The New York herald., 1873-10-06
CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION.


A Broad Church Sermon by tho Rever-
end Dean or Cnnterbury-Thc Unright-
eousness OF Quarrelling Over Sectarian
Matiers-ssOne Lord and One Faith"
The Episcopal Church OF the Ascension, situated
on Filth avenue and Tenth street, was filed to
overnowing yesterday morning on the occasion OF
the preaching OF the Dean OF Canterbury, who re-
Gently arrived in this city to take past in the Evan
eelcal Alliance now in session.
The text chosen by the Dean was from the fourth
chapter OF the EpIstle OF Paul to the Ephesians,
third and fourth verses-"Endeavoring to keep the
unity OF tho spirit in the bond OF peace There is
one body and one spirit, even as We are called in
one hope OF your calling. One Lord, one laith one
baptism"
He then spoke as follows There Is at the
present moment a general longing 1or Christian
unity, so that all may 60 in together in the body
Of Christ. Since the days OF the reformation,
people in various countries have been strug-
Cling for liberty of conscience. Men, too, often
look upon their own religion as the only one by
which they can be saved, and by SO doing forget
the Divine injunction not to divide the body OF
Christ. We are all answerabe to God for our re-
ligious belief and also that we do not violate the
consciences of those who hold different creeds.
RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSY
has, we all know produced much misery and dis
cord. What all good men desire is that people
OF every land should love the Lord with all their
hearts and souls, and that the knowledge OF Him
should be in every part OF the world as
the waters cover the seas. st. Paul
alludes to these religious wrangllngs when ne
says:-.I, therefore. the prisoner OF the Lord,
beseech you that ye walk worthy OF the vocation
wherein ye are called withali lowliness and meek.
ness, with long suffering, forbearing one toward
another IN love-" BY this the apostle shows us the
desirablty OF Christian unity. lie speaks as
prisoner and says he Is willing TO sacrifice his life
Tor his Lord. The Ephesans, to which this epstle
OF Paul was directed were not all lovers OF God,
and many OF them were plunged in ido!atry. He,
therefore, addressed himself to small knot OF peo
pie who had gwen their hearts to God, and told
them that they had been summoned nom world
Illness to higher calling. They were to pray to
Almighty God for help with feeling OF their own
humility and nothingness-not being proud or their
being little but being really convinced OF their t-
teness; the talents that God had given them were
to be made use Of and an account OF their steward
ship was to be rendered. st Paul was deeply
sensible OF his unworthiness, and that all mans
virtue is but as nothing in Gods eyes provided he
does not feel repentant and humble. 1t Is
THE DUTY OF THE DISCIPLE
OF Christ to forgive his fellow man, as God IN the
pienitude OF his mercy forgives us, not once, but
thousands OF times, aud although God so loved u.s.
We can never feel the brghnes OF His influence
and spirit unless we live in love, and forgive our
brother anght that we may have against him.
dy Is to keep pesa the unity Of the
union," for In the translation the adjective has
been substituted by the genitive. The spiritual
uulOl VI unity dppucs W Ill tHluss Ill.
ternal or external. The union exists among all
lovers OF God, and His influence strengthens the
bond in the unity OF peace II, therefore, we are
at peace one with another, 1t Is wrongful
to feel Ill will against neighbor Tor his religious
principles God has given US the Scriptures,
which we are commanded to search In quest OF
eternal lile There Is no reason why we should try
to extermiuate other peoples theological IDEAS
for we are told there is but one body and spirit
in Christ. An old writer puts 1t thus, ''rne body
OF Christ consists OF all the faithful who believe IN
is not inanlmate body, for in 1t we live and
move and have our being. Our Lord alludes to
Himself as
OF which we are the branches, and what glorious
privilege IL is for to have His spirit mbuing
heart with divine love, and oh my brethren, let
me hope that none here Will be Indifferent to the
spiritual bond, so that all may bring forth
fruits TO the glory Of God The table Of the Lords
Supper is set lor you to-day. Do not let the
appeal be In vain, but make public pro-
fession OF your desire to serve the Lord. God
the eternal, God the infite does not forget the
istence of one OF us, and rejoices when sinner Is
saved from everlasting destruction Like a father,
He knows our wants and our tndrmitles, and ten
derly leads us to the right path, from which we
have ALI strayed. Whatever our earthly lot may
be, let US never forget we are heirs OF heavenly
immortality. Feeling the love OF God, and remem-
bering how Jesus came on earth to save sinners,
let us live in brohery peace and not try to destroy
constantly study our Bible, for In Holy Writ we are
taught better than human lips can tell US our duty
to God and our fellow man. In conclusion, let us
hold the truth In unity OF spirit and may it be often
said, as in days OF old, "How these Christians love
one another.n