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

The sinner should then seize his opportunity, for
may meyer return tr p1r years ana years many
hearts, offering them the salvation OF their souls.
CHURCH OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST.
Gods Supervision Over the Heathcn As
Well A the Chr:stian-Thc Process Of
Development Whereby tho Former Is
Fitted for the New Dispensati0n--Ser-
mon by the REV. Dr. Klrkus, OF Lon-
don. -I
During the temporary absence OF the rector the
pulpit OF tins church is being supplied by the Rev.
Dr. Krkus. OF London, who, taking his text from
the second lesson for the morning service, deliv-
cred very impressive discourse on Gods purposes
as regards the heather (Acts xviii, 5000.
This address at Mars Hill, said he, is ofthc most
marvellous passages, not only In the New Tesla
ment but in the whole range OF Christian literature.
Born and brought up not merely rs a Jew, but after
the strctest sect OF the Pharisees with all the natn
raj excusiveness Of Judaism exaggerated to Its
utmost extent, 1t was not enough Tor st. Paul that
all outside the covenant should be lost forever
not enough for him that they should be shut out
from all the blessings OF the Divine family and
from the love Of God. He could not even permit
them to live in this world but prosecuted them
from city to city even beyond the bounds of Judea,
ana rejoiccd while conserving unto their death.
For him there was no city but Jerusalem; no
temple OF God but that on the Hoy Hill;
no times OF worship but those sanctioned by
the law, nor any forms but such as 1t prescribed.
Such was Saul OF Tarsus. Can 1t be the same
man who, as Paul, declared in the text that God
hath made OF one blood all nations OF men for to
dwell on all the face Of the earth; that they
should seek the Lord, II happy they might feel after
Him, and Ind HimS Here is this bigoted Jew in the
ht,I, h,lIv
idoatry, finding in the very worship Of the idola.
tiers q revelation OF God, and q general dispense
ton OF paganism in Gods having determined the
times before appointed and the bounds OF mems
habltatons In order that In such u manner ana by
degrees so slow, ana after fashion so dim and
obscure, they might feel after God, II perchance
they might lind Him, even though He be not far
from every one OF us. There Is, rs l have said, IN
this sermon OF ST. Paul'S
BREADTH OF COMPREHENsIvENEss
far beyond that which characteriZes Christians OF
ment OF the divine government which the fist
Christians 80 confidently manifested, there Is the
utmost ttmidity displayed as regards this point
among the men OF our times. Some of the former
were not AFRAID to speak OF a dispensatiOn OF pa
ganism, or to admit that all heatlendom Is under
Gods control, and that the men who live in hea-
then lands have the bounds OF their haUitations
determined by God; that in that particular way,
and in not another, they should feel after Him.
though He Is not far from any one or us. st. Paul
recognized this feature In Gods government, and
therefore argued, "Mcn OF Athens, will tell you
z
are right in worshippng here. There is that in
your heart which God Himself has put there aud to
which God Himself WIN respond. You don't know
character and glory, and you are mixing up what
you do know with
but have not to do with the fasehood, but the
truth; not with your mistakes and delusiOns SO
v a ~ ana 'e duty to
in his argument, the Doctor went on to
observe that had Christians more of this
trlio nirtf hA
much taken up with cavng and carpng at the
minor differences and practices OF their fellow
as they would be in endeavorlng to spread
the truth Of the Gospel far ana wide; and in en-
deavoring to explain why st. Paul was success
full In his method Of dealing with these questions
and people, he gave as the reason, first, his cu-
ture aud, secondly, his good common sense the ior
mer, bringing him IN contact wlthmen OF all nations
and opinions led him to broad and liberal views,
while the latter convinced him that there
was no. middle ground between the bond.
age Of the and law To-. and hin, the freedom Of
stand firmly on the side OF truth, saying, "Let
every man be firmly persuaded IN his own mind"
and how 1t comes to pass that they did not arrive
at that period Of their development when the true
served that IT is part of the divine government,
and that God Is wiser than we are; that all the
slow processes by which he performs His works
are part Of the method OF that government and
1t is not Tor US to contradict His VIII, but commit
ourselves In every case to 1t. From which remarks
We may draw great comfort as to
THE STATE OF THE HEATHEN
knowing that they are In Gods hands, and that
they nave been placed now and where they are
that they may seek the Lord, II haply they might
feel alter Him and iind Him. And as We leel
selves exceedingly sinful II we allow young per-
sons to grow up ignorant and wicked so must we
ecl our obligation TO do our utmost in the way Of
cnIightening those whose darkness Is greater than
our own and bringing them to u knowledge OF the
one living and true God. second lesson Is that
OF exercising the largest charity towards our fell
! lows whereby we arc led to seek for all the good
| we can ind anywhere and bring IL to perfect on;
to deal only with what Is perfectly true and above
and In all things 10 endeavor TO save the people
| who are In error and who are the most terrible
sufferers IRON their mistakes and deiuslons The
! great trouble Tor the Church is that
CHRISTIANITY Is DYING OUT
In the midst OF us-not that there are q vast num-
Der OF Christian sects but that vast multitudes of
the people are giving Christianity up and forsakng
| the churches, the Bible, the ministry and every
thing oil the sort. What we have to do WITH there
| fore, is the utter weakness of everyday life. May
God forgive us that we have Jailed so long In com
| ing to the front TO fight and battle Tor them whom
| the devil, like raging woli Is seeking to devOur.
Murders and r0Dberies and violence and fraud run
| up and down, and through and through the land
| Can anything be more pltiabe, more terrible
| than the revelation OF the last week. A man
! who seemed so great and pure, and had
| everybodys kind word-whOse death was the oc-
casiOn OF all sorts or catering resolutions OF con-
have spiritual beauty and glory about it-what Is
| he nowt AS trustee OF church the people will
not be able to weep over him, while chorus OF i'll
names swelis with notes Of shame, disgrace and
dshouor that rise on every side. And while all this
manner OF thing is gong on we are fighting and
quarrelllng about little eals OF doctrine that have
nothing to do with life, and about mere decora-