The New York herald., 1872-10-07
CHURCH OP THE MESSIAH.

Dr. Farley, or BROOKLYN, orr Com snuni0n.
The attendance at the Church OF the Messiah
corner OF Park avenue ana Thrty-fourth street,
was at yesterday mornings services. IA usual,
large and fashionable. Rev. II. A. Farley. d. d., OF
Brooklyn, occupied the pulpit. II being C0mmu-
nion Sunday the subject OF his sermon was "Com-
munion," as based upon John vi. e3:-"It f. tho
spirit that quckeneth; the nesh pro0tetn nothing
the words that speak unto you, they are spirlt
and they are life." propose. he began. to take
the text from its immediate connection and TO use
1t expressing an important truth bearing on tho
occasion. The words state general principle upon
which the
VALUE or TIE LORDS SUPPER
and OF all the religious ordinances may be tested.
We often hear that the Lords Supper does not de-
the prominence IL holds for II 1t did would
exert more obvious and positive influence than 1t
now does. There Is an intrinsic difficulty In thus
splitting up the religious character and attain
ments OF individual disciples and attrbuting to
one or another special cause this that trait or
quality One thing seems abundantly clear. at all
events that, exposed rs we are continually to
such a variety of temptations we can hardly have
too many safeguards. From within and with
out openly and III disguise, the tempter assails u.s.
The soul we'll needs goodiy arm0r. No doubt the
the value OF the Lora's supper consist Not In its
outward pomp and ceremony. No; 1t is the essen
tia that lies beneath, and, could we but SEQ It,
which demands the souls chief attention and de-
serves its profound regard.
THE FORM, AS CHRIST ESTABLISHED TT,
Is, nevertheless. most beautiful and at. Uni
versatility was as necessary "a perpetuity. Well
and wisely did He see that by asking His disciples,
everywhere and to the end Of time simply to do
this'-this one. in itself, little, very little
remembrance of Himself He should lay
the foundations OF o far more enduring,
far more expressive, far more universal than any
other. Ages have passed; empires have risen,
flourished aud fallen; generation on generation of
men have lived and died; the Church of Christ,
then represented by a small band OF simple
minded, tlmd disciples, now rules continents leads
the van In the march of human growth and civili-
zation, and to this hour that little act, that simple
ceremonial In which we take part to-day, has kept,
and Is destined still to keep. fresh in the minds OF
increasing millions, their blessed Saviour their
cended and gorifed Lord.
EVERYTHING WHICH Is ESSENTIAL
must he beneath the FORMS We NAV take the
bread and the cup sitting, kneeling or standing,
in our accustomed seats or at the altar; but we
must observe the spiritual meaning or significance
or the act OF Communion, the ordinance as Christ
with which it is accompanied. In both cases it is
the spirit that quickenth. But what is the spirit
ual meaning or significance of this act OF COM
munion in the Lords supper Surely no
true believer can doubt or this. 1t
ing freshly and vividly before us the
Lords death, suffered by Him for our salvation. IL
is the commemoration OF our Lords great sell
sacrifice for our sakes-a life OF selfdenial holt
ness, labor and love- crowned by the agony and the
cross. But there Is no mystic charm or efficacy In
these mere material elements or symbols OF bread
quickeneth." Let none despse or depreciate this
blessed institution as though IL were empty
ceremonial 1t has been the comfort and strength
OF many subdued and hearty penitent.