The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-03
FIFTH AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH.

Explanation Of the .sDoubIe Spirit''-Kcep
Up with the Times--SermOn by Rev. DIR.
Arm.tage.
After the usual services yesterday morning DR..
Armtage, the pastor OF the church, announced, as
the subject of his discourse, Goods Unchanged
Work Wrought by Changeabe Workmen." He csm-
menced by referring 10 the parting Of Elijah and
Elisha-II. Kings, H., IT, When the mantle OF the
first named prophet descended upon the latter.
when about to part from each ether, Elijah bade
Elisha ask him what he would have n m do for him
before he was taken away, and he answered. 81
beseech thee that in may be tiny double spirit"
An impression exists as to the meaning OF
his request that his "douDe spiritn might remain In
HIM. In those days the eldest son received
q double portion. known as his BIRTH
right. IT, tor instance, there were seven
sons In family, the nrst born son
would receive double the amount received by
any one OF the Others ana the balance would be
distributed among the others. This Is what Elisha
meant when he asked for the 'double spirit" that
the birthright of prophets eldest son might be
given to MN as his portion. These two men were
totally different. Elijah dwelt away from men In the
desert; be
STUNNED CIVILIZATION,
and If he was obliged to visit the haunts Of men
he would Only come to the city gate and without
entering deliver his message and then return TO his
desert. EuJan III the OlQ Testament answers t0c
description OF ST. John the Baptist in the New. Eli
sha was dweler among men; an humble, mo-
dest, gentle. tender man. Both were well suited
their own way they did the work OF their Master
When one set Of men passes away God Nils the va
THE DEMANDS OF THE TIMES
We see this well illustrated IN the Old Testament
Moses was legislator and lawgIver; ne organized
and governed the CHOSEN people OF God IN peace
full way, but after has death Joshua, who great
soldier, led forth his people against their enemies
NJ ali a ola 900
this exemplifed Ill everyday life. Take a man
whose first vile Is dead; he marrles again, and as
bles the first, his life Is made miserable by contn
ually comparing the two: whereas If he had chosen
would be made happy by contrasting the qualities Of
the Two ana not comparing them. Or take con-
gregaton whose PASTOR after serving them Tor
thirty years, Is called away.
HE "FALLs Asleep
Oh. what beautiful manner Of expressing the
Testament, where in speaking Of the death Of one
who mas performed his allotted work on earth 1t
obtain another pastor precisely similar to the first
possible they would like to have his twin brother;
why, no two men were ever born who were pre-
cisely alike: but they procure one who Is like HIM,
SO they think as like as TWO peas in pod, and they
are delighted. But they soon learn that these two
men are sufficiently alike to discover wherein they
differ from each other. DO NOT go back with Elijah
but go forward with Elisha. "Let the dead past
to the times in which they lived, but free con-
fess that would not like to sit to-day and listen to
tneln preacn tive up tnlS naOkerng aIter the past
and move forward with the living present. The Ro-
man Catholic Church ana the Anglican Church
claim apostolic succession IL may be SO, but to
me 1t seems
AN ABsURDITY
to hear educated, well instructed. high minded men
claim that by the imposition OF priesty hands, by
one whose head Is crowned by bishops mltre they
can transmit all the virtues OF the apostles. They
Try to establish an analogy between the Pope and
ST. Peter and think they succeed to this EXTENT
First as regards inialbiity, st. Peter was always
getting into some Kind OF trouble while the Pope
avoids mistakes. AS regards humility, the Pope sits
on throne, while st. Peter sat in a fishing smack;
as regards celibacy the Pope is unmarried while st.
Peter had a WIFE, When the workmen are changed
the new must possess the same spirit the Old, but
III large measure. They must In fine,
POSSESS DoU BILE PORTION.
II you had boy to educate would you send him
Tor instruction TO person who had Deen at the
head OF the public schools thirty years agoy No,
indeed, you would do nothing Of the sort; aud be-
cye 1t would be very hard for such person to OBJ
tam a like position at the present time. Last Sun
day was the last one OF the first century OF our
Church, and to day We commence our new century.
Let US not rest content with what has been done
already. Do hot remain intent only on following the
footsteps OF your fathers and living in the same
num.druIn way, but leave ELIJAH behind and press
on with Elisha.
AT the conclusion Of the services the commun
cants OF the church remained to partake OF the
Lords supper.