The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-29
FIFTH ayExgE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Tl;oSc Uhc Know tho Right E7ust DO the
Right or Fay thc Peaalfy.-No Neutrality in
tho Line Of Guty-Sctmon by ste Rev. Dr.
Stevenson.
The Fifth Avenue Presbyterian church, corner OF
Nineteenth street, was well filed by fashionable
congregation yesterday morning, Notwithstanding
the absence OF the pastor, Rev. John Hall, d. D.,
who Is o member of the General Assembly now In
session in Chicago. The pulpit was filed by Rev.
DR.. Stevenson, Of the Tract Society," who after the
accustomed prayer and singing by the congregation,
announced as the text for the morning discourse
Matthew Kill, 80 In which Is the divine declaration
that whose
is NOT FOR ME IS AGAINST Me.
III the progress Of an effective sermon upon ,ne'
text named the learned divine made clear the
declaration that in the line Of duty tncre is not
cannot be-any such position as neutrality. He
he'd that all men having the power for thought,
for perception, reflection and conclusion, must
arrive at a belief as between good and evil; and
that, having arrived at decision, they followed its
dictates for good II right, or for evil II wrong.
That there were circumstances in which neutral
position might be held he did not deny; such as
when they in no way affected your rights or your
duties but never when otherwise. God points
out things 10 be believed and not TO be
believed, 10 be done ana not to be done,
and in all such things there could be
no such position as neutrality. The laws of the
mind compelled decision. When the doctrine is
there and the mind IS there some definite CONCLUSION
is sure. An idiot may not, cannot, perhaps, arrive
at decision bu, mind cannot avoid it; II must decide
between right end wrong, and is in duty bound TO
act upon the decision II makes. Should he Une
speakef tell friend OF the death or friend could
his friend AVOID thought, conclusion, belief that the
declaration was either true or falseS Or should he
warn traveller or preciplce beyond must he not
either believe and halt or distelieye 60 on and 60
over. And SO When told OF duty to God, man must
or reject the declaration, there Is no intermediate
course
NO HEEDLEss NEUTRALITY
IN a matter OF such vital consequence as duty to
God. And when the decision is made we must act
upon it IN accordance with he decision ooaned.
We We're sometimes led to believe that there are
many who seem TO believe without corresponding
action following 1t; but he held that where the
action is not IN harmony with the seeming belief
the seeming Is a deluson and the presumed belief
not there. II man be told that he Is dangerously
near the crater OF volcano he turns back il he be-
lieyes; if not, lie does not. And SO in relation to
the declarations OF Goa. II man believes them
II is no nenr S ne ne dSss S
action follows. but deanite action; no
chine action but human mind action; TO illustrate
lief In God's laws and OF nnding excuse from obe-
dience on the grsurd that particular individual is
not specifically named, he showed that all arc called
upon TO repeat ana that each and every one is as
entirely bound TO obey the command as II he mad
thought is to believe not; there IS no such condi
ton as, neutrality under such declarations and
which has been written on the scroll OF duty Is love
OF God, and 1t must be ooeyei There is no aterna
tive. With full knowledge OF God comes love Of
God. You must destroy the nature Of a to pre-.
vent II, for to believe In IS to love and to
to to- love- '' God suprenely. There can ' Ss no
neutrality under such condition. Another CON-
mand to which he referred, and IN regard 10 which
there could not be neutrality, was the direction
pray secretly, on which the promise was that those
who do thus pray will be rewarded openly. The
duty or prayer was thus revealed-commanded not
once only, but daily; and In regard 10 that duty
there could be no feeling OF neutrality 1t is com.
mand, and its violation Is o SIN. whoever refuses Is
opposed to God, and volator OF His command.
biity OF neutr9ity i5 clear IN that we endowed
with sensbiilty, and that with senslbility contact
with God induces belief; knowledge OF God
INDUCES LOVE,
and love OF God brings prayers there s no neutrality
In either case There Is belief, and there Is action
In accordance with 1t; and so, he claimed, in rela
not at liberty TO disregard Its appeals. Neutrality
was, he claimed as inconceivape as that a hand in
fire should not feel It, IL might be scared. as the
conscience might be- and no. SO Eeeniy feel IT. but
be no neutrality in such case. COntendlng With
better feelings, he claimed, was not neutrality; it
was disbelief, In conclusion he alluded 10 the erro
neous maxim that II made no difference what we be.
leved, and protested against it, he claimed that
We are as responsible for
THE ACTION OF OUR MINDS
as Of our bodies; thar we are just fully bound 10
believe rightly as we are to act rightly toward our
fellow men, he called uDon his hearers TO look
Into Gods truths and be determined to act in
cordance with them; and to those who are indrer-
ent he appealed, asking that they might become
awakened to a consciousness OF their duty ana not
treasure up wrath against the day OF wrath.
When the services had been conc .uded there was
conversation IN relation 70 the absence OF Rev. DI,
return revived In body ana strong In the spirit or
the work he does