National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-10-27
OUR CHURCHES.
SERMONS pRsACHED YESTERDAY.

Service. nj III. Chris,adeIphiss sypsass-e
Mr.. A. v. Grsis % The Keys Of
Heaven DIR. Tiahsy % the Mysteries Of
pa,,h-MI..isn Of Jssui, Fathers At 81.
AIey.ius.
The service. Of the Christadelphians yester- |
day at their synagogue, on tho northeast cor
ner OF New York avenue and Seventh street,
were very Interesting. Mr.. s. Y. Gratz, q
Hebrew, Of Birmingham, England, who has
been but two months In this country, and
lstcriy q convert 10 this faith, dscourscd,
taking for his subject, "Thc Keysof Heaven"
He said
Jesus preached the gospel. He was
anointed 10 proclaim the acceptable year |
of the Lord 1t is admitted that he fulalled |
his mission In making known tho good news;
but what was the substance OF oil his teach |
hg Let Jesus answer u must preach the
kingdom to other cities also, for therefor
am sent" lie corrected the mlsunderatand- |
ing Of the people, who expected, because he
spoke so much about the kingdom, that II was
Immediately 10 10 established, whom they
would have tskcn him by force. He would
not permit .hen TO make him their king, but
gave them 10 understand that he must hrst
20 into a lar country 70 receive kingdom Of
hi. heavenly father; that after long time,
he would return 70 bes,ow upon his servants
power to rule all nations and cities In the
world. according TO his arrangements he
took his departure whom he assembled to the
majesty Of tho heavens. Awaiting the time
when all his enemies shall be made his foot
stool, he will then appear In his kingdom and
rule as King over all the Garth. The gospel
As preached ~ Abraham and Paul tells us
that when the same privilege was extended
to the Jews In the wilderness II did not profit
rsA hat vi nm n n
the Jews, aud to them only he went, for he
vas not sent but tho Lost sheep Of Israel.
Before he suffered on the accurscd tree, he
sent his disciples to preach
THE KINGDOM or GOD.
Ia recording their obedience TO his coni-
mand, Luke says (ix:i they preached the
gospel In every town they went. SO u 10 clear
that the good news OF the kingdom is identi-
cal with tho gospel. This 10 most Important
where the kingdom Is omitted. We are
thereby enabled to know when we hear the
gospel Now, this Is one great defect In
modern preaching. The apostles indefatiga-
bly, preached this gospel Of the Kingdom.
They began at Jerusalem and went through
out the land. They made such an impression
upon the Romans In the tumults that were
excited that they were charged with treason
against Cesar aud the Stats, In proclaimlng
another king who should rule tho world In
righteousness rs sovereign over all the Garth.
The unhappy condition OF the world Ia that
they, although protesting to believe In Jesus
as the sou o. or messenger Of God, have no
faith In the message, aud II Is not the condl-
ton Of salvation he that believes In Jesus,
but 'hc that believes tho gospel" shall be
saved. Let 1t DO remembered that II e neces-
sary to believe the message and In the mes-
scngcr. lie was cent to preach the go.pol to
the poor-the glad tidings Of the kingdom OF
God. This was his message from God TO the
Jews nrst and to the Greeks. Although hid.
den since the world began, Paul revealed and
nations for obedience Of faith. In other age,
this was unknown that the Gcntiles should b,
fcllow.hcirs Of the same promises Of which
salvation the prophets who made known TO u,
the wisdom OF God inquired. But not unto
themselves, but to US did they minister the
things which are reported BY the gospel
which the angels desired to look Into. But
Christ, who Is highly exalted above all prln-
cipalitics and powers, declared that he would
build his church upon rock. being testified
by the prophets himself the headstone OF the
corner whom the builders rojectod-i stone
Of stumbling and
AN OFFENSIVE ROCK TO THE uoUss OF
ISRAEL.
He built the temple Of living stones, upon
the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
himself being the chief coruer-stone. When
Jesus made choice Of one Of his disciples,
committing the keys Of the Kingdom TO his
care, he selected Peter, who had the leas
reason to cxalt himself above tho others,
having denied his master with oaths aud
curses, but being converted and prepared 4
strengthen his brethren 10 all the trials and
Affections they had to endure for truths sake
Had he hid the keys during his life time, and
transferred them to another before his death
succession could only then been possible
But he dared not do so. His Divine Master
-h.,,. I.hn thaa hr nf Ia
sheep, where they could enter and find pas
ture commanded him, In response to his IS
suranccs OF affection, when asking him
'Simon, son Of Jonas, lowest thou me? Fect
my lauibs." None but those perversc to oil
truth, surprising gain Is godlincss, would As
the keys or that Christ was q literal door
The keys b-ing symbolic Of power to revea
secret things, the prophets depict jesuit
as the Prince of Peace, the keys upon hi'
shoulder, representing his great power, he
alone Is able To open, and no man can shut,
being possessed Of the keys Of Hades and
death.
In the constitution OF the Jewish age, under
the law, II was ordained that the priests lips
should keep knowledge, and Israel was u
seek Gods law at his mouth. The PRIEST
became so corrupt provoking tho Just indig'
tod, the commandments OF men being sub
stituted for doctrine, he denouneing their ira
dltions aud hypocrisy, predicted woe unto
the lawyers having taken away the key o
knowledge. The apostles. being assemblies
on the day Of Penticost, when the spirit wa
poured upon them, God working with them
confirming their word BY mighty doeds, all tn
attention Of the Inhabitants OF Jerusalen
bring drawn upon them, tho keys which hav'
becn lost were about to be restored. Tn
jews having erred, not knowing the scrip
lures, were conscicncc-strickcn when con
WINGED that they rejected the holy and jus
one whom God had raised up again TO sit OF
Dayid's throne, and that all the house o
Israel should know aasuredly that God hai
made this same Jesus both Lord and Christ
The result OF this reasoning proved 10 then
that Jesus was Indeed
THE KING OF ISRAEL"
even the Shiloh who had been promised ID
them the faith; full Of remorse OF having dc
MED him and preferred o murderer lhey
believed In the kingdom, also In Jesus. They
were penetrated with Judgment well do
served. The mystery was about TO DO 70
yealed which was hidden to them. What wa
They could not 20 to the high priest 70 offci
q sin-oaering which would have been equn
TO duplicating Caiephas OF his crime. T,
whom should they looki Who could unlocl
1t to open the door Of liberty to loose then
from their sin?
IL was tue tpHt uiOuc WIN couu tonct
them the righteousness they desired; but hov
was this to be accomplishe d1 Was 1t to b
by an angel coming down from heaven, or b!
gentle feeling that they were forgiven
Although they addressed all the apostles wha
they should do, one Of them only, TO WHOM
authority was given, opened up, for the hrs
time, the mystery Of the gospel, when he an
swered their anxious inquiry,
REPENT AND DE BAPTIZED
for the remission of sins. They that gladl
received his word were about three thousand
Yet the fellowship Of this mystery-that th,
Genties should be fellow-hcirs; that the doc
Of faith should be unlocked to them also
was not revealed even to Peter, and he hat
as much control over the use Of the keys O
the kingdom as one man who has Q secret :,
tell has after the same has been told to many
II was after period OF seven years tina
Peter made use Of the key that was TO ope
the door to the Gentilos also. He had yet Il
learn that God was no respecter Of persont
and to overcome his prejudices, he wa
/. prepared by the vision to respond, yet In a
unsaved condition, although his prayers an
aims had come up as memorial TO God. Al
angel was sent to warn him TO send for Pete
TO hear words whereby only he could
saved. But why 80 much trouble To sen
Al 4