The New York herald., 1871-02-20
FIFTH AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Dniy and obligations Of Christians
Toward Each Othor aud Toward tho

The Dnly and Obligations Of Christians
Toward Each Othor aud Toward Tho
WOrld-DisrOursc by DIR. John Hall.
The peasancness OF the Sabbath day just past In
duced more than the ordinary numbers 70 attend
church services yesterday, and Gs consequence the
Fifth avenue Presbyterian church was crowded
% that there was scarcely standing room In the
Aisles. There Is eNtraneous attraction either In
the building the ritual or this church to draw the
masses tnither; bat there is power IN the simple
and touching manner in which the preacher holds
mp Christ the doctrines OF the Gospel before his
audiences for acceptance and imitation. The sub.
ject of DR.. Hall's discourse yesterday morning was
the duty and obligations OF church members toward
one another and toward mankind ana was based
upon portion OF the lesson read, l. Thessa onians,
". 14-"Now we exhort you, brc,hren warn them
that unruly, comfort the ieebie-inded, support
the weak, be patient toward all nleI.' No
extended proof is needed, he said, that God
intended MS 10 be social beings II is shown by the
tendencies OF human nature, by the requirements
OF society and by manifold declarations OF the
Divine word. Nah is everywhere q social being,
and those who have buried themselves IN woods
and in dens and caves are exceptions. The build
ing OF cities, the appliances OF trade and commerce
and all our business relations can be effected only
bya
MUTUAL RECOGNITION or THIS FACT.
When those social tendencies bring men together
for vain OF unDoiy purposes they become unsocia
and mischievous, aot only 10 the individuals but 10
the race. God has provided for those tendencies In
the family and IL the Church, and The public dis
plays referred to are opposed to the true social
idea. Such persons have dear 800 friends, but
they know nothing about their own families. SO In
the Church are connected by belief in the same
truths for Christian cooperation In the spread CT
those truths. And If we understand our being those
truths VIII De sanctifed for good. lie had,
therefore, chosen the tcA1 lor the special Dene1t OF
church members ana he prayed tnat the Holy
SPIRIT would give tAeal willing hearts TO take the
truth home With lheEl THESE Goros are spoken TO
all in the Church OF Cniist, though II might
al first appear ~ be addressed only TO
ministers ana edec. but tliS vieH would 10, be III
the spirit OF the exfortsito.i Tic Apostle taxes no
note Of any dtyers4ties 9. Cnurca orders, but calls
them all brethren, bound together III one 1aith Ill
one Saviour and travelling al IL one road towards
the enjoyment OF oae heavenly hone. lhe text Lat
urally divides tscH into heads that the youngest
and weakest neel not md 1t difficult 10 comprc-
hend.
WARN TIE USRULY.
This word "unraiN' f. borrowed FROM military
discipline and the Uaurch OF Christ is compared to
army and the members 10 soldiers, whose duties
require precision Of movement, obedience 10 autho.
rty tverses l. and lo and conformity TO the rules of
association. OF what use would be an army which
disregarded discipline IL Wouid be a multitude, a
mob, a crowd q rabb!c; III an engagement with the
enemy feeble and unTieiiy. II any trample on the
common arrangements o. he church ii is the duty
OF members TO VAIN such. Members may become
ordinances of the Church and the means OF
grace, aud refusal 10 contribute their proportion
toward the spread oi The common trains believed
by ALL To suppose that ministers churcn officers
alone are responsible ur this work Is grave mis-
take Ministers haro the least anu worst opportu-
mites Tor seelug church members; indeed. some
they seldom or never see, and when tney do they
them In their SABBATH aspect, II were, their best
SIDE appears. But not 50 their fellow members and
nelghbor5, who are acquainted. often Intimately.
with the secrets ttelr domestic life and private
character Wnat should We think OF q man VINO
Al n
TO rescue him And what shan we think vi tie
church member VINO, seeing other church members
IN dangcr-runnin9 into VICIOUS ana bad habits, i'm
periihg their best interests and in danger OF being
drowned IN perditon-phiosoDh oDhicaily speculates as
10 when their cnange shall come? Christian courtesy
viii teach US how and
WHEN This wAHNING SHALL BE GIVEN
with tenderness ana brothery compassion and not
with cold, dignihed superiority The feeling and
reason OF the warned man viii lead him co appre-
hend the motives ana 10 thiuk upon his ways and
'reIace his steps. And even II he does not, ne Will
readily acknowledge that however mistaken we
may be touching his perilous condition. we are con-
scientlous IN our belief and IA our warning And
what evils would be Kept away from the Church OF
Christ II members would do tails captain Lyons
relates an incident Of humming plrd, 10 keep her
little ones within The nest unul tier wings were
strong enough 10 support them III The air, enlarged
and increased the lljn OF the nest from time 70 tle
And what instiDct taught that ntc creature
ought 10 teach US 10 do for our fellow men Keep
them from falfng. We exhort you, Therefore, bretl-
COMFORT THE FEEBLE MINDED
Many persons suffer because OF weakness in them
srongi they are too ready 10 agree with the last
speaker and think only OF that side OF the question
Ii Is possible that the Apostle had n MS mind some
such persons when he penned these words. In no
church have all Christians the same attauments
Some strong minds get hold OF things as a mathc.
matician does oi problem, and cannot be driven
from their point. Others are lacking In cear-headeu
ness, but taey make up for It in tenderness aud
warmheartedness, In which they have a peculiar
power OF then own. There Is a very great tendency
on the part OF the strong headed man 10 LOOK with
eupeIcllious eye upon his weaker brother. He must
not come into the church, and Yet the tender warm
hearted, blunderIng brother Is offen more true to
the church than the other. Comfort the feeble
minded. And there is
NO COMF0RT LIKE THAT WHICH COMES IRON GODS
WORD.
farmer iD Ireland suffering from tumor In his
shoulder came TO Dublin Hospital TO have Ii re-
moved. IL was o painful operation aud when 1t
was over he was asked II he took choroform white
under the knlfef lie answ cred, mo. On the wall
hung card with this bit OF Scripture:-'Thou wilt
Keep him In perfect peace whose mind Is stayed on
Tree, because he trusteth In Thee This was
enough for me. ard / needed no other comfort or
hcip.r And thus 1t Will ever pe found Of those who
trust IN The Lord.
SUPPORT THE WEAK
Imagine person who has heard a truth 10 him
pninteiigpie, he iears. perhaps. 10 60 "a ha min.