The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-15
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Christian Obcdience-Sermon by Rev. =.
G. Butler, ID. ID.

&. Butler, ID. ID.
Yesterday Rev. DR.. Butler, the pastor of the First
Presbyterian church, corner OF South Fourth and
Sixth Streets preached upon the duty OF obedience,
taking his text from the story OF the lepers, w's6
directed by Christ to go and show themselves to
the prest-"And it came to pass that as they went,
they were cleansed ftheirleprosy"-Luke xviii. II.
The reverend gentleman, in opening his discourse,
said that it was undeniabe that the letter and the
spirit OF the Gospel incucated the duty OF Instant
obedience to every command. Not only was no de-
lay for any preparation uncOuntenanced, but by
direct Injunction and explicit inference from every
incident narrated by the Evangeists unequivical
obedience to receive and trust in Christ for saliva
ton now was clearly required. And yet the error
was universally cherished and difficult to be eradi-
Gated from the minds of most men, that before actual
repentance and conversion period OF effort for
the attainment OF some indescrbable and imaginary
fitness necessary before coming to Jesus. This
mistake was made by Christian people ana
and it operated dsastrously in their efforts for the
salvation OF Others leading them to forget the fact
that every SINGLE clear proclamation OF the GOspeI
was sufficient, through the light OF the Holy Ghost,
to convert every unrencwcd soul into whose heart
and conscience it entered. Unbelief lifted up an
obstacle at the straight gate held down the anxious
struggling soul for months in the slough OF despOnd
and Kept back the renewed believer from that open
act of avOwal and self-consecration which, by the
blessing OF the Spirit would bring the heart the
comfort, hope and peace which he desired The num-
Der of Christians whose faith was enfeebed, whose
spiritual energies had been rendered lnefncent,
whose growth in grace had been retarded and
whose comfort OF soul had been diminished, passed
human comprehension 1t was asserted in the text
concerning the lepers who came to Christ to be
healed of their malady that they went they
were cleansed. Jesus had directed them to go and
show themselves to the priests, and they did so
with unquestOning obedience. The condition Of the
lepers was Ike those who felt the disease and de-
Element of sin and desired to bedelivered from Its
as one willing and able to heal aud cleanse,
and implicitly obeying the command to come
az once to them, are pardoned and ceansed
One word Of God was just as good as a thousand
to save and give peace to the troubled SOUL The
lepers did not plead trivial excuses for procrasti-
mating nor did they stop to ponder over the proba-
bties OF success or failure in obtaining cure, nor
dld they want to try. some other remedy. They had
all their bodily faculties. and the extreme simplicity
OF the command OF Jesus did not staggcr them, but
they implicitly obeyed the order; and their instant
obedience was rewarded, for they obtained healing
If the very act OF obeying the command of Christ.
The Speaker proceeded TO deduce from the mar
rative the spiritual lessons which 1t so clearly and
beautifully suggested Those who were spiritually
diseased were to go to the invisible but living Jesus
with earnest, trustul cntreaty. That was the SIM
pie command OF the Gospel, obedience to which
secured the blessing of spiritual health, or Gods
Word would be falsed; but that would not he so,
for lie IS faithful that promised. The sinner waS
not To delay coming to Christ until he good
enough or until some preliminary indication OF q
change was seen; for all goodness was the fruit OF
the Holy Spirit and would not be wrought in man
until he obeyed by going to the great High Priest
ana mighty Saviour, who said, 'sifin that cometh
unto me | Will in nowise cast out" DR..
Butler made some judicous observations
upon the mistake committed by those who
postponed hearkening to the call OF the Gospel be-
cause of no feeling, aud said that only in the act Of
obeylng would the emotional nature be onsed He
gave practical instruction to Christians, who, when
their religious emotions for some other
were sluggish in their private devotons and in at
tendance upon the worship Of the sanctuary, and
encouraged them by the consideration that in the
performance OF duty they would grow In grace and
their Joy ana peace would abound Thus would
gious enthusiasm be cultivated ana he doing Of
duty would become increasingly delight full.