The New York herald., 1872-11-25
WASHINGTON SERVICES.
METROPOLITAN M. E, CHURCH.
WAguIEETnN

WASHINGTON, NOV. "a, 1871.
After an absence OF two Sundays the Rev. Dr.
Tiany resumed his duties to-day and was greeted
by large and attentive audience. He preached
In the morning from the first Epistle to the Thessa
lonians, first chapter and llth verse -"For our
Gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in
power and In the Holy Ghost and in much assl-
rance.n In opening he alluded 10 the elements OF
truth common to all systems. He was not disposed
to deny the power OF any truth whether dscov
cred or revealed. Where truth is in philosophy or
opposition can cheek, no p sopnlstry dsy but
which lives as though pregnant vital
power. Wherever it is utter ut re-
mains imperishable. 1t may not at once
be recognized-may wait centuries for an interpre-
ter, but when the appointed time arrives the man
to interpret finds the truth he is to read. Chrlst.
Calico, LIE yerrier and Kepler were introduced az
illustrating the position, which was closed by say.
Ing truth comes to us as does the light fro IN
heaven. Ii the wave OF light leaves the throne Of
God there Is in it power Of existence to reach us.
though It's coming may be delayed, as 10 che light
from stars. for centuries. This
POWER or CONTINUED EXISTENCE
Ia an explanation OF the power Of conquest. power
to preserve alive power to keep active and this ID
because all truth either expresses great principle
or arranges itself in line with great principles and
God always works on the side Of great principle.
This is metaphysicaAy true, because great princi-
pies are expressions OF some fact OF God. and 1t
may be historically demonstrated Delay h
de feat deferred success is often most to be de-
sired. Interpreters die, but their interpretations
survive them The claim Of monotheism was
centuries awaiting recognition; the world moved
but slowly up to the recognition oil the
truth developed by the Reformation This -
cause for humility but not for dstrust; it makes
occasion for dependence, but not for despair. All
truth has this power bur Christian truth has the
added power of divine assurance. Other truths
assume to control the individual by reaching him
first through the reason, while revealed religion
controls the understanding through the moral
nature. Philosophy thus makes religion part OF
religion The one governs from without, the other
from within; and this inward influence Is wrought
by the Divine Spirit, not as simple aftlatus or in.
spiration, as philosophers have confessed, but as
tine word of God teaches, as personal resident
power ''guiding into all truth"
The mission Of the Holy Ghost was necessary In
a twO-lold sense to attest Outwardy the divine
authority OF the system revealed, that the world
might be persuaded and also to testify inwardy To
each consciousness the relation of the individual
to the system. The outward witness was by mira
Gle wrought before the coming OF Christ, as also
diate successors, "God also bearing them witness.
both with signs ana wonders, and with divers
miracles and gifts OF the Holy Ghost, according to
His own will" The inward witness Of the Holy
Ghost was by "reproving the world Of SIM OF right
eousness and OF judgments" by revelation Of
higher trust than had lain in the field OF human
discovery, and by individual witness OF personal
relationship. This last dogma was set forth as
one which the Methodist Church had made
specially prominent, requiring testimony and rest
ing on assurance, and for this the Church. aa
represented 10y the speaker, relied on direct state
ments on the word of God; such as che that be-
eveth in the Son OF God hath the witness in him
sef ''The love OF God is shed abroad in our hearts
by the Holy Ghost which is given unto u.s." "The
Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that We
are the children OF God" More than this was
claimed for the influence Of the Spirit in strength
ening and developing our powers by the direct in
fusion OF spiritual grace SO that a Christian OK
state or an anticipated longing, but divinely COM
municated conviction, attested by consciousness
and real as the life OF the soul.
Such experience gave great assurance. Possess
ing it men cannot but speak. 1t gives entire con-
| ndence in the whole system of which 1t is but a
part, so that possessing 1t men accept what is in
eXplicable or beyond the reach OF their power or
reasoning. All uns0lved
PROBLEMS OF PHILOSOPHY,
all so-called disagreements of science are calmly
left In allegiance by soul conscious OF partic-
patton in a divine PLAN Personal safety gives
courage Tor personal endeavOr, and the heroism
OF martyrs becomes inkelgible future life
grasped in the hand of the present makes one in
different to merely earthly circumstances and the
sell-denia OF Gods patient poor Is comprehensive.
The hopeful effort to extend and hasten the prog.
terprets all missionary activity The sermon closed
with an earnest appeal to the congregation to ac-
cept the truths Of revelation not simply as accred-
tied historic facts but as personal experiences, re-
sulting in investing each energy with new power,
each hope with new brightness, so that each act
might be renewed conservation, each thought au
act of worship an echo of eternity.