The New York herald., 1873-09-01
LEFFERTS PARK SERVICE.
The Necessity for Repentance and the
Motives Therefor-Sermon by Rev
Mr. MacFayden.

The Necessity for Repentance and the
Motives Therefor-Sermon by Rev.
Mr. MacFayden.
Probably the largest congregation that has
gathered in Lenerts Park at q religious service
this season was there yesterday, to listen to
plain, practical sermon by Rev. Mr.Ma Fay den,
now temporarily supplying DR.. Scudder's pulpit
About 5000 persons were present on the platform
and perhaps as many as more fitted about the
grounds. The preachers theme was repentance, and
was based upon John the Baptist's cry in the
wilderness OF Judea-"Repent ye, for
the kingdom of heaven is at hand" He showed
the necessity in the FIRST place, for repentance on
the part of every man, because all have sinned and
come short of the glory OF God. He also distin
guished between the different kinds Of repentance,
arc showed how utterly worthless that repentance
Is which must be done over again and again, and
then explained the nature OF true repentance,
which presupposes forsaking of sin, ceasing to do
evil and learning to do we'll and then pointedly
dwelt upon those to whom this
CALL TO REPENTANCE
is sent-"ye." Repent ye, for the kingdom of
heaven Is at hand. The motive for repentance is
given in the last clause of the text ana the mean
ing OF this language was plainly set forth by Mr..
MacFayden. The kingdom of heaven, he said,
meant the Gospel dspensation which was then Just
Jesus Christ. He illustrated IN various ways
how this Gospel leads men to repentance;
how the SaviOur's look broke faithless Peters
heart so that he went out OF the Judgment
hall OF Plate and wept bitterly alter he
had denied his Lord and Master. He also called
attention to the TACT that this Gospel dspensatiOn
will cease some day. 1t will no longer be ut hand,
perhaps, for some who were then listening to him.
1t was not at hand for Judas alter he had sold his
Lord for thirty pieces OF silver, and he went and
hanged himself. He therefore urged upon the vast
assembly before him the Importance OF immediate
repentance while the kingdom OF heaven Is thus at
hand and within reach OF all men.
Several ministers OF other churches were present
as auditors, and the earnestness Of the preacher,
coupled with the practical simplicity with which he
treated his subject, seemed to make deep impress
sion upon the audience. Hence at the close OF the
sermon, and when some restless ones had changed
places and some fearful ones had lett altogether
because OF the threatening rain, when an OppOrtu-
nifty was afforded by the leader, Mr., O'DonneD, q
goodly number stood up. sss.-.T,r-- -sc.r:a
SOME WITH TzARFUL EYES,
ana asKed tne prayers OF believers present in their
Eypair number Of written requests by parents
and friends IN behalf of their loved was also
presented, but for lack OF time were not read. The
substance only was given, and half hour was
spent in earnest fervent prayer for those per-
sons. But the opening rainclOuds began to pour
down their aqueous contents, and the meeting
cut snort by half an hour on that account. Next
Sunday. the leader announced, that he expected
Rev. DR.. Fulton, Of the Hanson place Baptist
church, to prea ch in the park, but he could not
yet say positively that he would dos