The New York herald., 1873-11-10
CHAPEL OF oUR SAVIOUR

Imitation OF Christ-The Mere Copyists.
Condemned-Sermon by the Rcv. n. HI.
Nye.
The chapel OF the Church of Our Saviour, in
Clermont avenue, near Atlantic avenue, was yes
terday filled by congregation OF moderate dimen-
sions ana earnestness. The sermon was preached
by the pastor, the Rev. r. H. Nye, from the text OF
John xiii, Is.
The preacher elucidated his subject, which was
sThe Imitation OF Christ mainly by illustration.
He began by calling attention to that peculiar
class OF artists commonly seen In European gal
leries Of art, whose sole and highest ambition was
the exact reproduction OF the works OF others,
merely copying the effects, and not the method
OF their genius. They were often so successful In
this that unpractised eyes could scarcely discern
the difference between the copies ana the origi-
nails of great masterpieces or art Their genius
was only mechanical, and they had not that spirir
which, after they have gone on studying the works
Of great artists for years. at length mpels them to
high achievement OF their own, to the reproduction
of visions OF their own genius, which, when limned,
w MI sasn sr e ST 81 ss
former Is nandiwork, the latter soul-w0rk. Many
persons may make 1t their vocation TO walk in the
path OF Christ They may drink In His very words,
may repeat His acts, and yet may not be for all
\ that Christian men or women. What is imitation
Of Jesuss Not to repeat His acts or words like an
artist who copies line FOR line shadow for shadow.
We do not initiate Him except as we glow with
HIS spirit and are filled with His aims Tho
preacher then drew picture OF Christ washing
the eet OF His disciples on the eve OF the Passover.
The Pope every year repeated this ancient cere-
mony OF the Jews. He called In beggars from the
had all been carefully scrubbed before by
menlals, ana were merely wiped BY his
saviour and not initiating His spirit. But Of the.
women who went TO the war and acted % nurses
to the soldiers: the women who have gone to
Memphis to care for the sick and dying-how many
OF them perished that others might i've. No sacri
Christ VINO gave His lie for the world rather than
the Pope who washed the bcggar's feet. In his
lie Christ Kept himself from the evil OF the world world
lie was not free from pain or sorrow. He
wept 49, at H., the tn grave Of q La Lazarus ss,r ana and
men 'S Wherever He went His soul was as sness M
the soul OF God. His will was subordinate to the
Will Of God. He kept Himself free from the spirit
OF the world. The worlds spirit receives, absorbs;
His gives, p0urs out and sanctlnes: The manners
and customs OF this uge are not ike those which
lie taught. He did not covet fame, power, pleas.
ure or wealth. He had chosen His work. He was
conAecrated to the service OF God, which iS tho
service OF mankind. How are we TO become Inn
The There q are infinite possibilities in man. when
enter the school OF Christ He judges not BY what
we do but bywhat we aim to do. The Christian life u
begun when we hunger and thirst after righteous.
ness. Then Is the time to strive ior advancement.
The life OF Jesus should seem real to US. We
should study It as students or art In the galleries.
sitting before 1t for hours and day after day until
We know 1t all. God, out OF His life, gives
conquers and rules the world We must not copy
but initiate the life OF Jesus. The humblest man
on tns green glad earth may grow RODef the n %l cs
" %as s qsSess espts ~ viii S Se ana
q stand IN the 81 snS sho roo
OF clouds, crying pardon unto 81"