The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-21

from his horse, or rather in consequence Of
the animal having fallen under him and
thrown him with great violence forward
Doctrinsl and Practical Theology.
Rarely do we find in our Sunday budget of
sermons so many that have o dootrinal bear
ing as we present to our readers to-day. We
have one on faith, another on prayer others
again on the struggle in the human heart
between sin and holiness, salvation
and how to seek it, and Gods personal
supervision over the works of His
hands. Among the practical discourses are
one from DR.. Eddy, in Plymouth Church, and
one from Dr. Fowler, at Long Branch, ON the
use and abuse of spiritual power DR.. Eddy
had q subject before him ON which the HERALD
made some comments short time ago-name-
ly. on Christianity in the life rather than ON
the lip. How easyit is for each to proclaim with
his tongue, II am Christian, but how difficult
it is to live the life of Christ in our daily walk
among men, is probably known and felt by
every thoughtful Christian man. As DR.. Eddy
intimated, it is not preaching we want in this
day so much as practice. "Ths HERALD will
to-day" in the words of the Doctor, publish
more Of the spoken words of ministers on
Manhattan and Long Islands than the Bible
contains of the spoken words of Christ And
these reports will be read by many thousands
in this and other lands" But Christ
manifested in his truth, in his lite, and for this
self-same purpose He has planted and main
tanned his Church in the world. The Doctors
picture of Methodism to-day is a sad one when
its ancient fire and vigor are remembered, and
sadder still that the picture is not overdrawn.
"Methodism," he declared, islands to-day
astonished at ITSELF with an open Gospel in its
hands, fearful and crouched before the enc
mics of the Church And yet he thinks
Methodism in this respect is no worse than
other denominations. They should all, there
fore, take the hint and arouse themselves to
action in the name of the Lord.
How much of work we might all accom-
plish for God if we had more and stronger
faith is query often suggested, doubtless, as
we read the lives of the long list of worthless
whom Paul enumerates in his Epistle to the
Hebrews. who through faith stopped the
mouths of lions, quenched the violence of
fire, escaped the edge of the sword,
waxed valiant in fight and put to fight
armies of aliens. Hence the prayer which
Mr. Cabaret discoursed upon yesterday should
be ours continually, 'Lord, increase our
faith With good measure of faith we
shall be able to forgive our enemies, to bless
them that curse us and to pray for those who
despitefully use us and persecute us. When
trouble and anguish are upon us we shall not
sorrow as those who have no hope, but we
shall be able to rejoice in tribulation.
Rev. Father Salter impressed upon his con-
gregation the great truth that the duty of
prayer is as positively enjoined in the Bible as
that Of honesty, or chastity, or any other of
the most positive commands Of God. It's
necessity as the only source of true peace on
earth Father Salter also pointed out. But we
must pray in Jesus name, for that, and that
only, is the name ever eficacious before the
throne of Heaven. Hence, as the reverend
preacher remarked, the Church, recognizing
this fact, closes all her prayers with the
words Through Jesus Christ our Lord
In discussing the dual nature of man and
the conflict which is perpetually waged in the
human heart between our better and our
baser natures-between holiness and SIN
DR.. Darling declared that no man can enter
upon wicked course of life without
feeling the protest Of his better nature
against sin. And oil forms of sin
cause this dissent of the two natures within
us. But this constant struggle is not without
its compensations. 1t develops character for
good or evil; but how often for good or for
evil we may not be able to determine. We
have the assurance however that every good
thought and desire within us is stimulated and
kept alive by the influence of the Divine
Spirit SO that when men sin they do so will
fully and knowingly. Hence their greater
condemnation.
The Apostle Pauls eloquent discourse to
the assembled multtudes on Mars Hill was
used by DR.. Kirkus. of London to illustrate
Gods supervision over heather as we'll as
over Christian peoples. That the heather are
here now, and did not come before, is good
omen, and demonstrates the supervision of
which Dr. Kirkus spoke. They are where they
are that they may seek the Lord if, haply,
they might feel after Him and find Him.
Hence we should exercise the largest
charity toward them. The Doctor made
the startling assertion that Christianity is
dying out in our midst and that vast
multitudes of people are abandoning it and
forsaking the churches, the Bible, the minis
try and everything of the sort, all Of which we
don't believe The facts are all the other way
There are more churches erected now every
year than ever before and more Bibles printed
and circulated and more ministers preaching
than ever. But the people are forsaking
creeds and scots and the preaching that is
based on creeds and sectarianism. And we
have no fear that the Cross or the truths which
L srpnholizes will ever have anx less rover