The New York herald., 1873-12-08
SEVENTH STREET METHODIST CHURCH

The Lessons OF the Loss of the Vile du
Havre-sermon by the Rev. John
Parker.
The Rev. John Parker preached last night in the
Seventh street Methodist church, near Third ave-
nue., on 1.-The Lessons OF the Loss OF the Vile du
Havre.u He first sought to demonstrate the
insecurity OF lie and the necessity Tor I'M
mediate repentance. He had urged a certain
young man TO join the Church OF Christ, but the
answer had been, swat few weeks till shall be
more at leisure,n just as though he had made a
contract with the agencies OF death TO wait upon
his convenience. When they heard OF this great dis
aster they must all have asked themselves. what
If it had been IL Am l readys What
terrible thing IL it had been mysefs' Therefore
IT was his the preacher's) duty 70 inquire whether
they always kept themselves in this state OF prepa-
ration. In regard to the Divine Providence, which
had permitted all such disasters, there were gen.
orally three theories. The nrst theory was that
GOD had established certain
FIXED, UNIFORM AND UNALTERABLE LAWS,
and that these laws always sufficed Tor the gov
ernment and happiness OF the human race. This
was the theory OF radical infdelity. IL denied the
doctrine OF benencent DIVINE agency, OF evan
gelica minist straon, OF the special care OF God over
HIS saints. 1t simply recognized Coz as great
machinist who mad built up house and
then left it to itself. This belief
in frigd and exact Providence was certainly the
belief OF inudelty There was not much atheism
III the land, but unfortunately tnere was great
deal of lnndellty. This doctrine set physical oove
moral ends and claimed that God never was
touched by prayer or by the most eartrending
supplications OF the sufferer.
The second theory oi Gods laws was, that they
merely provided punishment Tor sins on this EARTH
and that this was the end OF 1t. II there was
great calamity 1t had occurred because the VIC
uIns hao deserved the punishment which they had
suffered. Within this circle OF ideas were the
Uniyersallsts, and others. DR.. Chapn, he thought,
believed that sinners were partly punished here
ana partly in the mex world; but most believers
were adnerents OF this special creed The truth of
this doctrine was denied by all
TIE REVELATIONS OF TIE GOSPEL.
Fit were true that the bad man was always GER
tam TO be unhappy in this world then the good
and see, tue babe that went down on that night OF
horrors on the broad Atlantic ocean was SO inno
cent that the angels might nave kissed IL and been
innocent still. Tne third theory was that OF the
true Christian. 1t recognized tnat God had inter-
Tered loo times IN the affairs OF this word, all His
other rules Notwithstanding. II taught them that
Cod was so near them that prayer could
reach linn and cause Him sometimes 10 change
HIS laws. Ii taught them that the ply sical gov
ernment was subordinate TO moral ends Accord
ing TO certain scientists AL physical laws were alb
soIute and beyond all power OF interference, and
God was swinging around this world just
10 achieve certain physical ends. Jesus sum-
moned HIS people TO repent in view OF their Ger.
tain punishment as sinners after death. All the
punishment OF these sinners would not end with
their mortal existence. The Jews had thought
that the sins OF parents were visited on their chill
dren. II q Guild were leprous or bind taIs was a
THE sINFULNEss OF ITS PARENTS.
But this was not the Judgment throne. The pun
isnment OF broken mora laws was infinitely more
certain than tnat OF broken physical laws. True,
II some one threw himself from SIX story window
praying that some angel might save him. his mad
ness would not prevent mis- death. Whyf Because
he had violated physical law. When it was nec-
essary 10 annihilate a race OF sinners Jesus did 1t
not. he barred his brow Tor the bloody thorns 50
that he tine preacnerl and tney M ght be saved.
Except ye repent ye shall pcrish.n These We're
tue words OF Jesus. Some thought that sorrow
after punishment was repentance but the
arunkard, even alter beng sorry Tor bav-
ing got drunk, would drink again. God
would not be cheated oy sucn a parody
OF repentance. on the Vile du Havre there was
a Catholic priest ana when he saw some agoniZed
at the thought oil ueatt TINS Catholic priest said.
"Are you Catholicr' The men SAID "les.r
"Repent,r tue priest demanded, land shall lor-
give YOU" This
WAS SoT TRUE REPENTANCE,
and eycrsboQy's common sense revolted against
such al idea TO ray SO much III prayers or In
money and then 10 be forgiven, this was a
doctrine of the Papacy aud iostered the love OF
sin which could be atoned Tor so easily. To perish
meant to suffer everlasting death. The last
disaster warned every Christian against delay,
and let them AL repent this very night and come
to Jesus.