The New York herald., 1872-10-21
F0RTY-THIRD STREET METHODIST CHURCH.
Mrs. Van COtt ON Active Christi Tia nifty
Laying Aside Every Weight and Rum
ming the Race,


Laying Aside Every Weight and Rum
ming the Race.
Mrs. Margaret Van Cotr, the famous female ex-
horter, preached at the Foriy-third street Metho-
dist Episcopal church, between Seventh and Eighth
avenues yesterday morning. The church was
crowded in every part. The doorways, notwith-
standing the cold that came in with wintry chilli
ness were filed, and the doors pressed open. The
stairways outside were filed with those who
waited in hopes of hearing and seeing though both
impossible, and the galleries and gallery lob
bies were jammed. The crowd OF that solid
kind that usually composes the rich audiences of
the Methodist denomination, and the high seats
INN edately surrounding the pulpit were filed
by the active elders Of the church, sometimes called
by the irreverent
THE "AMEN MEN,
Mrs. Van Cott was dressed In black, with high
black bonnet on the back Of her head, tied with
wide black ribbons round her throat She is a
woman OF about forty, fair and fat, with round
FIJI face. fine flexible voice, vehement delivery
and dramatic power of expression which Ristori
can hardly excel. She interspersed her sermon
with one or two very
VIVID, STARTLING DESCRIPTIONS,
and one or two very melting and touching ones.
She narrowed up or melted the congregation in
turn until it would evince by cries its horror its
sorrow or Its JOY and frequently in reply to her
feryid exhortations, cries OF "Yes yes!" .Glory!'
"Blessed be the Lordr' would resound through the
building. AT one point slight thread OF nervous
laughter would run through the audience, and at
another the young girls would weep convulsively
AMI strong men would feel the tear drops In their
eye. Mrs. Van COtt chose Tor
HER TEXT
the first verse OF the twelfth chapter OF Hebrews
Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about
with so great crowd OF witnesses, let us lay aside
every weight and the sin which doth easily beset
US and let us run with patience the race that is set
before u.s.
She began by expounding the general meaning
OF the text and then launched into the fervd ex-
hortation that has made her a power even among
the fcryid Methodists. Young man. have you laid
aside every weight for the race ? Have you laid
laid aside that little sin OF intemperance ? Young
lady, you have laid your hand upon the poughshare
OF salvation, but have you not regretting in your
to look back II so remember Lots wife. Sisters,
have you not regretted too much
SOME LITTLE FAv0RITE sins
Have you put it entirely away? Some OF the
members Of this church may say, ''oh, always
attended class meeting when II was not too chilly
pay the pastors salary; have been in my pew
regularly on fine sabbath days, and II have omit
win forgive me.n l tell you He will say, never
knew you. God does not
WINK AT LITTLE SINS.
These little sins OF omission have ruined more than
sins OF commission. HIS power Is great to save,
and He never deserts His people. The God that
blessed be Godl') The preacher then rec0nnted,
in vivid terms, the story OF the three Hebrews
in the fiery furnace The fires glowed with heat
seven times greater than ever before. Would not
some OF the members OF this church
| and OF other churches OF the present day.
when they lound themselves bound and IN
the hands OF the enemy, on the way
TO this dreadful fate with the heat OF the fires
slngeing them even far away from the furnace
would ye not have said
WELL, GUESS I'LL GIVE UP
don't know that 1t makes much d1erence-fll
bend the knee to the brazen imagey" Ha would
ye notS Chorus OF elders-"God forbid Hallelu-
| jah5D Could ye then retain your faith in Christ
! see the faithful three are thrust, thus bound and
/ half burned by the great heat, fee away, scarce
| daring to look upon the work they have done. All,
they say, we are rid OF these straitaced these
obdurate people. But the King at a distance looks
! on. He gazes with amazement. He can see far
into the clear, dazzling flame. "Did not bid ye cast
the three into the fiery furnace, and lol discover
! the forms OF four" Cries OF Gloryr blessed be
Il Godr "Halelujahl'') The God Of Christ is all pow
erful to He had divested fire of its heat and
/ saved them who trusted In Him unharmed even in
! the midst OF fire. Mrs. Van Colt then related
THE SOMEWHAT THREADBARE STORY
of Daniel and the lions, investing that familiar
! ratiye with new interest through her startling
/ imagery and homely deductions when the Pro-
| phet threw open his window towards Jerusalem
| and in loud voice prayed to his God against the
/ DEGREES OF the King, do you not suppose the evil
genius whispered to him, as 1t might have whis-
i pered to you, sNow Daniel, have q little common
sense. Your God can hear you Just as well II you
pray In the secret depths OF your own heart as
| weu as If you pray aloud and dsobey the decree Of