The New York herald., 1872-11-25
THE CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL.

Sermon by the Very Reverend Arch.
bishop McCloskcy-The Day OF Judg-
ment Portrayed-The Last Sunday
in the Ecclesiastical Year-The New
Cathedral.
Yesterday morning the Catholic Cathedral in
Mulberry street was crowded with an immense
congregation, on the occasion Of the preaching Of
the Very Reverend Archbishop McCloskey, and also
that the day was the last Sabbath in the ecclesias
tical year, next sunday being the first Sunday in
Advent. The intense stiffness, almost deathlike in
Its intensity, when the Archbishop began to
preach, showed the respect which Is paid
to every word which may fall from the prelate's
lips by his congregation, TO whom he is endeared
by so many ties A text having allusion to the end
of all things Of earth was chosen with much appro-
priateness by the Archbishop. Although lengthy,
each phrase is OF deep significance and bearing on
the subject natter and is taken from the twenty
fourth chapter of ST. Matthew, from the fifteenth to
thirty NTH inclusive. The last verse, and to
which particular alluson was made being "Heaven
and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not
pass away.
We can easily understand, said The Archbishop,
now these words OF solemn import must have sunk
deeply into the minds of our Saviour's hearers and
how they must have appealed TO the hearts OF those
who loved Jesus Christ. The echong portent Of
memories, for they were cogniZant that what was
said was OF vital Importance to their eternal saliva
ton, and conviction must have been impressed on
every soul. The hearers felt the goodness and
sovereign mercy which prompted the promises OF
future mercy 10 an erring race. Ihey felt that
our Saviour scattered His benefits on every
side and on every hearer who was willing to be
converted and ready to plead for mercy. They
knew that they must die and all be judged
according to their works, Tor the law and
revelation given them was TO be the standard.
And as it was with His disciples so will 1t be with
his believers In after time. The terrible uncer-
tainty Of the hour when Jesus shall arrive should
ever be upmost IN our minds, for the fear OF judg
ment should ever be before us. Now, my dear
that our last day is not far distant, Tor each and
ali OF US here assembled, that last day, the judg-
ment Tor u.s., win decide our fate for all eternity.
Each one will hear the sentence irrevocably pro.
nounceG, for happiness or for woe. Does II not
penOve US ,,aso0 rss6 IN people to
mories and in our heartsY Here be.
low God suspends his Judgments; yes in the world
s a
death for erring humanity's sake. Set up in your
own hearts a correct standard OF what Is holy,
what is true, and act up tot, swerying neither TO
The right nor to the left. How many men regulate
their conduct according to this worlds standard,
aud constantly say what the world says, forgetting
judgment and hereafter and their accountability to
the great God who made themy NY brethren,
this is grievous error we should never forget,
the midst of death, and we know not what moment
we may be called upon TO give an account OF the
AN AFFECTING COMPARISON.
You who have sat by the bedside OF dying man
and seen how the vital spark was rapidly wingng
its way toward eternity can realize the terrible
anguish to loving wife, tender parent or be-
Teaved children. You have seen the intense anx-
iety OF waiting till the spirit ned to God who gave
IT. AT last the final breath Is drawn, and all that
Is OF earh earthlike is left behind mass OF inan-
innate clay, while the spirit stands in the presence
OF the great Jehovah. When the eyes are closed
no going back Is pessble-no coDcealment. Then
what matters TO the poor corpse the euogies or
q Olfl 10 Qha aItt
to appear before the highest tribunal. Oh the
thrilling sorrow OF that moment TO those left be.
hind before the bier has entered the house o
mOurningl and they may well exclam ssThe Lord
gveth aud the Lord taketh away; blessed be the
name OF the Lord"
BELIEVE ME- OR BELIEVE ME- SoT
practise 10 or practise II not the word or God will
never pass away. All the secret abomnatlons, al
the crimes you have committed, which you have