The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-21
ST. PAUL'S N. z. CHURCH.

The Ascension or the Lord Jesus Christ
Sermon by the Rev. William Morley
Punsh0n. as4
st. Pauls Methodist Church, In Fourth avenue and
Twenty-second street, was so crowded yesterday
morning that people stood In the asles for couple
or hours, unable to obtain o sitting In any
part OF the house. Very many also went
away unable even to gain admission to
the sacred edi1ce. The attraction was
the Rev. William Morley Punshon, D. d. LII. D., OF
the British wesleyan Conference, who. alter few
years residence on this continent as President OF
the Canada wesleyan Conference, is about to re-
turn to England and his sermon yesterday morn
Ing was probably the last that he will deliver on
this side Of the Atlantic for years. II not forever
DR.. Punshon is one of the most eloquent and popu-
lar preachers which Methodism has produced on
either side or the ocean. His sermon yesterday
was on
THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,
and was based on Luke XIV, SO and 81 :-"And he
led them out as far as to Bethany and he lifted up
his hands and blessed them, and II came to pass
while he blessed them he was parted from them
and carried up into heaven" The Doctor said that
the ascension OF Christ Is generally associated In
our minds with His resurrection. II is the COM
plement OF 1t. and though there IS difference Of
forty days between the two events, he deemed the
ascension OJtnB Theme LOT LnlS Gay AFTER Tie HlnuS
Of the congregation, had been directed to the
rection last Sabbath. He then, In imagination,
and pictorially eloquent, led the audience along
the beaten path from Jerusalem to Bethany, past
the Garden OF Gethsemane, where the Saviour's
ercest struggle took place. over the brook Kidron,
up the slope OF Clvet from which Christ de-
livered his wonderful Sermon on the Mount,n to
the quiet village where dwelt the family He loved,
and there he lifted up his hands and blessed them,
and before the words had been uttered, the
heavenly cloud descended and carried him
up to the throne. The Doctor called atten-
ton here to the publicity OF this event, and
remarked that this thing was not done in a corner;
that Christianity was not q cunningy devised fable
nor q thing beg0tten In the dark. He cited the
witnesses TO the Saviour's crucihxi0n and resur-
recton, and explained why it was not necessary
that a multitude should witness his ascension as
cred the act in which Jesus was engaged when He
was parted from his misunderstanding them-and
pointed out how his whole mortal life was one OF
BLESSING AND OF DOING GOOD
to man. And his first act after ascending to the
throne was OF q like character. He sent two shin
ing ones down to the dlscOns0late disciples who
were still gazing up into heaven, to assure them
that this same Jesus should return again in like
manner as they had seen him 60 into heaven. The
Doctor exposed the absurdity OF the Jewish lie that
the disciples had come by night and stolen the
body OF Jesus from the tomb, and dwelt patheti-
cally upon the humanity Of Christ and the hope OF
have In Him. He closed with stirring appeal to
the unconvcrted among his audience to become
subjects OF this Jesus the King OF Kings and Lord
OF Lords. The discourse elected frequent "Amens"
and fervent CALCULATIONS OF approval from the
people.