The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-13

what comes out of the New Testament
than a drizzle is like May sunshine. The
Westminster Catechism came in for notice
as an indigestible piece of theology. That
document. like many others framed in less
liberal and less enlightened ages, will have to
be patched and pieced to make it acceptable to
men in these days, or else it must be discarded
altogether. Indifference in our religious
opinions the speaker deprecated, and urged
decision in this regard
Many indeed are the mistakes made by men
In taking only partial views of Christ. He is
not the austere Being that some would depict
Him. He does not by set designs strive to
accomplish this or that no one was more
spontaneous than He. He mixed in revelry
at the marriage feast and did what the occa-
sion and the hour demanded, and hence Mr..
Briggs could warmly commend the sweetness
of His natilre-the loving One whom we can
take to our hearts and keep there. Very
justly we think, the preacher reproved
those pulpits that make of this world a
prison and Christ the warden. Rather is it a
pleasure ground in which children gambol
while the Father, ever watchful beckons and
calls them to rest and home and heaven.
Jesus came to make heaven on earth, and
hence every believer has the kingdom of God
within him. This is what makes religion
the substantial thing that it is, and not a
shadow, as some would have it. No set of
words will describe what it is. 1t is not a
mere absence of badness It is to be embow-
cred with goodness.
The feast Of Pentecost, which is drawing
nigh, became theme worthy the attention of
some of the clergy yesterday. DR.. McGlynn
declared and explained the purposes of tn
Divine Spirit among men-to enlghten, edu-
cate, enrich and give comfort to our fallen ma
lures in need Of sustenance, and to lead us to
q higher, nobler and more loving apprecia-
ton of the Lord Jesus Christ and His
atonement. The ascension of Christ SO init
mately connected with the descent of the
Holy Ghost, was considered by DR.. Chaplin,
who inferred from the peaceful and noiseless
ascent of the Saviour that His second coming
would be in like manner, Notwithstanding
the great excitement which some persons are
inclined TO raise about that event. By our
Saviours ascension to heaven we have con-
6rmation that Christianity descended from
heaven. The reality OF heaven as a resting
place for the spirits Of the just and the recogni-
lion of friends there are also proved by the as
pension Of Christ end the descent Of the Spirit.
The power and authority Of the Catholic
clergy to forgive sins and the signs of perma-
nency in the Church were the subjects chosen
by Father Kearney in st. Patricl's Cathedral
The argument in defence Of the first PROPOSE
tion was the well known one founded on the
Saviours words to Peter, 'On this rock" &C.,
and the second was based upon the first
Christ declared the permanency OF His Church;
her ministry was also to remain unaltered 1t
follows, therefore, that if the power of forgiv-
Ing sins was to cease with the Apostles the
Church which Jesus Christ founded would
also cease with them. But, inasmuch as the
Church still exists, the power to forgive sins
evidently remains with her priesthood. The
signs of the ta,a Chi,roh &c Ch.;..l. .e,a.Aiiuu
by Fathor Kearney, ure, therefore, unity, holi-
ness andapostolic succession.
However much time we may spend in hunt
origin, Mr.. Beecher thinks it is far more impor-
tant to every man that he should know where
he is going to than where he came from.
While he regarded Darwin's labors with pro-
found interest, he did not accept all his specu-
lations. Nor did he participate in the horror
felt by those who thought they had sprung
from some lower forms Of existence. For
himself he would just as lief spring from a
monkey as from some men that he knew of.
Dr. Wentworth, of Troy, had word to say
about denominationalism, and commended that
the term Catholic was applicable to oil, and
that it should not be left exclusively to Roman
Rev. w. Morley Punshon endea-
vored to unravel the mystery of God and
the Father and Christ to an immense
audience in the Academy Of Music, and DR..
Newman showed the harmony which exists be-
tween science and religion in st. Johns
Methodist Episcopal church. Other sermons
and interesting religious services-the recep-
zion of some young ladies in the Convent of
the Good Shepherd, and the Inauguration of
DR.. Ewer's new church in permanent home
will be found in our columns this morning.
We trust our readers will mark, learn and
inwardly digest the truths which they contain
and will separate the chaff from the wheat,
scattering the former, but retaining and trea-
surfing up the latter for the time of need
: - 60. -
A MINISTER ON HERALD ENTERPRIsE.--At the
Irish Presbyterian church in this city yester-
day the Rev. David Mitchell preached an effect
i've sermon on the opening of Africa to the
Gospel In recognizing the great good which
the self-sacrifcing Livingstone has achieved
for civilization among the colored heathens
of the hitherto sealed recesses Of the
Ethiopic Continent the worthy pastor found
GOOD reason to prise the efficient aid which