The New York herald., 1872-09-02
RELIGION AT LONG BRANCH.
CENTENARY METHODIST EPISCOPAL oHuRox

CENTENARY METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHUROH.
President Grant, Strategic Politicisns
and = Worshipful Geat-Conversion oi
st. Paul-SermOn by Rev. James n.
Brown.
LONG BRANCH Sept. 1, 1sra
When President Grant goes to church here he
goes to the Methodist church In the village. THIS
church, by the Inscription ON its front, proclaims
itself the Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church,n
which may be something extra In the Methodist
line. However. it is a very neat modest church
ediace, but with the services held In the second
story On the expectation that President Grant
would be there yesterday morning nearly all the
politicians so.ourning at present at the Branch
were on hand. This going to church has good
look, and as piece Of strategy may
DO worth while, but In the rarity Of
the Presidents church-golng this Summer cannot
prove very paying investment. Some are sharp
enough to hang around the vestibule till there Is No
likelihood OF the President putting In an appear
ance, and then they stink away. This was the case
yesterday morning. The only persistent case II
going to church, except for religious purposes, was
wORsuPFUL GOAT,
who brushed through the crowd leaped up tho
stairs and but for the almost preternatural activity
OF the agile sexton would possibly Q moment later
have been In the pulpit. The goat was separated
politicians having gone away the services began.
Rev. James w. Brown. the pastor, preached the ser
mon. He took for his text lst Timothy, H.. l6-
"hOwbet, for this cause obtained mercy, thatin me
first Jesus Christ might shew forth all long suffer-
Ing, for pattern to them which should hereafter
believe on him to life everlasting" The conver.
sion OF ST. Paul, he began might be well regarded
as showing the truth Of religion 1t was most re-
soul 1t is related that Lord Lyttleton at one time
was sceptical, and, believing the Bible fraud he
expressed nis M nsen0n mt S expose It, He t9oE IF
fore 5 he T. s h. vaa saa sdnyrsss SS
himself II was Che mercy Of God that induced
Pauls conversion. They were daily the subjects q
Gods mercy. The air and sunshine and health
were gifts or mercy It was mercy that might close
;s their eyes , IN peace and place them among the
~ GRANDEsT EXHIBITION OF MERCY w
was the gilt OF Christ for the redemption Of sinners
and his death on the cross. Some were the objects
or special mercy ana from such were due special
duties. God win require returAs according as He
gives From him to whom much much Is gwen
sus as he was called, before his conversion was
proud Pharisee. On the journey to Damascus his
saw " the same a1 nrs f -
psfssS5tsst th58 10y It ! hard as 5of thee" Ana
what SS Paul dS His inquiry a.
CONVERTED ON THE INSTANT! -, f'o
1t was like going to the an xious bench. Every as
pect OF life was changed. new field Of duty
opened before him. He asked God to assign him
his labor in this field This was the spirit that
should actuate every new convert. IL was mercy
to be answered in time and saved from the wrath
to come saved from the fire that is never Quenched.
He hoped that some might be
lN " WOKE Up NOW Nl W. al
under the influence of the present sermon. Too
many were asleep. 1t was their duty to awaken
such, to rouse them from their lethargy and to
point out to them the way OF salvation: Persons
finding themselves being awakened should not
fight against it, 1t was Christ fighting for them.
Paul sutiered great anxiety for three days. He
went without food and drink. Such were the ex-
periences OF many They care not Tor temporal
food. They long for the ..5.,r..,., ..,.,.e ,i.r
BREAD OF LIFE.
Dark s the soul until the radiance OF heaven shines
In on the soul. Paul was converted through
agony 1t was preceded by consciousness Of san
and guilt lie then received delivering mercy at tho
hands OF God. At once he began to preach. The
Jews took COUNCIL to kill him. He was tortured
and beaten and thrust into prison: He did not
heed these. God granted him delivering mercy. Al
the prison at Phppi God sent deliverance and
the prison doors were open, and he went on his
way rejoicing and preaching the way Of salvation
to the IDENTITIES. From this point he traced the
Of Paul to the close Of his life, and held him
up as an example for imitation Paul was great
sinner. There was long suffering on the part OF
God in his case, but his saving mercy was not eX-
hausted. There was hope for the worst sinners.