The New York herald., 1872-09-16
ST. STEPHENS CHURCH.

Sermon by the Rev. Father McCready-
Tho Love OF God and Ones Ncighbor.
The high mass at st. Stephens church yesterday
morning was said by the Rev. Father Flynn. The
mass sung by the choir was Machi's Mr.. Denforth
the organst, played few brilliant pieces during
the service.
The sermon was,preached by the Rev. Father
$780, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy
whole heart. thy whole sou!, and thy whole mind,
and thy neghbor as thyself." In these few words
we have an cpitome of the Christian religion, OF
the whole law Of God. On these two command
ments depend the entire law and the prophets.
Mans duties and relations In this world are two
fold towards God and towards his neighbor. Man
cannot neglect those duties violate his obliga-
tons toward either without injury to the other. II
he be guilty OF
INJUSTICE TOWARD HIS FELLOW MEN
he ofrends God, who commands him to love his
ncighbor as himself. Again, he cannot sin against
God without marring and violating the harmony OF
that perpetual thanksgiving and praise which oil
created nature, and especially man, is called upon
to offer to God, the Creator, the Sovereign Of
the Universe. Mans duties and the requirements
which God demand are contained In the decaloguc,
or table of the Ten Commandments, which are
epitomlzed and substantially reduced TO the two
Commandments depends the entire law; for Il we
examine the decalogue We shall md that the three
nrst have God Immediately for their object the re-
mainIng seven having reference to our neighbor.
Thus St. Paul. IN his epistle to the Romans, says
no ae SSy out his nsSor
filled the law. For thou shalt not commit
adultery, thou shalt not KILL thou shalt not steal
covet, and II there be any other commandment II
Is comprised In this word-thou shalt love thy
the greatest he nsnuatcd that
we should have those prccepts ever In our minds
and hearts that they should be- ever eve .,,, before
our Conduct through life. How, then, are those
precepts observed In the world to-dayf DO we ind
iations i with Cod and their neighbor' we have but
asS6abs OF our crvn IND CRIMINAL tRrBrNALs
ance Of The precept, ''Thou shalt love thy neghbor
as thyself" IS only the exception. What are those
records but histories o. crimes I'M, which @ shock @ the
banded together in society as II for no other pur
pose than to destroy and render each other misera
presents itself. Injustice and circumvention Of
each other marx all relations Of society. Whether
We regald individual relations or those OF bodies
corporate or polite, everywhere the demon OF In
justice and dishonesty seems to have set bis seal,
until the honest man has become the mark for
tion to the magnitude and extent Of his pecuations
| Again, In the social relations who can enumerate
the sonntless violations Of this preeept is not
ordinary purposes Of social lie they can never
| separate without woundiuQ
| FRATEREAL CHARITY,
| without destroying their neighbOr's reputation,
| No person, no avocation OF life, no good namc
however fair Is free from their attacks, and repu.
| tatons which but an hour before were unblcm-
ished are after one OF those conferences between
| Christians left blackencd beyond redemption
Those VINO 30 wilfully violate this second precept
can scarcely be expected to observe the first-nay
as we have said, It's observance under such circu.
stances is impossible. 1t Is needless to inquire
the world. The great test OF love Is the observance
| OF the commands and wishes OF the person who is
| the object Of our love. "If you love me keep my
| conduct stand beside this test How have VIC OBJ
| served His Commandments Our conscience will
| answer for ne. There IL nowadays a prejudice
against even dlscoursng OF the love OF God. The
| very mention OF II brings up
| VISIONS OF THE OLDEN TINE,
| when holy men and women retired from the world
to live only for Cod dedcatng their lives and prop
| erty to His service II Is, however, sad mistake