The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-24
CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
The Resurrection Discourse by Rev. James
Byron Murray.


RoNDoUT, April %, 1871.
The neat ana tastefuly designed ediace of the
Church or the Holy Spirit (EpiscopaD was filed by
an attentive and appreciative assembly this morn
ing, when the rector, Rev. James Byron Murray, NJ
A., delivered one OF ms Enthusiastically forcible
and impressive dscourses His text was from L.
Peter, l., 13"Blessed be the God and Father OF our
Lord Jesus Christ which, according to his
abundant mercy, hath begottcn us again unto
a lively hope by the resurrection OF Jesus Christ
from the dead" The hopes OF the disciples, which
mad been almost crushed by the death of Christ he
remarked, were revived by his resurrection. A
deep gloom had settled their hearts and minds,
ana the expressions OF their lips only made moIo
manifest their great sadness. Even 81. Peter him.
self returned TO his former calling, rs If with the
death of his Master all hope was ended, and his
sublime mission as "a fisher OF menn was over for
ever The text shows us a view OF his feelings such
as history OF his life ut this time would lead
US to expect. 1t would seem to say, cast down in
utter despair, our hopes sealed up In our Masters
tomb,
NOT DARING TO LOOK FOR BsrTER PROSPECTS,
were giving up all thoughts Of Christ and lila
religion, when His resurrection changed all and
'begot In US lively hope.o And 1t need not sur
prise us that IN contemplating the resurrection OF
our Lord the Apostle should use the language OF
praise and thanksgiving. II IS the resurrection
which consummates the Fathers love aud sets the
seal to Cnrst's sacrifice. 1t declares Him to be the
Son of God with power; 1t adds force to the preach
Ing OF the Gospel and gives the Christian the
ance OF resurrection TO everlasting lifc Our Lords
resurrection attested by proofs which none can
Withstand. 1t Is the foundation OF every believers
hope In this life and the life to come That 1t was
doctrine OF great import III Christianity is
clear from the position which 1t obtained In
the teaching OF the Apostle and In the influence IL
has had over the CHRISTIAN mind In every age. And
when the Apostles chose one to Ill the place OF the
traitor Judas 1t was with this express purpose that
he should witness the resurrection Of the Lord
Jesus. His resurrection was the subject of pro-
phecy II chesred me holy men Of Old. II was lore
The Apostle the Gcntlies, among the most positive
S q the 31d Christ he
from the tomb, according to the words OF
the prophets. Advancing from. this proof he
rectlon. Nor Is IL by a few that our Lord SEEM
but by five hundred who were living when he wrote
his first episte to the Church Of Cornth and never
were witnesses SO
CLEAR IN THEIR TESTIMONY.
SO convincing IN the proofs, a. those to whom 81
grand truth OF the resurrection Of Lord from the
dead. But stlll proceeding IN his argument he
change which had been wrought In himself. But
you may ask What connection Is there
tom They have much to DO with ChrIst's
rising from the dead. 1t is by His spirit that we
assembled mat the has come e te
world. Every time sinner turns from Satan unto
God he Is not only living testimony Of Gods grace,
There Is no doctrine mat can so encourage and
animate the struggling Christian as the doctrine OF
a risen and living Christ. st. Paul prayed That he
might know Him and the power OF HIS resurrec-
ton, that he might be defended by that power IN
the hour OF trial, that he might find in 1t the
strength of salvation. 1t sustained stephen 100,
when In the midst OF q fierce assault he looked
up to heaven and saw Jesus standing at the right
Christian hope and duty, every ordinance OF the
Church is Joined with the resurrection. The seventh
day OF the week points backward to the rest OF
God after the creation, while the irst day OF tho
week Is the perpetual proof Of our Lords rising
from the dead. One Apostle closely joins 1t with
baptism while another joins it with our rising from
Practically, Christ's resurrection haa bear
token Of our rising He IS but the rs t fruits Of
them that slept; or as the first fruits was
tion of Lord is the forecast pattern OF He
who first created us can again bring our bodies
from the dust ~, Every flower, which in this glad
Is bursting into bloom - the token OF another life
resurrection The earth, It's vegetation is now
giving us, If not proof at least sign OF The rising
or the dead And il is
FROM THE PROCESS OF TIE VEGETABLE WORLD
that ST. Paul has brought forward one of his most
eloquent arguments for the resurrection OF the body
He does not speak OF the immortality of the SOUL for
that immortal by It's nature: but OF the resurrec-
ton OF the body. His illustration is taken from
seed OF corn sown in the ground, That 'is not
quckened except 1t die" AS In every grain Of corn
there Is a prnciple which In due lapse Of time
shapes into definite form, so In this body which
passes into dust there is n seed OF life which In the
resurrection shall become lmmorta; Us It has borne
the image OF tue clTtllS, 50 IL bHau also Dear
the image OF the heavenly. Is the body
Of Christ incorrupuble9 So our body shall
be changed, fashioned like unto His own glorious
body, according TO the mighty working whereby He
IL able TO subdue all to Himself Let us make prac-
tlca TO ourselves this doctrine OF the resurrection
Upon this doctrine let Us rest In the certain hope
that He who brings light out or darkness ana life
out OF the decaying world will in his good time
restore man to HIMSELF. 1t ia this doctrine which
turns death into messenger OF peace. It matters
not II our dust be scattered far and wide we feel
assured that God, who first created It, can recall
hufn ia md
that as our body was
''EOUaHr WITH PRICE,"
1t shall hereafter be glorihcd. Let this thought
quicken me to a more holy life-a lie more In
formed TO our risen Redeemer. Let us live more
by faith IN Him, who ny His resurrection was de-
clared the Son OF God with power. This faith will
cheer us In our last agony: and as We resign our
body to death and the grave we shall be enabled to
say with one OF Old'I know that my Redeemer
liveth. anu that He shall stand at the latter day
upon the earth and though after my skin worms
destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall God.r