The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-22
ST. JOHNS METHODIST CHURCH.
The Prayer OF the Pub1ican-Sermon by
Rev. DIR. Warren.

The Prayer OF the Pub1ican-Sermon by
Rev. DIR. Warren.
Yesterday morning St. Johns Methodist Epis-
copal church on Bedford avenue, which is one Of
the most spacious and elegant houses Of worship
in Brooklyn, was well filed Rev. henry W. War
rem, d. d., who has recently come from PhiladeL
phia TO occupy the pulpit preached an original
discourse, his theme being the pubican's prayer,
GOD be merciful TO me a sinner" He read the
parable with admirable eiocutonary effect and in
hts introductory remarks said that language was
one OF the most beggary institutions In the world.
Its feeble power could not carry the weight and
significance OF emotional things Whoever put
battle into words, which, alter all were out ngures
drawn from materia things and when lifted into the
range mental and spiritual subjects were wood
en- things undertaking to portray feelings. Paul,
when caught up into the third heavens, said OF his
experiences and visions, that it was not possible
to word them, and so when man experienced
conversion by the Holy Ghost he felt 'tne half had
not been told hni." so that when he tine speaker)
undertook to depict the transition Of a soul from
sinful to a justified state he asked them not to de-
pend upon his words but to ask the infinite power
VI tine Holy Spirit TO sweep down upon them with
grace and energy. In explaining the word "sin-
ner,n DR.. Warren remarked that the condition of
existence for ice was a temperature OF thirty-two
egrees, put If 1t rose up another degree it
was no more ice; that the condition for
rock was cohesion. which, If taken away, be-
came sand that the conditions OF animal life
required air, lood and water. and for the AMI
o necessity. Man, in his varied relation to the
things of EARTH to angels and TO God, had multi
piled conditions, and every throb OF mis- being
linked him to divine lie; but let him break any
one OF those conditions OF his best existence, and
so mucn death came into HIS being II man
broke physical law IN the line OF temperance, q
headache was the result; If he broke the law OF
chastity, greater punishment ensued; II he
Net. kn I'M nhm nj IA ptChVi Nov1N
was death beyond conception. The relations OF
God to human beings were the tenderest and the
bltles where all the herolsms OF the world had
been manifested and all the martyrdoms OF past
was fase in his relations TO Cod he was .
giant sinner. This thought was amplifed
the CONSCIOUSNESS that he nad violated the con-
ditions OF his best existence, and that his posst-
biities for good were diminished and said, "Lord.
have mercy" What did that meanS Men spoke
OF the power of the law OF gravitation which,
though potent iorce was subject to higher forces,
tie wreathing mists Of the morning. The question:
was, whether there was Law above that which
man had broken that could come IN to help nimf
greater than the law he had violated, and II he
had adopted our modern phraseology. ne would
sweep down into the law OF my sin; let the law
OF Thy life come into the being OF my death
privileges l once had.n 1t always cost >
higher force something to get out OF lower;
anu go COD In bringing Ii tno htgheSt law OF the
universe overcome the law OF sin LAID the guilt
OF the world upon Christ, who TOOK the re0el's
place. The speaker then passed Oh TO SPEAK of the
circumstances attending the utterance OF the Pub
leans prayer. He was IN pubic place, and,
shifting vehemently upon his breast, he was not
In the estimation OF some very decOrous; but by
the frankness Of his confession he showed he was
an honest man. Alter the capture OF Richmond
Lincoln wrote to Grant:-'T owe you an apology.
When you cut loose from your base OF supplies
and swept round to the south OF vicksburg I
thought you made q great mistake. leit sure
you would be defeated cut on In tnat way, but you
have done 1t and l am glad OF it, l give
you THIS apology. for having wronged You
In my thought" 1t was no wonder they
called him "HOnest Abe" Lord multiply sucn
men, exclaimed the preacher. The PUBLICAN was
there to confess, which reminded the speaker Of q
scene that TRANSFERRED in Western town many
years ago, when the gospel was being preached In
. Methodist church. TWO law students were seated
in the rear OF the BUILDING, OF whom was
powerfully moved under the appeal to respond 30
che invitations OF Christ which led his companion
to inquire, "Whas Is the matter, and where arc
you gOing?r The response was, ~ am going to
Heaven by way OF that Methodist altar" That
young man afterwards became Chief Justice
Mclean who manifested the sincerity of hts pur-
pose in long life Of honor. lame, poverty and
worth. The publican, to use modern phrase.
event forward Tor prayers" and the result was no
went down to his house justified, or literally inter-
preted, ''made right" not by his own power, but
BY the creative energy OF the Infinite God.