The New York herald., 1874-08-03
CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH.

Rev. II. 8. Macarthur on the Question
of the HOur-Arraignment of ''Liberal"
Christians-The QuarreliinH Apostles
IF Modern Philosophy and Their In
significance.
Considering the season there was quite a large
audience yesterday forenoon at Calvary Baptist
church, in Twenty.third street, between Fifth and
Sixth avenues. some plain speaking vas evil
IDENTITY expected from the pastor, Rev. II. S. Mac
arthur, and he spoke plain beyond a peradven.
turc. In the 'long prayer he prayed for purity,
that we might avoid even the appearance of evil,
and that pastors should not only not neglect to
teach the commandments, but should be prevented
teaching people to break them by their bad
example The church will, 1t was announced, re-
main closed till the first Sunday in september.
THR SERMON
The reverend gentleman preached extempore.
He chose his text from part oil the tenth verse OF
the forty third chapter OF Isaah-"Ye are my wit
nesses, saith the Lord" These words said the
preacher, have local significance and applIca-
iiop, which need not be considered now and con.
tain O general truth Of universal application.
First, the fact must be emphasized that we are
Gods witnesses. In the Second Corinthians st.
Paul says: aye are our epstle;' in another lace,
aye are q living epistle, known and reed or all
men," This fact is corroborated IN passages all
over the Word OF God. God incarnates truth
openly manifested in men and women There is
nothing IN Christianity that requires secrecy. Its
principles and practice are all aboyeboard. When
our Saviour was asked, as recorded In ST. Luke
by JOhn the Baptist's two disciples Master.
where dwellest thouY' he repliod ''Come and see!'
This is the sevcrest test, and 1t Is the Christians
Addison invited his friends TO come and how q
Christian could die Noltaire, al cOtraire, offered
his physicians hall his fortune Tor SIX weeks more
liie Christians all by their profession, tacity, II
not avoVedly, take this position This is the sig
niiicance OF baptism; ihsy are in the font typl-
resurrection Of a new lie. God is represented by
the professors OF Christianity The world judges
Him m ey HIS p People: ,5 This may seem unjust but IL
lawyer with a large collection OF diplomas we are
apt to jump to the conclusion that the legal pro-
fesson IS not what it claims TO be. SO, too, we
Judge doctors OF physic and theology, and
The iamiyonin yyo iact, in every relation in
1t may be unjust, but the fact remains.
Secondly, the character or The testimony shows
the power oil Christ TO remove sin and give peace
No prophet need explain thus fact when is as pa
tent 10 the world to the elect. There is no rest
for the wicked. Guilt Is crushing load, till sensi-
tlvenesS Is utterly dead. The blood OF the Lamb
cleanseth from all SIN and gives US peace toward
God, ourselves and the world Christians are COM
enable us 10 do and to su1er Tor Jesus. From st.
stephen to this hour martyrs have attested it.
Through financial panic, DEATH the loss OF all near
ana GEAR to us, floating away on the of eternity,
we feel our reliance IN The cross or Christ. THIS
day, dying woman, who
FELL ASLEEP SINCE THIS SERMON BEGAN
murnnured her last words :-"Precious Jesus very
preclonsw "a solemn hush, broken by sobs)
Judged by the world often as unworthy the charac-
ter OF the followers OF Jesus, rspite OF their weak
and often relaDses into sim Is noble Christ
has declared them "the salt OF the earth,u ''the
light on a hiil,' "the city on mouutan." The
best men and women who ever lived nave been
and are Christians
Thirdly, the value OF the testimony ia great.
Col never let Himself De without witness. The
world Is Hts witness. 80 all creation, from the
stars to the smallest atom we tread on, speak to
the action or the Divine Hand. There Is no
atheistic particle. Creation is broad book, in
scribed by Gods finger. step higher as In the
hneteenth rsalul, takes US from creation TO ieye.
latlon, documentary proof OF the character and
designs OF Cod Still higher. there is the new
creation Ia Christ Jesus and ChTiss followers the
highest evidence OF It,. We must not underesti-
so far dependent on His creatures it is His villa
marx OF His condescension. We must not UNDER
estimate it,
GOD is Nor DEpESDENr on PARTICULAR PEOPLE.
IL has been SAID that Christianity RECEIVES a
SHOCK TO shatter II for century from events tran
spring to-day In our midst, Christianity has CON
qlered ana VIII conquer now and for every genera.
ton 10 come.
CEDAR OF LEBANON HAS FALLEN,
goody tree, grand IN statelincss In whose loftI.
ness We have taken pride. II has been struck by
lightning. with long, resounding crash Is has
come 10 the ground and brought with il a lew
tWIgs ana saplings,
But THE FOREST STANDS
The Nees are rooted deep, grappled with eternal
ss must m Christians fall snose 81 In
word OF God, who have encircled the Rock Of
Ages, shall stand. SAID the preacher deliver no
Judgment, put have clearly defined opinion ana
aa, ga aruept nope whlch opinion and hope will,
believe, be justified The Church founded by Jesns
Snilst mas With5loQ1 the lres ol pagan and PapaI
stances are
NO TEST or ORTHODOX cusrsrIAMrY.
""' :" '"~ "artles regulates the Bible. the