The New York herald., 1872-09-02
THE REFORMED CHURCH.
Autumn Opcning-sermon by DIR. Ormis

Autumn Opcntng-SermOn ny Dr. Ormts~
The Reformed Dutch church, corner Of Filth ave-
nue. and Twenty-ninth street, was opened yester-
day morning for divine service, alter the usual sum-
mer vacation, and was largely attended. After the
preliminary exercises the Rev. DIR. Ormlston deliv-
cred the sermon, selecting his text from the twen
ty-eighth chapter Of Isaiah and the twenty-thlrd
and twenty-ninth verses inclusive:-
Give ye and hear my voice; hearkeu and hear my
si gsqSs
ssSj aa% and ss "1s an
For his God doth instruct him to discretion ana doth
por the htchcs are not threshed with threshing in
strument neither cart wheel turned about upon the
the pas Win In roa are 0eAen out VIII" 'aA
,hrssSag with Wheel his lis cart art,
wonderful in Counsel and excellent in working
The reverend gentleman spoke In substance as
fOOws:-This prophecy carries US back TO the
early reign of Hezekiah. The prophet foretold
series OF dire woes and mlsfortunes against Judah
and Jerusalem. But while the future disasters are
predicted consolation and comfort are mingled with
the threatening. The people are tried, but
not forsaken cast down, but not destroyed.
Isaiah like JONAH reveals the dark cloud of
an offending God resting over the people, but he
tells also OF forgiveness that awaits them. The
great and entire world may be regarded in the light
OF q parable, both physical and moral. Observe
how continuously throughout the whole Word Of
God these inspired men make use of imagery, the
better to convey to their hearers the richer bless
quent and instructive parable. The work Of tho
reaper and the ingathering OF 1t would naturally
For the last three months have been walking
among the fields OF most magnificent harvest,
Sss Tsh awsys seGted thoughts to para
Inspiration for the work he performs; but he is as
very natural ard simple thing to us to see child
scattering seeds IN the ground believing impli.
Sy ne sy w pts1 up
pereRce never seen the result OF seed-sOwing- the
rich, abundant harvest-would we believe 1t pos
not. 1t needed divine teaching to put this knowl-
edge in our power. You must recognize the Divine
as our souls and as tenderly cared for Who taught
the very first agriculturist OF us alli Noah HIM
Intellectual perception can be obtained without his
aid. There Is nothing either wise or good that is
,e not rom Him Every discovery in science, every
ment, however intricate, Is the result OF human
wisdom guided by divine: In the end contem-
usefulness In view. Ais work, His spirit and His
providence are all brought to bear upon each indl
sS a ans heart ss E1os s' at tns Ra
which he employs to accomplish this end
They are exceedingly varied. Sometimes
sunshine and storm does He lead His children
through their earthly pilgrimage. The outbreath-
thousand ways. In the events OF our own lives do
we see how wonderfully near He comes to our
hearts. His dealings may sometimes seem severe,
but they are to make the soil more fruitful to
rich and bless our hearts. SO, brethren, II during
the season ! have been away from you the
Iplong9shage of death has made sad
inr0ads In your family; II loved ones are
sick or afilicted-whatever your trial IL,
remember that God, the great husbandmah, has
been dealing with yOu according to your needs and
circumstances. In closing let me call your atten-
tion to the dignity of your own souls God has
given His Son and Spirit that we may become His
heirs and reign with Him for 1t Is inherit
for all who Will accept. 1t is still the sowing
time for us all. Let us prepare our fields. Don't
let the dews from heaven fall upon wasted ground,
but, sowing pentifuly, may IL spring up and bear
divine fruit. May God bless the summer that has
flown to US all. May some glorious work be re-
vealed to us in the last day that we have done,
perhaps uuconsciously IN the season now departed.