The New York herald., 1871-01-09
ALLEN STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL
CHURCH.

Discourse by Presiding Elder Hart #. Pcnse-
The Israeliic,s Prosperity ana Adversity-
The Bounty of Coos W0rks-His I'm.
adnptability.
the services at the Methodist Episcopal Church in
Allen street, over which Rev. William McAlister
exercises spiritual guardianship, were yesterday
morning OF the usual impressive character. They
were conducted by Rev. Hart F. Pease, the presid-
ing ebier of the district After prayer and the sing
Ing oil lhe hymn commencing
Father Of Heaven, whose love profound,
ransom Tor our souls both found,
the preacher took for the subject OF his discourse
Judges vl., 2-3-"And the Lord said unto Gideon,
the people tnat are with thee are too many for Me
TO give the Midiantes into their hands, lest Israel
vaunt themselves against Me- saying mine own
hand hath saveth Me. Now, therefore, go to pro-
caim IN the ears OF the people, saying, wnosoever
Is fearful and afraid let him return and depart early
from Mount Gilead. And there returned OF the
people twenty ana two thousand. and there re-
maned ten thousand
The history of the nation and people of Israel the
minister said is the most interesting history extant
Init
DIVINE PROVIDENCE ILLUSTRATES
in most beautiful manner the fundamental
principle of divine government. No one can read
1t carefully without being ply impressed. 1t
presents the nation OF Israel in alternate abasement
and grandeur, according to their obedience to the
precepls OF God their disregard OF the commands
oil supreme Being. 1t is the direct Interpretation
OF the Divine hand. Al one time we see the nation
enjoying great prosperity and the surrounding
nations standing IN awe OF It, LOOK again, and the
whole scene is changed. The clarion OF war, the
din Of battle are heard, whie the nation is chained
to the wheel and
DRAGGED IN vAssALAGE
The land had been Tor seven years under Midiani-
ts oppression, and the Israelltes sought the caves
and mountains from which to escape their foes In
their tribuaton they called upon Goo to send them
succor and lie sent them angel who appeared TO
young man oi no distinction to show hin tnat he
MIGHTY MAN OF vALoR
who was TO deliver his people from the foe that be.
lie was va!oroas, bat when he had brought kid and
laid t upon the rock and the angel smote the rock
beneved III The words OF tue angel and
accepted The mission. God gave Gideo1 q
sign TO know who Of the warriors to select. Those,
who on coming 10 the stream OF water fell down
upon tneir knees and drank were TO be sent back,
While those VINO lapped the water up In their palms
and drank were t. be CHOSEN. can imagine
GIDEON WATCHING THEM
until only three hundred stood the test Of valOr and
then he LED them against the hosts OF the enemy.
He had he sad, selected this subject for the moral
lesson 1t teaches us. 1t is that Lord is jealous
God, that no man can appropriate to himself tue
the Divine 2elng is not passion; 1t Is principle
with MIN TO watch
THE POINT OF THE DIVINE HONOR
and glory. He is the one God supreme. In all He
has done Tor nature lie has taken care to show His
works. Everything lie has done IN nature He has
taken care to leave the imprint OF His own finger
upon Man may attempt to initiate the Divine
work, but he has never been abe to do 1t. The
more we magnify the works Of God the more be auti
ful they appear, while those Of man under the mi
croscope become less beautiful the more they are
scanned. This Is the method OF Providence to mag
Nifty HIS own glory. God does everything by un-
adapted means. In this case he sent the three hun
dred men upon an errand Of warfare without arms.
Just as he delivered them then by unadapted means
He delivered them from the Red Sea. They smoie
the water with rod, but THIS had no adaptation In
II. Man would have attempted 10 bridge the gulf.
he works different from man in all things to show
HIS OWN DIVINE POWER.
so II was when the Israelites were famished.
They struck the rock and water flowed. Man would
have oored into the rock. The breaking down OF
the walls OF Jericho Is another instance OF Gods
work by unadapted means that we may see
HIS OWN ARM UNCOVERED
that the glory belonging to God cannot be appropri
ated by man. SO II is In the ordinance or the sacra-
ment. There Is no adaptation to bring about the
result that Is produced Some believe that q little
SIP of VINE and particle OF bread have no virtue,
as a source Of grace. You may take the ordinance
OF baptism. 1 can see no adaptation In It The de-
sign IL the influence on the soul. 1t indicates the
PURIFYING THE HEART
and cleansing from sin. IL shows that God works
adaptation III preaching l can illustrate this
better than by supposing there is held great poll
Teal meeting. The speakers adapt their remarks TO
their hearers and you will hear them saying 'You
are The noble sons of worthy sires; we want you TO
come and vote for our candidate.n No matter II
their hearers he The nlran OF society," their whole
address Is IN praise OF the audience, 10 get their
support. There Is adaptation. Does God adapt
himself thus ~ his creatures. No; he says, from
the crown OF your head to the soes OF your feet
you are covered with bruises and sores.
YOU MUST REPENT
or yon will be lost forever God uses means without
respect To purposes, as He did when He sent Gideon
Cne man VIA God on hls side Is enough " put TO