The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-06
EIGHTEENTH STREET METHODIST CHURCH.
Sermon by Rev. Charles A. Holmes, ID. D.,
OF Pittsburg, on Grace and Faith.


OF Pittsburg, on Grace and Faith.
There was average attendance yesterday at
the Methodist Episcopal church in Eighteenth
street. near Eighth avenue, to listen to sermon by
stranger the Rev. DR.. Charles A. Holmes, of Pitts
burg The subject was the redeeming power OF
grace acting through faith, and the text was from
Pauls epistle to the Ephesans H., g 81
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit
together in heavenly places In Christ Jesus.
For by grace are We saved through faith, and that
not Of yourselves: IL Is the gift Of God.
Previous to the sermon an opening anthem
"If Thou Lord, should mark"-was sung by the
full choir, and the organist Mr.. Atwood, played
an offertory. The Rev. DR.. Holmes said If man
was not lost In original sin the word salvation is
one wicked Interpolation from beginning to end
the Holy Gospel one sham from beginning to end.
II we were not lost there was no need for our
Heavenly Father to send Christ to US, and 1t was
a wicked sacrifice from the starting point. But
that coming Of our Lord was timely, was needed
and was a grand benencence to mankind. We were
lost, and we may be saved In the great relapse
from he perfection in which we came into being
In the agony which we endured-when at the mo-
CHRIST came snSa to ' us from the Father and
we were no longer without hope. Whereas
by the disobedence OF one many were made sin
ners so by the obedience Of One many were made
whole. by that coming we may be saved, and IN
Christ we new creatures Old things have
passed away and we made new. That man Is
OF good assured who trusts In God; for in Him we
have a house not made with hands. Though risen
from such depths, though cleansed from such un-
cleanliness,
THERE Is NO ROOM
for selfboastng, no occasion for selfgratulation,
no basis for self-confdence. There is world con-
quered by our devotion or our purity, or our worth
| IL was through His wisdom and His power that we
| obtained the boon OF redemption. He supplements
our deficiencies, and raises the low, and lifts us, by
| faith, to nnal salvation. God so loved the
! a. n
Son to raise us to new life. These
words 'by grace are We saved through faith''
remind US that we were indeed lost but give US
the promise OF salvation. In its primary signih-
canoe this word faith has its widest acceptation but
1t has manifold signifcations. There Is past faith
In the works done, a future faith in reference TO
| immortality and Christian faith leading us to
place hope for redemption In the power OF lnspira-
| ton and the mercy OF Christ. Through faith are
/ we saved this morning, taking the gospel evidence
OF our faith In Christ and ourselves and the gospel
| attonement OF Christ. But though we are saved
through faith not for q moment do we suppose we
are saved by faith
/ FAITH IS THE INSTRUMENT,
grace is the agent; faith IL the hand grace s tbs
eiyer; faith rejoices but at the feet OF grace Lays
paul In his Epistle to the Ephesians, said he wen
/ among them by the grace Of God preaching faith
i "By grace you are saved through faith, not b.
works. lest any man should boast SIN Is Tor
| given, its bondage broker, Its burden gone. w
have the sweet hope of eternal happiness but no
! from our own efforts. In due time the son oil 60
1 rescued us from the depths or our Sin, ana by IN
power OF mercy and goodness 1fteu US from tn
! vale OF sorrow and suffering. We have entered IN
| Kings service-received our bounty, put on gu
armor. The battle is still before w. There are DC