their bidding. In the text the
Prophet draws upon human nature for illustration.
lie would describe class who have been drawn
astray, but whose departure mas been so gradual
that they have not known it. The speaker
hairs winch seen here and there upon
the menocrs of the church. Three kinds Of
apOstacy are mentioned In the Bibe-partiai, total
and nna. Partial aDostacy Is that OF the neart, the
arrangement the affections the stupidity OF the
conscience. 1t was said OF the Churcn in ASIA
Minor that It was neither cold hot; of another
Church that 1t had iorsaken It's hrst love. aud
significant figure Is found Ill The Old prophet who
represents the backslidden Epnran
A. A CAKE NOT TURNED,
baked on one side but dough on the other. such
cia "a
any image IL pleased on the dough side. Total de-
parture implies departure from God III the lie, as
well as in the heart In the case Of the prodigal.
Final apostacy Is seen In the case OF Judas. His de-
parture was first partial, then total and then final,
by the open and ed remuneration O Chris ianlty
and the consignment to that perditlon that awaits
every one who departs from God.
HE'LL MUST BE A DIsAGREEABLE PLACE
for any man, but very disagreeable for the
backsder who has tasted Of III, the VIVA wat g;
ii e ss rom Heaven the
then called more particular attention as the object
his discourse to the first stage OF apostacy There
are certain indications OF spiritual growth and also
certain indications Of spiritual decline. We can
measure tneIsprilua as well as the natural. In the
OF the forest that first began to sprout
when solomon was IN ms glory, that
| Bethlehem. BY their rings we can measure their
years. The growth marks In the spiritual world
are as DEFINITE as sra e aa se an cep
tainy know That he Is child of God or child OF the
devil. he may know that he is growing ply slcay
or mentally One OF the first Indications Of decline
! Is OF little love for Christ. Too many mistake adm
ration for Christ FOR this personal affection. NO
be found the lie Of any other being In the uni
verse known to man. But admiration Is one thing
| and affection another. We o.ten
| ADMIRE WHERE WE DO NOT LOVE.
The highest evidence OF our regard for Christ and
close relationship with HIM Is lounl IN our personal
attachment to HIM. Neglect OF prayer Is another
gray hair II we do not neglect the form OF prayer
we may lose the spirit and mock God with cold ana
| formal words Prayer Is nothing without 1t Is the
EXPRESSION OF the signs OF the soul OF the GroanS OF
the spirit OF the deeper feelings and bitter thoughts
| OF tue human soul. There no more significant IN
dlcaton of real Christian character than earnestness
In prayer Another indication OF spiritual decline
Righteousness. he hated iniquily. the speaker held
| IL as truth That a man may be developed TO such
an extent that he Will love righteousness with me
| same natural avidity that the depravcd man loves
| wickednees. Righteousness may become second
| nature to him and sin be hated at all times Some
| men are never temp ed on given points, The devil
always tempts a man at his weakest points. II is
| singular that we are always strengthening our
slrong points and negiecting our weak ones. SATAN
| THE MOST INTELLIGENT OF ALL THE CREATURES
| God ever made lie Is too wise to attack men
where they are best fortified. Some men can not
be tempted to nemperance, licentousness or gross
crimes. He thanked God that man may reach a
| gwen point and position In moral development
against which the gates OF nell cannot prevail but
it Is also true that there may be gradual growth IN
vice as well as In morals. When we hate SIN less
we love righteousness less. Another gray hair
and a long one Is dlmnuton in hberalty.
Usually nyoan e his pocRe There are
and spontaneous natures that would share their last
dollar and divide the last loaf with another, hut
they are exceptions. Covetousness an avaIice a. Q
chara teristics oil humanity, ami mans lberallly
| may usually be gagged by his pieiy. lie reJoiced
! that the late Bishop Clarke had set an example 10
CHRISTIAN men OF wealth by giving one-ha OF for
tune OF hundred and twenty thousand dollars to
the Church. lie knew another Christian man who
| had had a fortune OF three hundred thousand dol.
lars WHO said That no had given all that he possessed
TO the Lord but when approached for ait for chris
tan objects said he felt II his duty to Keep 1t till he
died but he wied II to a daughter who NJ his death
| married worldly man, and the money That was 10
70 to the Church Is beng squanucred In the ENJOY
| ment Of -
| THE FASHIONS OF THE WORLD
| The speaker hal u ten told his hearers that he
believed 10 he tneir duty TO make money, but ne
would also present the danger OF covetousness, ana
tell them that they could measure their piety ana
their relation to Coz by the extent oil their Morality
| The discourse was closed with an earnest appeal to
Christians 20 return TO their hrst love- 10 be aroused
to duty by the hopes OF heaven .he rear OF nel W
the interests Of the Church and the welfare oil I'M
i 1aanrf nI nn.Ila