The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-03
K1ps BAY METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Faith, ana what Constitutes 1t-ScrmOn
by Rev. &c. q. Andrews, Lately APP
pointed Bishop.
Yesterday morning there assembled an unusually
large congregation at this church to hear Rev. E. q.
Andrews, the lately elected Methodist Bishop,
who was advertised to preach tho SER
mon. After prayers and the singing of few
hymns Mr.. Andrews was introduced to
the congregation by the pastor, who said he
hoped that the reverend gentleman would be
listened to with attention Mr. Andrews choose for
his text the words taken nom the Acts OF the
Apostles, XVII 81 :-"Beeve in the Lord Jesus Christ
and you will be saved" The gist of the sermon
will be found below
THE SERMON.
The story Of the imprisonment Of the Apostles
and the opening OF the gates OF their prison by an
earthquake is well known to every reader of the
Testament. The jaer, when he discovered that
the doors Of the prison were open, was about to
do himself violence; but the Apostles prevented
him from doing so by letting him know that
they had not ned. The next day, when he came to
thcm and asked him what he must do to be saved,
they answered him in the words | have Just read
from the u the L tnsse Jesus En ts
Apostles meant, In 1ne for him to have faith, and
that by faith he would be saved. Faith In the new
law Is made one OF the most essential elements
necessary for the salvation OF ones soul In the
old law hope was moro necessary element than
e II ths life Of the to
say that the people Of the old law had no faith
would be absurd for the very fact OF their having
: hope In Redeemer who had been promised Is sur
As iaith is the Initial duty Of every
duty inasmuch as every Christian who wishes to
be saved must perform this, the most essential
element necessary for his or her salvation, Now
question Of grave import arises In the mnd-"How
no no. ' orthodox rule for Obtaining faith; the
I it is to pray and by Offering our all to
God, and In return ask for the blessing of faith
Il have known men to strive for years to obtain
faith. which they knew they lacked ana have not
ton, the Of faith burst in gorgeous refulgence
upOn them, and then faith became imperishablv
strong Men who have no faith and whose conscanCes
trying to get fat'h-t0 ease their clamOfOus con.
sciences by plungng into business and enjoyment Of
/ all kinds legitimate and otherwise. But the tide
Z Of selfreproach, which they have stayed for the
I time being, viii inevitably rush upon them with
1accumuated force. Every man is capable OF having
faith and If he does not try to pervert his early
lessons he will always have It, for 1t Is much easier
to lose faith than to gain it. An interesting story
of the loss and reclamation OF faith Is told OF
Y an educated German, who came to this cOun-
try some years since. He had, In his
so prevalent in the German schools When he came
here h .cll in with religious family and he seve-
raj times assisted them at their worship His mind
began to trouble him. for he mad presentiment
studied hard to find the truth, which he did, but
still his faith was weak He joined the church and
preached the Word, and still his faith did not satisfy
& him. But one day as he was leaving the church
i after preaching he heard cry Of exultation from
4 the congregation; 1t was caused by the admission
OF an old sinner into the Church. The German
I lifted up his hands and exclaimed, 20 Lord, l am
y and he was happy,