The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-09
ALL SOULS CHURCH.

Sermon by the Rev. Francis G. Pea
body-Christianity the Desire OF the
Nations.
The Rev. Mr.. Peabody preached in All Souls'
church yesterday morning from the text In st.
Johns Gospel w., 35-"Lift up your eyes and
look at the fields, for they are white already to
harvest"
These momentous words, pronounced by the lips
of Christ, had they been announced in our genera
tion with the knowledge Of truth and aspirations
OF salvation, possessed by modern Christians,
would have been listened to and understood. The
mission and circumstances OF Christ, which were
to preach salvation and finish His Fathers work,
would in our days, have found ready echo in the
hearts now prepared, but which, In the lifetime
OF Christ, did not know the vast mean
ing OF the words contained in to-day's
text The circumstances OF his times he
had probably considered well. He had
IN all likelihood tried to reach the ear OF Greece or
Rome, those great centres Of ancient civilization,
power and prestige. He had meditated how to
reach that grand old Greece, which, though con-
quered by Rome, had, by her arts, sciences and
philosophy, In the end remained the conqueror.
Then, again, how would his mission strike His own
people OF Judea : He had little, indeed, to expect
from them but persecution and contumely. Every
incident experienced after He began to preach
taught Him how little might be expected from the
children OF Israel, to whom He had come. He came
to the earth under circumstances adverse to His
great mission from the very commencement. Now
10 the time when the world might be thought
worthy Of our great Master, for the thoughts In
eiinations and aspirations OF modern nations are
In favor OF Christianity. Greece, Rome and Judea
had been merely the ground wherein to SOW the
seeds OF Christianity. The lapse OF time mad
brought about frultion from the truths which He
osophy OF Greece ana the theology or Judea, all
No 1885, run rorun .rrora M ruprsrr,x,rv
In His own day the peasant OF Nazareth knew
what is now proved by the fulness OF ages to be
for Him. His life was not the result OF philosophy.
HIS MISSION WAS PROM HEAVEN,
eis IF Sr 1e me % "
given to Christ to tell the world those tidings
which ages had In vain yearned ior The bearer OF
hearts, and the nations bow down to Him.. This is
an irregious age, or rather an age In which re-
in many respects II we are to CONSIDER It's po-
tency now as compared with what 1t has done IN
aSsS N n have passed 5p nee
people OF Germany is solder, bound to respect
ana honor his Emperor. In that vast Empire we
nave modern Greece, influencing the spirit OF the
age by It's CIVILIZATION philosophy and art. so
should we all be IN the Kingdom Of Christ, soldiers
ana followers OF Inc immortal army which he es-
tabishes. England, too, Is a great nation. and ex-
ercses vast emotional influence In the world Her
suit OF Christian truth and hight render her emf
nent among the nations who serve
THE GOOD MASTER OF BETHLEHEM.
IL Jesus stood among US to-day He would, by the
nesvenly, luminous, electric hgnt OF Ills mission
influence the world and move IL as in His own day
me world IS restless, waiting for something
Nothing has now nxed foundation among US,
The nations are In transition state. The German
people are unsatlshed with great Empire. Tney
want glorious Kingdom that cannot be corrupted
by the intrigues OF WHY politicians. In England
Also the people are dissatisfied and restless. SO
Kingdoms or the earth sigh for a great change of
spiritual celestial nature. They sigh for . king.
dom without end. That only can satisfy the
hurrying world OF to-day. Nothing can give them