The New York herald., 1871-07-10
FIFTM AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH.

Discourse by Rev. Thomus Armitage
~pirstua, Life.
The Fifth Avenue Baptist church, on West Forty
sixth street, near Fifth avenue. was quite crowded
during the morning services yesterday with Its usual
fashionable congregation. The services were con-
Quoted by the Rev. DIT. Thomas Armitage, pastor of
che churcn who preached a very eloquent sermon
from The text 'Ye die. and your lie Is hidden with
Christ in God" he spoke briefly but to the point
and in explanation OF the words Of Holy Writ spoke
follows:-Taken the literal sense the works of
the text would be
SERVING PARADOX.
II is said 'ye die and your lie Is hidden with
with Christ in Cod" That is first speaking OF death
and Immediately after calling tnat death life But
there Is nothing In the words that Is IN reality I'M
possible or even strange when regarded from a
spiritual standpoint II Is true nothing is more dis
similar than lite ami DEATH and yet the Apostle
couples them together as II they were syuonomous
terms. But what is meant by the words OF the text
Is that the benever in Christ is dead TO the world
dead to sinas II WERE dead to all things, but sti
ALIVE TO CHRIST.
believers life is life OF peace. He looks at Cod
not as an angry ruler or despot. but as a kind
Master, whom he loves and obeys, not from fear.
but because it is pleasing duty. He lives spiritual
life, which prepares him for the life to come, when
be VIII sit at the right hand of God. In sensual
sense the
LIFE OF THE BELIEVER
diners not from that OF any Of his fellows but he
has au overcoming feeling OF quietness and serenity
corresponding TO that life which Is the reward OF
true follower OF Christ. We are all conversant with
the fact that what VIII convert one man and render
him capable OF hearing Gods word with good effect
WILL on the other hand. harden another and has no
effect upon him. II Is wonder iul the means God
uses TO save men and bring them u sense OF their
nothingness. spiritual lie is pro luced secretly and
silently without any visible cause. The meaning Of
she words your life Is Ind with Christ III Godr 5
that Goo, beng the fountain OF life, whence springs
eil lie therefore the life or the believer is hidden
In the fount o ne. God is the guardian OF iifc ana
those that believe IN him take their life from
MN. Spiritual lie Is hiddcn-ls not apparent TO
men and is sometimes developed in temptation and
olstfeSs-n spiritual conflict, when the believer in
Christianity lights against The antagonists of his
Master. When one becomes dead IN the sense OF the
text lie ceases TO he himself and lives not for The
world, but for Christ. and walks not In The way OF
the wicked, but follows IN the footsteps of his
Heavenly Master. il Is a sweet thought
THIS SPIRITUAL LIFE,
and CONVEYS a sense or complete happiness, for
what could be more delightful than 10 1--we hll with
Christie draw sustenance from The tount Of life
10 lie ALWAYS with Goa and to live only as child Of
Cod What, hen. is more delightful than this
spiritual illeY IL Is the fuinmegt OF the ardent
de Tres of the good ana is next u the lie uf the
spirit with Guu in heaven. In conclusion DR.. Ar
mtdge eAhOrleG mis- hearers to endeaVOr to I've with
God ana TO prepare themselves for spiritual life.