The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-11
CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH.

A Defence Of Christianity -SermOn by Rev.
Eli Fay, Of Newton, Mass.
There was very slim attendance at the services
yesterday morniug at the Church OF the Messiah
corner OF Park avenue and Thirty.fouyth street-a
result OF course. doubtless to be attributed to the
unpleasantly unproptious combination Of pouring
rain and slippery walks. However, those who were
present had the qualification OF listening TO an ex-
cellent sermon from Rev. ELI Fay. OF Newton Mass.
II not OF that highly polished order OF clergymen
sgtving such reputation to the ministerial
leaders Of this church, ne ia certainly q
man OF seeming thorough earnestness and II
the finest graces of pulpit oratory were wanting
there was no lack OF vg0r and force or utterance.
the sermon was O continuation Of the series of sun.
day diso0urses by eminent Unitarian clergymen on
the renets OF their faith. His text was Romans H.
18:-"I am not ashamed OF the Gospel OF Christ"
From the beginning the Jows mad only one form OF
worship. They werc much attached to 1t. In Jeru-
salem there was extended culture. Their temple
was q splendid work OF art the Jews have one
Church. The nation was the Onurch-a feature the
Mormons at Salt Lake have sought to initiate. In
Nazareth
appeared. The people turned aside to listen to the
these Becoming Christian he was forced to be-
come an exile. He went to Rome-proud. imperial
Rome. Under the SHADOW OF the forum he started
did not regret the cost OF his dlscpleshipthe loss
OF prospective hOnOrs and life OF ease ana
Christian virtues OF Paul. he proceeded to snow the
difference between true moral courage and
the Gospel Of CHRIST In THIS utterance was sub
| limated moral courage. Faith In the divinity OF
higher endcavor that otherwise would not exist
We 1--we and labor by faith Destroy faith and 1t
would destroy all our u,r,u,ns
He illustrated this at length, some OF the lllusra
tons, particularly those drawn from the scenes OF
10 OF yVQr n a Wal
eloquent and pertinent. Faith, he showed, was a
matter Of infinite moment. It was worth more than
universe concerned them but not as this matter Of
faith. The necessities and destiny OF this
TOII.ING ONWARD MYSTERY
to call ourselves concerned them above all else
He turned to the New Testament ana there learned
heae Was aS o IN
learned there the teachings OF this Christ. And
what teachings they were he taught us TO call God
might all be sons OF God. He came as the Son and
sent Of God to give light aud life to the world. On
MODERN CIVILIZATION
is engraved the name OF Jesus. We are not ashamed
grave ana beside which there Is no light; ashamed
grand prospective. All the circumstances attend.
ant upon the introduction OF the Gospel are entirely
poctnes and promises and assp@p
lions 80 remarkable as those OF Christ, and whioh
20 &c % ON lie SeSoS% e as
boundaries OF human knowledge they were unsus-
ceplibe Of dem 0nstrati0n, would have arrested no
attention II they had fallen from the lips OF man
simply as his individual opinions and In
tcnti0ns On the contrary they would have
justly exposed HIM to the charge Of fanaticism or
insanity and the matter would have dropped there
lie who consistently with His well Known life and
Thou hast sent Me into tho world so have sent
these disciples into the world; and as Thou dwell
est In I'VE will dwell in them, and may they be one
as we are one, that the world may believe that
Thou hast sent Me" must have been so
WONDERFULLY ENDOWED
and cultivated that these words were but the coun
terrart or ais deeds, the fitting exponent Of recOg
nized powers. Frankly oonfesslng that human
in6rmties and sometimes evil passions have
marred the history OF christianity we yet appeal to
Y ana tho present condition ana prospects Of
Christs Kingdom as the transcendent miracle OF all
me aes And a. w recall RS
| dIrefu evils, has disappeared, and the will
derness has been made to blossom as the
reformed and clothed. and In their right minds
have taken their places at the feet OF Jusus, in
which the neart receiving His doctrine and spirit
mas insttnctivey opened toward God as the mag
no 10 opens toward the sun, In which pure and
trusting souls. bidding their dear adleu, have
quietly fallen asleep In death, basing on HIS
promises alone their unquesttoning faith that all Is
well, we are perfectly satisfied to stand with John
and Paul and the Apostles and martyrs or the early
Church, and with Milton and Bacon, and Newton
and Locke and D0ddridge and Wesley, and Chal-
mer and Channing OF later times, ana declare that
we arc so far If ON being ashamed OF the Gospel,
that we gratefully accept IL as lamp to our feet
and light to our path the foundation OF our faith
and hope, our souls unfatling support