The New York herald., 1871-12-25
r RELIGIOUS S..
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Sermon and Song In the Sanctuaries
Of the City Yesterday.
Discourses on the Approaching
Holy Festival.
Or. Foss on the Greatest Gift Of
God to Man. s.s
Caste and COvetOusness De-
nOunced by 8. III. Tying.
Mr.. BEECHER ON THE INCARNATION.
Dedication of the Ross Street
Presbyterian Church.
TRINITY CHURCH.

PreSDYCerlaQ CQuTCu.
TRINITY CHURCH.
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1Ae Eve Of the Nntivity-Nccessity Of Being
Humble-Sernon by the Rev. DIR. OgiIby.
There was as usual, q large attendance at the SER
vices held yesterday In this spacious and imposing
Semple the interior OF which was very beautifully
Sostooned with holly, evergreens and palms In honor
- the anniversary OF the nativity. At half ten
o'clock the religious exercises were commenced
and were marked throughout by great solemnity
and devotion. The Rev. Dr. Ogilby, Rev. Mr. Fer
guson and Rev. Mr.. Kimber were the of1ciating
oergymen. Toe rendering OF the psalms and re.
Vponses was harmonious and very enective. The
Rev. DR.. OGnby preached the sermon. the
sext being from the Gospel according to St
John, l., 1s, 27-"And this is the record Of
yohn when the Jews sent priests and Levites from
Jerusalem to ask Him. Who art th0u2 And He con-
fcssed and denied not; but confessed, am not the
Christ" The reverend gentleman went on to say
that great as was the trust committed to that won
nerful man equally great were qualities with which
He was endowed for Its accomplishment Never had
mortal man more fully
ANSWERED THE END OF HIS BEING.
And SO remarkable was the impression made by
HIS life and teachings that the Pharasees sent
pf him, "Who art thour' In His answer He took
no glory TO himself, but gave IL to Him unto
whom alone IT was due. He confessed, Il am
Art thou Eliasf" toe prophet whom they
expected from heaven, and He answered
pTuck BY this Undetermined man. They then
asked MIN VINO art thouf that we may give an
70 them tna - sent us S What sayest thou Of
the wilderness, make straight the way OF the Lord
. said the prophet Esaias.'' That was the gospel
ana faefr nf fcro
runner OF Christ prepared mankind for the due cele
branon OF HIS comlag. Unless men felt that God
was their Redecmer they could not enter into
THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS DAY.
The reverend gentleman commented upon the fact
festival had been observed yet many failed to recoS
Hze 1 tne occasion with the proper spirit When
naS ssn e su Ss 'ss rSn @ ss Ss
answered them, saying, 81 baptise with
Tsom TsssT but there ssden one smOng {Oa
mercy as ne would nave to know Him on the last
Gay. Forbid 1t that the merciful Saviour, to whom
We owe all and every thought and happiness IN this
EoIld and 10 that to come, should stand in our
USREcoGNIzED AND UNKNOWN.
BE humbled Himself that he might raise us to
his own glory. ana He would stand among them
{. welcome Man might know HIM ina as as savionr mr. but
ne must know Him as Judge. The reverend gen.
pressing on Inc congregation the Necessary Or nu.
@ility and or honorlng the great festival In the
Eba tne cSorns = ~ n n aryee Se Vey
mcntcd.
81. PkUL'S METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
,Christ's Birth rs Foresh allowed in Prophecy
The Visit Of tho Wise Men 10 tho Mauger.
Cradle of tho Lord-Discourse by the Rev.
DIR. Foss.
The Christmas services at the ABOVE church yes
terday were OF the most impressive yet ample
m NM riaflv
Of mention The service was preceded by the ny mn
commencing
Brghtes. and best OF the Of mornins
Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid,
Guide where the infant Redeemer is laid.
The pastor, Rev. DR.. Foss, took for his text Mat
new H., in which the birth OF the Redeemer OF the
world Is described by st. Matthew. Christmas. he
said, would always be q festival In the Unurcn-the
brightest time In all the calendar-and 1t was 1T
ting that on another return the festive season we
should recall the events that occurred In Bethlehem
HJudea. Tomorrow millions OF people will couple
fhe name Of the Saviour with the happy day, ana
The whole world Will testify to
GODS GREATEST GIFT TO MAN.
we regard. year after year, with increasing interest
an the circumstances OF Chrsts birth that made
The heavenly hosts sing that anthem "Glory to God
n the highest; on earth peace and good will to
men," Jesus did not come 10 save the Jews alone
KING OF tile Jews. lie was the fuifiiment of
prophecy, and the New Testament that describes
from the Ola Testament. Jesus came to redeem the
hations-GentIes, Jews, Christians and heathens
who these wise men OF the East who caine n search
Of Inc child were, and quoted largely from Persian
and other i history ,s ana from The propnecies to
sSns Of the times u in The mysteries
Rs the most learned oi their class the highest order
Of lore and OF presty order. The religion OF Per-
lney worsnipped one God, but no Images Tney be.
heved In one Cod the Creator o all things and 1re.
snip the elements as Cod, but merely because they
were the
NEAREST REPRESENTATIVES, OF GODS DIVINE
ATTRIBUTES.
The fire was symbolical OF the burning bush, and
II seemed to the pastor that The systems OF fre
worship OF all countries we're taken from Moses.
They TOOK IL as the best Interpretation OF the Deity,
and thus they worsnpped the unseen God. There
time when lost man would he restored, looking
Ior the coming OF one who was to be propitla-
authors show this, and especially those OF Persia,
which predicted that Saviour called SOcloss
one u II ss he ey ~ 81 H brs a.
mess than ever man saw; tnat His mission Is 10
make nie ever one Of happiness and existing for
ever and ever. The coupling OF all these Individual
hopes OF the heathen Is great thing In support OF
the prophecies. Tne heathens were looking for
TO BRISa LrFE OUT OF DEATH.
IL may have been revelation from God that In.
0uced tue wise men 10 leave the cart III search OF
the infant Christ, guided b3 the star. God may
have said, "In Judea now w .t.t.s#s
NlHr YOUR s0CIOss HAS ColfE.u e
Others think was ine Infusion the divine spirit
In ihe hearts Of the wise men that led them Jeru-
s j. %s aSe Knew as 'nss was oUrn N
Saviour they louged for was 10 come from Judea.
IL WAS a revelation that only God had the power TO
fmpart 10 men. Balaam says, In Numbers XIV, 17:-
-there shall come out OF Judea. aud q sceptre
phal rise Out OF Israel" In no other part OF The
hoiy Scriptures is the star propnccled. Here we
have prophecy given by Baiaam that answers for
- !. TIiB STAR THAT GUIDED THE WISE MEN
OF the East. The opinion VI tile minister was that
Daniel, the greatest OF the prophets who had so
long lived at the sublime court OF Cyrus, the Persian
had Instructed mngfcans of the court In the propile
cte3 aDu had foretoid Tie coming OF the saviour.
These prophecies OF Daniel may have been retained
~ the magicans or siar-gazefs, who handed ~
Gown IN hcir varying SYSTEMS OF belief He referred
10 lisOrical iacts 10 susInni tins theory. The
pxetoi stated that when Jesus came The new star
SPOKEN by Balaam must have come, I'm order TO
60 OGoTe LIE wise men aud Siand over the place