The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-24

Ante-Lenten Sermons.
The sharp, crispy air of yesterday and the
pleasant condition of the streets contrasted
strongly with these things on the previous
Sabbath, and drew to the sanctuaries of God
larger congregations than usual. The topics
presented to them from the pulpits are
sufficiently varied to suit the several classes
of minds who heard them yesterday and who
may read them to-day in the HERALD. We
hear, oft and again, lamentation among
orthodox people that there is not enough
of doctrinal preaching in the pulpits and that
the word 'thell'' has become almost obsolete,
because belief in the existence of the place or
state which it denotes is dying or has died
out. But our orthodox friends need only
turn to the pulpits of some of our Universalst
friends to gauge the vitality of faith in the
doctrine of an eternal punishment among them
selves. Universalist theologians are not much
given to setting up men of straw that they
may knock them down again. So long, there
fore, as they deem it necessary again and
again, by labored arguments and smoothly
uttered sentimentaities, to deny this doctrine,
the evangelicals need not be uneasy. doc
trine that has been knocked down so often
and gets up again just as often is not quite
dead Hence MIR. Weiss set himself the task
yesterday of overthrowing this ugly and, to
Sinners uncomfortable hereafter state Until
Mr.. Weiss or some other philosopher can fur
nish us better substitute for prison house
for wicked spirits the faith of mankind will
insist on locking them in he'll, where the Bible
shuts them up. ..-
heaven to gain if the fear of hell is nothing
more than police force to keep mankind par
TALLY decent and orderly in this life, as sug
gested by Mr.. Weiss, then there is neither
point nor purpose in the sermon of Rev. John
Parker to backsliding, lukewarm and hating
Christians. If there is no land Of promise
beyond the dark valley and the silent river
we might as well stop at Haran and enjoy the
good of this life with Terah as to push on
through woods and wilds, DER hill and dale,
amid storms and trials, to Canaan, only to find
ourselves dwelling in tents with Abraham and
Isaac and Jacob. But there is a land ahead,
and the lights along its shore are sometimes
seen on this side by mortal eyes, which by
faith pierce the darkness and the mystery, and
look, as did the r:atriarchs and prophets to-
ward that house not made With hands, eternal
in the heavens.
No one will deny that God is a living
Father, and no thoughtful person can read
Mr.. Hepworth's discourse to-day and not
be convinced that Gods infinite care is over
us all; that the little worlds which live and
move in O drop Of water are watched over by
the same eye that in its anxiety for our well
fare never slumbers nor sleeps. 1t is one Of
the most beautiful as well as the most peculiar
characteristics of our Father in heaven that
the infinitely small share His love and goodness
as we'll as the great. Though millions Of
leaves may fall, the fall Of the sparrow or Of
the leaf passes not unnoticed by Him.
Physical blindness is certainly bad thing,
but spiritual blindness is infinitely worse. Of
the former, Bartimeus, mentioned by the Evan
gelists, is ON oft-used illustration of the
latter, the illustrations are around us on every
hand. But cures can be effected in both cases
of blindness if only the proper means are
used and the right conditions observed. If
the spiritually blind reader would know what
these conditions are and what the appliances
| to restore soul-sight let him peruse Dr.
Chapin's discourse and there learn from the
| example of Bartimeus that "none but Jesus
can do helpless sinners good"
The value of the Gospel was aptly presented
by DIR. Mclean, of Manitoba who appealed
to the congregation of Trinity chapel to aid
him in founding missions and building
churches for white settlers and Indians in that
far-off territory on our Northern border The
Doctor presented only the spiritual value of
the Gospel to his hearers, though he might
also very effectively have presented its material
aspect.
The necessity for more churches in the
lower wards of our city, and especially Metho-
dist churches, was set forth last night in the
addresses of Revs. Barnhardt and Steele,
at the meeting of the City Church Extension
Society. This want must be readily felt and
recognized by every rght-thinking person in
the community, and the policy of preaching
the Gospel to the rich and not to the poor
ought to be reversed OF once It is false in
principle and injurious to morality in results.
Dr.. Clarke must be man of extraordinary
energy and faith. A few months ago he
started Presbyterian society and church on
Tompkins avenue, Brooklyn, and yesterday,
after showing his people, in practical, COM
mon sense way. the position of Christianity in
the world and the duty of the Church as lega-
tee of the promises and receiver OF the
oracles of God to teach the same to the
world, his congregation subscribed about
thirty thousand dollars to build church
edifce the better to enable him to teach the
truth as he finds it in those oracles. 1t
becomes the more necessary for the Church to