The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-02
ST. JOHNS METHODIST CHURCH.

The Worlds We Live ln-The Realm Of
selfshness or OF Spiritual Life-Sermon
by Rev. DIR. Vincent.
The pulpit OF the St Johns Methodist Episcopal
church, Bedford avenue, was occupied yesterday
by Rev. J. II. Vincent, d. D., the Secretary Of the
Sunday School Union OF that influential denOmina-
ton. His discourse in the morning was based upon
the eighth verse Of the second chapter of Ephe-
siaDs-"For by grace are We saved through faiths
and that not OF yourselves; it is the gift OF God"
After an appropriate and graceful introduction,
wherein it was shown that the grace, the salvarOu
and the faith spoken OF in the above passage were
all the gifts OF God. the speaker proceeded TO say
that il a man were saved he would certainly be
delivered from eternal sorrow, and would
enjoy in this life many an hour OF ecstasy
q foretaste of the spiritual delights which
were promised to those who continued faithful
unto the end but there was more in salvation than
was included IN that definition Of 1t. People who
were next door neighbors often lived in different
worlds. Who would say that the artist in Rome
who picked up an Italian boy in the street and
put upon canvas or into plastic clay more than
any one else saw in the flesh lived in the same
world as his humble subject The culprit who re-
celves lis sentence stands so near the judge that
he could reach over and grasp his hand; but who
would say they were therefore near tOgetherf
Guilt condemnation and deprivation OF all civil
and social rights belonged to the one crimi-
nal in the sight OF God and man, while the
the representative OF all that was strongest,
purest and best in human law and
in which we dwet. We were subject to mighty
spiritual currents, which swept us downward or
upward every day There were men VINO lived in
this world thoroughly under the dominion OF SELF
iisnness, whose highest ambition was TO consum-
mate schemes Of personal aggrandlzement,
lie, trample the rights OF others to enjoy GER
tam immunities. And popularity OF this selfsh-
blythe appetites, the lusts, the tempers and the
ambitions that had been fostered and were allowed
to have their own way, unchecked by moral prln-
ciple and religious devotion. This part OF the
mon was enforced by opposite Illustrations. There
are men who, &C previous period OF their
dwelling IN the sphere OF selfisiness have become
unholy in their thoughts, desires and ambitions,
cher.shing envy, jealousy ana all Things contrary
to supreme love for God. There was, however,
another sphere in which men and women dwelt,
where there were a keen sense Of sin and an IN
tense hatred Of it; where there were a conscious
ness OF exposure and an intense anxiety TO be de-
livered IRON that peril; where there were sense
of guilt and then Of pardon; where there were q
peace with God and joy in the Holy Ghost; region
where Coo was Uved va ana an
as personal saviour. 1t was a terrible thing to
live under the bondage of human selhshness; and
when a man was taken out OF that sphere ana into
q higher one OF spiritual freedom he experienced
q. great salvation. 1t was taking him out
into the brightness where all the glory OF
the sun OF righteousness shines upon hlm. Dr.
came by grace and through lath. No human
power could do it, but 1t was effected solely by
divine and gracious interpositon. 1t was fitting
that spiritual faculty should be employed in lay
ing hold OF spiritual truth. Religion was not
thing OF outward observances, pilgrmages OF
OF physical refreshment, out 1t consisted IN
the souls laying hold OF spiritual TRUTH which the
eye could not see nor the ear hear There was
power in the human soul which looked at the in
visible and which believed in the possibility OF par.
don and OF a conscious oneness with Christ.
Such faith was more than mere
fellp
laying hold OF the whole soul of the
truth and living by IT, so as to become re.
ality. The speaker urged his hearers, as Wesley
beautifully expressed 1t, with recumbent faitnh
upon the Lord Jesus Christ, who would whisper
such words in the midst OF a sphere OF selfshness
would lift them up into realm OF light, OF free
dom and OF peace. In conclusion he said that
there were some people who thought about the
requirements OF religion, as though they were ar.
bitrary things, but there was profound philosophy
in every part Of the whole scheme OF human re-
demptOn, and what they knew not now would be
July understood In the future world.
At the conclusion OF the sermon the holy COM
munion was celebrated, Rev. Doctors Haven and
Vincent officiating.