The New York herald., 1873-10-06
ST PAUL'S METHODIST CHURCH.
The Blessedness of Christian Charity
Sermon by the Rev. DIR. Rigg, OF

The Biessedness OF Christian Charity
Sermon by the Rev. DIR. Rigg, OF
London.
Yesterday afternoon st. Paul's Methodist church
was well filed by a congregation drawn thither by
the fame OF the Rev. DR.. James II. Rgg, of London,
a delegate 10 the Evangelical Alliance from the
Wesleyan Methodist Church and prominently
identified with the educational movements OF that
influential denomination in Great Britain. and
President OF the Wesleyan Training School at West
minister. There were a number OF distinguished
educators in the Methodist Church OF America
present to greet their transatlantic co-laborer,
among whom were Professors Mey and Kidder. OF
the Drew Theological Seminary; Drs. True,
holdich, Durbin, Foss, Eddy and others. The ex-
ercses were commenced with the singing OF an
anthem by the choir, after which DR.. Rgg read tn
eignty-ourth Psalm and the thirteenth chapter
OF the First Epistle TO the Corinthians, and the
gregation united IN singing hymn. While the
collection was been taken the organist performed
"The Last Rose OF SUMMER which, however ap-
proprlate TO the season. did n OF contribute much
to devotional meditation. Alter this artistic per-
formance was concluded the Rev. DR.. Rigg an
nounced his text, which was part OF the eighth
verse OF the thirteenth chapter or the First Eplstie
to the Corintnans-
''cnARrTY NEVER PAILETH.n
The discourse vas not so much succession OF
original thoughts clothed in elegant diction as q
clear and mastery exposition OF the entire chapter
OF which the text formed part. In his lntroduc-
tory remarks he said Corinth was new city at
the time the apostle wrote this letter and full OF
new life. 1t had risen In wonderful splendor and
power, with amazing energy, from l.s complete
ruin by the Roman hand, and It's life was ali the
more exuberant because 1t was SO new
and 80 young. Centrally and mainly 1t was
the life OF commercial city which, with an
amazing hurry OF growth and development, had
grown exceedingly rich. IL was q seaport
also, the mart OF ships and OF seamen from East
and West and from every part OF the earth. 1t
was full OF pride OF It's new power lie and wealth
Like every Greek community 1t was also full OF the
desire Tor philosophical and literary display. Its
SKY, climate and all It's surroundings tended TO OH
OF pleasure and OF activity. To such city that
the Gospel came by the lips OF the Apostle Paul.
NOT but participate in the qualities Of the soil and
climate in which II grew. The people OF Corinth
valued above all things intellectual gifts and were
iond OF Intellectual display. They looked upon
Christianity rather as
PHILOSOPHY
tnan as faith TO be received by the lowly and
penitent heart. The Apostle did not undervalue
these intellectual gifts and requirements, but in
his letters nc called their attention to the more ex
ceent way OF Christian love. ProphesylnQ he
taught-which meant taking to people 70 edifca-
ti0n, exhortation and comort--would be done
away with IN the heavenly state and the gifts OF
tongues, though almost miracuousy exercised in
modern times Dy missionaries who arranged the
Jargon OF heather dialects into grammar would
also cease there. Earthly knowledge and culture
on which so many prlded themselves, would vanish
away as mere taper was put out In the
light OF heaven. Our knowledge OF all divine things
was only partial the vast continent OF divine rutn
mad never been explored, and what had been
learned was acquired little by littlc Our piles OF
divinity and endless complications and distinc-
tons were 10 be done away by a far superior mode
oil knowledge. The Imperfect knowledge OF earth
would be done away by the larger. deeper surer
and trucr knowledge oil the everlasting state In
reference 10 the things unseen and eternal we now