The New York herald., 1874-09-14
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
The Rev. Mr.. Kelsey, Of Passaic, N. j.
ON ''The Ministry of the Disciples O
.-a.

The Rev. Mr.. Kelsey, of Passaie, n. j.,
on 'The Ministry OF tho Disciples of
Christi
In the absence OF DR.. Anderson the pulpit OF
this church was filed yesterday by the Rev. Mr..
Kelsey. OF Passaic, who delivered TO a moderate,
but extremely devout and attentive congregation,
a very impressive and eloquent discourse upon
the work OF disciples in the ordinance of Chrsts
Kingdom; taking as his text the words from
Matthew, xiv, 19-"And gave to his
disciples, and his disciples to the mul-
tltude." The preacher began by remark
ing that the mode OF Gods distribution to man is
by man and passing mercy dowuwards to be dis
pensed by believers ana finite beings. He who
knows best His own unapprochabIe essence, aud
that the Heaven and Heaven OF Heavens cannot
contain Him, knows that all His gifts In our condi
tlon must descend by rivulets to man, who would
be otherws, unfit to receive by reason OF the
dazzling Of His splend0r. 1t Is the mothers heart
which gives secondary comfort and consolation TO
the child and yields that which comes primarily
from the Divine lonnt; 1t Is the ruler's strength
which gives strength, vitality and blessing to the
natlon, but 1t is all OF God. he gave
through Moses standard oI duty Tor the
people, to David his model power OF repentance,
and TO the prophets the gltt rs mediators OF the
future li!e, standing between past and future and
gliding IL with the serene results to be disclosed.
Ihe CHRISTIAN Church was also. and pre- e-emnenty.
made, In the persons OF its individual members,
THE MEDIATOR BETWEEN DIVINITY AND MAN,
and the dispenser Of the precious gifts Of the
gospel. Wnile Jesus Himself Is alone the great
mediator, He has committed ro al lis faithful dis
clples inferior mediatOrial functions, and
made them TO be the dispensers OF Gods
which cannot take those boons, directly nom
the hands OF the Almighty. Such employment
is Gods own assigned labor for believers,
q mediatorial work which constitutes tDem
human priesthood and should fully engage their
WORDS their writings ana their lives. The IoOd in
the miracle OF the iOaves and fishes was produced
by Divine but was distributed by human hands;
and as the dew drop III It's own powers makes
perfect reflection OF the heavens so should
Chrsrs disciples perfectly reflect God, and dis
tribute His blessings among mankind. Man re-
qu1res help TO reacn the Glver OF all Good. Even
Peter exclaimed, 81 am sinful man, . Lord"
The Centurion was conscious OF his feeble human.
lty and the disciples on the lake ieit until the
voice ''lt IS ], be not afraid" that they were
ready to sink; and II the bread had been
distributed Oy the DIVINE hand OF Jesus multi.
tudes might have been afraid to take II, regarding
1t as too sacred Tor use, who yet gathered conu-
dence and would leel 1t was bread, when uistrlD-
uted by the disciples How much more, then, in
the case OF the bread alluded III the miracle does
this hesitancy exist In reference to those gifts Of
eternal life which the natural man receiveth not,
winch are regarded by too many as unreal, strange
unearthly and how difcuig 1t Is for such to be-
lieve that God gave Christ a natural heart,
tnat the gilt OF the Spirit has descended
upon man, whle to such pardon, adop-
tlon and eternal happine ess in heaven would seem
but a vision OF romance and rapture. The snep-
herds might sten to the distant angelic cnOir, but
TO bring the heavenly music near must be done
by disciples. some men may say, ''Speak, Lord,
for my servant hearetn;" but the many in alright
say Let not God speak," All this Is accidental
but an integral part OF Gods plan Of salvation AS
often. then, as we refuse to believe Jnis and to
allze that HIS work Is to be carried out through
grace and restrain His spirit by our selfish lndo-
ence.