The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-26
ST. LUKE's METHODIST CHURCH
The Paternity or GOd-Fnreweu Sermon
of Bishop Foster.


of Bishop Foster.
Yesterday morning the pulpit of st. Luke's
Methodist Episcopal church. in Forty-arst street,
was occupied by Bishop II. 8. Foster, d. D., who
was announced to deliver parting discourse pre-
vious to going upon episcopal tour to Europe and
South America. Alarge congregation was present,
filing the church to repetiOn. After the customary
Introductory devotional exercises Bishop Foster
said that 1t was twenty-three years ago that day
since he first opened his mouth in this city as the
pastor of the then Mulberry street (now the st.
Paus) church of this city; and after the lapse of
the period spoken OF, during which time he had
been mostly employed as q pastor in New York,
he was about to retire from its neighborhood
not simply for the journey, to which he saw refer
ence was made in the public notice OF the service
OF that day, but permanently. 1t was, therefore,
with no ordinary emotion that he looked upon the
faces of many to whom he had ministered for
nearly quarter Of century; to whom he was
endeared by most cordial and tender friendships,
and in whose families he found not only an exter-
nal home, but o residence in the heart. The
Bishop then proceeded to deliver an able dis
course, taking for his text Ephesians ILL.,, 15-"Of
whom the whole family in heaven and earth is
named" In his Introductory remarks the preacher
SUPERSTITION BEGRIMs THE CHARACTER OF GoD,<
setting Him forth under every hideous conception
clothing Him with the aspect OF terror and abhor-
renee. 1t invariably missed the only true concep
ton o. the character OF Cod, which was, that He
love- and popular Christian theology falls but little
short Of the hideous portrature given of God by
the gross superstitions OF ignorant and terror
stricken men. From many Christian pulpit He
has been so represented as to chill the blood and
to make the heart stand still with terror, as II He
were a monster, who created only that He might
have the delight OF destroying; who begat
children only that He might devour them with IN
10 Ifv in
II He took knOwledgeof the sins OF men only that
He might spy out their inarmities and sins
and hasten to their destruction, and as II 1t re.
quired infinite peadings, repentances and humilia
tons that His errng children OF earth might be re-
God given in the Holy Scriptures, nor as set forth
in the history OF His provdential action and in all
departments of His activity, and certainly such
was not the character Of God as 1t was revealed to
us in and by Jesus Christ. Jesus seemed to come
from the heavens that He might teach the stricken
and.frghtened children OF the world. who In their
sins were AFRAID of God that He was not an object
OF terror, but rather
TENDER AND LOVING FATHER,
who knew them only to do them good; who
watched over them and made Himself acquainted
with their wants and woes and sins; not to
to burn them, but that He might at
tract them with voices q nSs less
them with tears OF tenderness and sweetness and
say to them, my children, thy sins, which were
many are ali forgiven thee" He the Bishop was
utes Of -dmnipOtence, omniscience, holiness
and justice-were but forms OF love. The idea OF
the fatherhood OF God was eloquenty elaborated,
and the statement made that in the construction OF
the material universe its Maker. like an artist
whose genius and skill had produced great work
he admired and pronounced II very good, but he
did not love It, The universe was created Tor the
tenancy OF Gods children. The Bishop proceeded
to elucidate his text by showing that the angelic
and sanity inhabitants Of the celestial world and
the children Of God on earth were parts Of one
family. He alluded patheticaly to the members or
the congregation who had passed away during the
years Of their acquaintance, and dwelt in glowing
strains upon
THE BLIssFUL FUTURE
sery of the present state and were Introduced to
the family circle OF their older brethren In heaven
In closing he said he wasgoing upon journey OF
rs, 600 miles, and II during the trip he should be
called to depart from this mortal state, he had the
firm faith that he would enter into life and hoped
to meet them all before the throne Of the Eternal.
After the sermon Bishop Foster made an earnest
appeal to his friends in behalf of those students In
the Drew Theological Seminary who needed pecu-
mary help in preparation for the work of the
ministry. 1t seemed from his statement that a
number Of Methodist ladies' In New York formed
themselves into society called the "McClintock
Association" in honor OF the distinguished first
President OF the Drew Seminary (the Presidency
of which Bishop Foster has just resigned), and
through their efforts number Of students were
assisted In the prosecution OF their studies There
were over hundred young men now In the insti-
tuition, and he uhe Bishop pressed upon his hear
ers as q parting word that they would see to 1t
pairing for the great work Of the Christian ministry