New-York tribune., 1874-11-30
THE LIGHT OF REVELATION.
The Rr. T. H. CApin, D. d. at TIE Church Of the Divine Pater
aiy (UnivdSliisD

The Rev. T. H. CAapin. d. d. at ae Church Of the Divine Pa
niiy (Univrsais0.
The services at the Church Of the Divine
Paternity. at Fifthave and Fortydfthst yesterday,
were conducted by the pastor. the Rev. f. H. Chaplin
d. D. The sermon, appropriate to the Advent season.
upon the Revelation OF God through Jesus Christ
The text IL Corinthians, w., 6 "For God who COM
manded the light to shine out OF darkness hath shned
in hearts, give the light of the knowledge of the
glory OF God in the face of Jesus Christ"
To-day. said he's is the beginning Of the Christian year.
O period not like our secular year, marked by the
changes OF the natural world but IN its unfolding
the lie and teachings OF Jesus without proposing to
follow this throughout its entire it seems that
the present season. bringing us to the threshold OF inc
Savors advent is worthy the attention of all Christians
1t speaks of topics which, by the fact OF their an
nua occurrence, cannot be but which all by that
very fact ndcate their Importance This morning then
propose in the frst place, TO consider Chrlstany as
revelation, and in the second place to consider inc
TO be peculiarly appropriate for this purpose IL IL
passage which all VINO preach o. hear that gospel should
consider deeply and oftcn for need not tc You tat
the great truth here applicable to ourselves to-day
as to those disciples In COrinih 1.aO years ago. MY
special object now is to urge upon you the iact OF INC
Now. this statement may seem very familiar idea.
least am quite certain that IL truth that cannot DC
too often dTelt upon Oar faith may seem to US some
yet nobody who believes In God can hesitate to believe
IN revelation Whether the witnesses are IN hs own
conscious being in the world OF nature around HIN,
repeat, in each Of these and in all, there IS Divine
revelation. There perhaps many who in accepting
this conclusion atcr before such claims as are urGeu
Christian reve3tion ,s received nv many with sort of
conventional respect without much inquiry as % its
meaning. Now let me say that all revelation Is one
its essential character Revelation is manifestation OF
God 1t is not obscured it is light IL is tue ligut OF
God in the face OF Jesus Christ SO far as reason goes
Christ as belief III God We have the as
sertlon in the text that the Cod Of Mature Is
ii (.n1n nf in
two orders Of being are not only harmonious IN their
origin but that fact frequently appears IN the series OF
beautiful andlOgies which frequently set forth In
the teachings OF jesus Christianity u natural In lis
can ad hing more expressive Of the Creative Power
God said let there be light and there Was light" All
our modern researches concerning light however sue
cesSfui they may be- leave sill my stery nor can we
tle economy Of tie world. Consider tue Offices which,
snn Think how ali the life Of the globe depends upon It,
ing the assurance reiterated by the rising every morn
ing of the sun We recognizes pcrp .tual miracle with
eachnew day; SO 1t is with every dawn
folding fresh creatlon Tue material element OF hgAt
itself is a revelation OF God.
Do you want an Illustration OF the fathcrhood Of GOdl
Consider the grouping Of individual characters around
Christ; tbs Weeping harlot neus he pcnent thief
asmuch You Jesus you see the Father and there
for ' one 90 most heartily accent, therefore the
declaration Of God manifest in tho hes, CHRIST, the
image Invisible Cod in other words accept the
Incarnation the grand dOcine t. which this advent
especially points. But not only that we discern III Him
also expression OF our humanity the ono perfect true
Son OF God, who typfes the relations OF humanity to
God This therefore, gives US the one great purpose OF
the Gospel the substance OF tine revelation. III is the
manifestation God through Jesus CHRIST the glory OF
God tho goodness OF God la the face or C1rist.
Consider its purpose. II is Interpreting purpose
in the first place R.veatOn have sad Is hSht. not
mystery. Now Christ reveals tho central power and
purpose OF nature, the light and love belInd all and
through ALL Christ shows Us nature free from AL SUI
persiltOus He reveals One over ALL and tells US
the lonesome conditions we are not al0Gc
for the Father is with Tic Cledr simple teachings
Of Jesus. HIS sweet, tender life tends to calm and TO
cheer We picked and misguided often ~ follow
ing our own wisdom. Bat our resources, that we dc
pend dry up and wher. TIE light OF worldly en-
ioymcnt is Ike the quic-spcnt flame OF torch. The
light Of possession ds0yes aud escapes from our grasp
The light Of Friendship is oversladowcd in tue mystery
OF dcatn Tails revocation makes spiritual things cred
lDle and real Finally, this revelation lul1lls
IccOncilins WORK. It5 work Is to draw us 10 God This
Is tic practical result OF the coming Of Christ Tdis 10
tie glory Oi God la the face OF Jesus Christ.