New-York tribune., 1874-10-19

Rev. II. NJ. Thompson and DIR. Bellows preached In
their respective churches.
MORE THAN MIRACLES
IN, R-r Arand.r Pittsburgh at he Gr4Hfs. M'hof'st
ttroestanp Church Brooklyn
The Rev. Alexander Clark, editor OF me
Methodist Recorder of Pittsburgh preached yesterday
on the occasion of the reOpenng or the Grandst Metho
dist (Protestan) Church. Brooklyn. He chose Tor MS
text: "yerly, verify, unto you he that believeth
on me- works that do shall he do also and greater
works than these shall he do. because go to the
Father"-John XIV H. Among other things, MI CiarA
said
This utterance OF Lord starts questions and coun
ter questions the mind OF every sincere believer t
Is the proclamation OF fact emphasized by douDle
"verly." 1t is not an interpolation; 1t Is not paren
thetca as II explained by some preceding or succeed
ing expression from the Saylors lips. IL stahds out
alone and in 'front.' IL in glowing capitals. In every
word The announcement Is distinct unique ana SUD
lime Christ had wrought many miracles He had
opened blind eyes, unstopped deaf fed the multi
tudes with bread wonderful In It's sudden creation as
mamma in the wilderness and water In the desert
The passing Nazarene by word, had even raised
tho dead And these things the people had seen
and at the sight had stood amazed In that
day no sane man entertained doubt or ventured
wbsper OF denial touching the miracles OF Jesus They
were admitted by friends aud by foes, for rulers
widows beggars and unatcs had been thrilled by the
results of the mirace-working agency OF the ooh ol
God and had alike confessed his mighty power Ana
these works which he did, TO degree, and IN similar
witnessing did Of tho Apostles among the acts
which subsequently recorded. This statement is
already atesed in the ministry of Peter and Pau-tor
certain works that Jesus did they also repeated ana
all were miraculous. The divine power over nature
was signally exhibited In making the lame to Walk ana
restoring the dead TO lfe Such was the GIT Destowea
upon the primitive Aposeship: and when that endow-
ended the line Of the succession OF hands upon
heads became OF small Importance.
Miracles are local morals are universal. Miracles
are Temporary; morals are perpetual. Works done to-
ward the spiritual reclamation OF the human race are
greater than works wrought, or limbs or bodies or
graves. Results here are grander, no matter now
miracle may be defined. Most men, either directly or
remotely, acknowledge God. The philosopher aud the
savage agree in this confession OF Beginning We can
it Word, and the Word was with God Tyndal calls
It an atom, speck of matter next to nothing by pa
tien study few things may be learned about our own
world and neghborlng worlds but tne secrets Oh te
universe we know but lite BY careul recKohlng, the
exact date OF an eclipse may be hxed and the event.
century hence pe,hps VII occur % ao say % sges o
distant worlds and trace their relationship TO ours Bu
how little do we know Of the interiors ana histories 1
ALL discover law which operates from the begin
ns now Xpd to exercise power which, in grain Of
dust or shining sum- even for an instant, suspends
these infinite forces, Ii indeed great work.
But the agency applied to convers soul Is greater
! than this Conversion a. wrought 10 higher reain
subtler aud divine power. Miracles are potent only
as they relate to cods. crumbs flesh, wood or water
Miracles only among tue particles whioh compose
material natures. TIey are always abrupt evldences
arrested by them storms are hushed by then
A miracle smOte the rock in Horeb, when gushing
fountain responded TO the stroke miracle set It's
silent through the air. ana the gentle dew was
made for the hungry millions in the wilderness
miracle gave the buried brother TO his bereaved Sis
ters once more miracle flashed water into wine a
miracle lifted the demoniac from the tombs aud made
him a reasoning man. But all these works were
| wrought In tho sphere OF the material, the
rock the atmosphere, tho flesh, the water, the
blood, and the brain. They were adapted TO tenn
power penetrates to the motive centers of the SOUL
Influences the WILL and changes the emotions. There Is
thrill sound Conversion such as no rock ever
felt when sealed foundation opened such as the
turned into delicious bread such as Lazarus never
experienced In struggling out OF his shroud and gloom
The difference that between shadow and essence dust
and spirit. And process and any result under such
conditions must, be UNNECESSARILY greater The arenas
OF the conflict separate the influences distinct
and the results necessarily different. the soul
sun OF the ornament can attain. The supreme
intelligence has method by which his transceudent
glory be made known in human experience, and all
the ministries OF this power are holy and blessed
beyOpd the service OF angel or archange about the
throne. The operation is all the more wonderful
reaches sinners In dark places. and lifts
downtrodden their feet. Believe in Christ, not in
church; Christ alone. not In what men say about
Christ not in theories opinions about Christ, but
Jesus Christ HIMSELF the present, living, loving Sou OF
God He that believeh IN Me-" says our adorable Re-
deemer "n Me, in Me- the works that do shall he do
also and greater works than these shall he do" No
matter humble, poor, or Outcast and despiSed,
the believer is in Immortal partnership with the
Almghty-a cowOrker with the Holy spirit. and his
undertake this work. aud know It's reward IN your
souls.