Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-01-01
LOCAL NEWS.

OBLIGATORY ExERorsEs-sERMoN BY RKv. DIR.
M'oosH


OBLIGATORY KxERoIsEs-sERMoN BY REV. DIR.
M'oosH s
Notwithstanding the fact that the dedicatory
services of the new West Presbyterian Church,
Eighth and Washington streets, have been in
progress for several days, the interest continues
unabated and the spacious audience room of the
church was we'll illed, yesterday morning, to
listen to the discourse of Rev. James McCosh,
ID. D., l.. l.. D., President of Princeton College.
The exercises were opened with voluntary by
the choir and organ, when divine blessing was
invoked upon the new edifce by Rev. DR.. Nc
Gosh. The 132nd Psalm was then read by the
same gentemvn, after which the 97th hymn
and the 9th chapterof Revelations was read,
when DIR. McOosh offered another fervent prayer
and Rev. George II. Bmyth announced the 34th
hymn Behold the glories Of the Lord" After
this was sung. Rev DIR. McCosh proceeded TO dis
course from Revelations, 9th chapter and 9Th
verse" And behold, and, 10, In the midst OF
the throne and of the four beasts, and in the
midst Of the elders, stood lamb as it had been
slain"
The Doctor hrat spoke Of Johns vision while
in exile in PatIuos, and the disclosure thus made
of heaven-of the throne, surrounded by saints
and an innumerable company : Of the sweet
sounds OF music and the voice of the Almighty
as Of many waters which greeted his sars-of
the mysterious book sealed with seven seals
Of the celestial city, with Its walls Of jasper and
its streets Of gold-of the image Of genteness
anu mbehHest, OF Weiknehb ana OF Q6hIn-d
lamb as it had been slain. But these splendors,
he said, do not constitute the glory of heaven.
They impart its chief radiance, but the Lamb
is the light thereof"
This vision he said, was set before us to re-
mind US Of the method of atonement No one
would be so foolish as to say they had never
committed sin. How then is an offended God
to be pacihed ? Not simply by repentance, for
there Is nothing in repentance to make atone
ment for past sin. The repentance Of Judas, he
said, could not have been the means Of relieving
the Saviour from the hands into which he had
betrayed him. Trust and reliance in the mercy
of God is necessary. Under the law all things
were purified by blood. 1t ID the same view in
the Jewish, Patriarchal and Christian dispensa-
tions II is the same God. The first book tells
us of the offering OF a lamb in sacrifice the
last, lamb that had been slain. 1t is through
the suffering OF that lamb that the sinner may
This vision is also set before us to remind us
Of the character of Jesus-of his meekness and
gentleness 80 fitted to win the human heart.
He had already spoken Of the reconciliation of
ciliation OF God to man. The conscience must
be pacified There could be no filial duty to
God until the conscience had been appeased.
There must be a fun, free and instant forgive
ness-nothng short Of this will allay its tossings.
The anger of God is upon man let this be re-
moved and these agitated waves of conscience
will be stiled, and the bosom rock itself to sleep.
He then spoke of Christ as the embodiement Of
must be gained by lovely and lowing heart, as
well in the world to come as in this.
Again this vision is set before us to remind us
that Jesns is the source Of Joy to the saints in
heaven. He leads them to the fount of waters
He leads them whithersoeyer he goeth No dis
cription Of heaven is given for two reasons, -
because it glores and its joys night tend to lead
us astray 30 that we should neglect the duties Of
this world, and because words were inadequate to
the proper conception of it. man must be born
again before he can become fit for that place.
The sinner would not be satisfied there Its
glories and enioyments would be an endless tor
mentt to him. Where heaven was, geographically,
he knew not, but he knew where it was truly
and spiritually-with God. The DR.. concluded
with an exhortation to become reconcled to the
" Lamb that had been slain" -.---..-s
After prayer by the Rev. DIR McCosb, the 342nd
hymn" Come let us join our cheerful songs
was sung, when the congregation was dismissed
with the benediction by Rev. Geo. H. Smyth,
pastor of the church.
DR.. McCosh preached again in the evening to
large congregation.