New-York tribune., 1874-12-14
CHRISTIANITY AS A METHOD.
fas Re- X H. cAapsa ax ca~rch Of as Drs% Paternity "


The Church of tho Divine Paternity, the
Rev DR. r. H. Chapiu's at Fifthave. and Fortynf hst,
uas filled yest rJay by attentive congregation, who
listened 60 an interesting discourse delivered by the
pastor TIE text taken from Mark w. So-Sa' Anu
he said, whereuno shall We liken the Kingdom OF God
or with what comparison shall We compare I'll IL Is
like grain OF mustard seed. which. when u eowu III
the EARTH less all the seeds that be IN the earn
bat when lt SO wn Il roweth and becomeh greater
than all herbs shoateth great hranches 90 h"s
the 10 OF the air may lodge under the shadow OF H.
In the two preceding discourses OF this SERIES sara
Dr. Chapin, we have considered Christianity Us re'
elaon and rs force propose to speak now VI Onr'S
tianity as a method of process. "Tle Kingdom Oh ooo
"a like mus,srd seed" says Jesus and, then He pro-
ceeds 10 Indicate the conditions or likeness between ire
two things In each discern Vital piibc'pte
originating In small points or eenters ana nnoohg ~
msnt IN the tcx is enough to say thst Tue ,nv
seed t,pica term with the jews py wnh tht ~
r. presented auytEin2 exceedingly small ana tnat IA
Juea the mustard seed grcws to very arge IS bIas:om
recent traveller speaks Of nnding tne pahs " 1 sast
fun grown in some cases six seven. ana niue iees
higb." Wbie asking himself the question. Sln tno
Gigst aieh,ed on one OF branches, which hardly
waved beneath The shock and then began peT"0f of
,hre ps,S onr tnecht. however. may be ty occu
lied with the fact which the smile apples. we aay
consider the figure nsed as illustrating aa9 md in
tne individual heart. fne first pout Of comparison pc
pears ia the iact Of small beginnings 1t Ia hardly
rces,rv "a ,rc, how small those beginnings 0f Chris
tauity wcrc-i babe IN the manger; lonely uaNtes
amcng .as ants and fishermen; reeced anu crucncu
leaer few words spoken far outside tne scnoos @ "
Cree,e and Alexandria; few deeds wrought III mar
row province overshadowed oy the mltaIy p0wer VI
Rome; little groap of men aud women; Jew lea ueu
apostles Disciples INSPIRED Dy those worus
divine wisdom, moved by those deeds 70 uiNuc %
seuce and going forth in the power OF thoSe Iacts
anu teachings convert the world. Sucn was tne ori-
gin of Christianity SUCH the mustard seeu irom wncu
has Strung that faith Which spread over the ear N
shade and shelter for all peoples Other Things III ns
world have risen from small germs and grown into great
mud fii> mol aiIer the Wstorcai
fact n the case of the Gospel nor deraot from tho
tness and comparison IN the text BUT ln tne p,esee
Instance We nav take into account not only the lh'
Significance OF the germ, but the magnitude oI tue
result We consider She depth ana comlieten'ss
of the change which was wrought In tho human nlnd
so humoio In lis origin, so weak and
oppressed III It's early manifestations when klnaes VI
the inert WANDERING btlng, desparlng souls OF ne
the fire Of unqncnchabe conviction; altered the look
and he society," rausn2ured tue lace oI pature
aud brought down the lowiest spirit an aimOher OF
the hravcus the love OF that God towards the awu
light of VIII )sc being tie tenderness of whose compass
SON the lOiigst inteectS could oniy attempt 10 cnno
We must consider the force by which Chflsuanlty
made tnst Idea OF humanity at which the philosopher
scofed the cercat0n or wnlcn ne SOugnt Win
many tears be enrolled as the parent slave VINO
crouched In the sh dow oi InpetIl ms We must eon
sidcr vital change, the marvellous TRANSPORTATION
produced by these trutbs which are written upou tne
walls every CnrlStiaD cauro Illuminating every
home. We must remark the living, powerful eHects OF
truths our laws and insttuons upon ART anu
made all thugs common IN order that we may 1eel
the sgucah,e Of tue TACT that the Gospel iu It's origin
was 50 al aud obscure, and when u started IN the
world was as sirpe gram OF mustard seen. In shor.
CLrIstIanp religion aud that TACT Involves
al tho sIcai aud cOmprcl nave consequences WIN
sIoali beginnings lDoIded such mighty results