The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-30
RUSsO-GREEK CHAPEL.
Rev. Father Bjerring ON Repentance
and Self-Denial.


and Self-Denial.
Yesterday the little Greek chapel on Second
avenue was filed with worshlppers, to whom
Father Bjerring dscoursed on the duties and
obligations OF repentance and self-denial. These.
he remarked, are Christian virtues which men do
not love, but which yet are necessary to unite as
to Christ eternally. When Christ SAID to the fisher
men of Galilee, "FOllow me-" they left all and fol-
lowed Him. You, said Father Bjerring should
have like resolution. And now is the accepted
time and now is the day OF salvation. The season
OF Lent is designed to lead our minds to recon-
citation with God by the contemplation OF the SUI
ferngs OF the Lord Jesus Christ for US. We should
therefore examine our hearts and find whether we
are sincere, for without the knowledge OF ourselves
and of the merclu God there can be no true re-
pentance ami conversion. Nothing is more diff
cult than to root out the selilove that lies deep IN
every soul. 1t is therefore necessary to insure
proper contemplation and appreciation OF these
tnngs that we withdraw ourselves from the pleas
ures and distractions OF the world. Thus only can
we hold intercourse with God. The hoy saints OF
Old, Father Bjerring said, shut themselves up from
the world in tue holy season OF Lent We should
do the same; for only in the hour OF quletude can
we hear the blessed voice OF the Saviour ana in
his communion only can we find pc ice such as the
world can neither give nor take away.
MUST FORGET THIS WORLD
II we would think God. How often is it, he
asked, that the only result gained by the attend.
ance on the public worship is a rehearsal OF what
has been witnessed by the senses, and not mani
iestaton OF d renewed spirit and converted heart
by penltent prayers and resolutions TO become
orthodox Church Tor the priest to deliver senSa-
tiOnal discourses or preach on boiler explosions,
gold panlCs and political cOrruptons- IL would De
q fraud against the Christian family, who. instead
of being nourished with the Word Of God, find only
an agreeable diversion OF mind ana deception IN
divine service, when IN reality they were present
only ata secular entertainments Let US all eXclaim
with the publican rom the deepest CONVICTIONS OF
our guilt 30 God be merciful to me, sinner"
But the acknowledgment OF sin alone Is not sum.
Gent sincere repentance must be united with
1t. For repentance Is the real conversion Of the
heart to God, without which all examination and
al on s can o a1G
sins Who am II What is my origtn' What will
be my endf The consideration OF these questions
the Church OF Christ imposes upon US more parttc-
ularly At the solemn time OF Lent. The eternal
union with God in His infinite glory-that glory OF
which the great apostle says, "No eye hath seen
nor ear heard"-that Is to be
OUR FINAL DESTINY.
To this end have we been created, and the life OF
this mortal state is TO be preparation for tmmor-
tally. The greater the patience with which thou
Dearest thy cross, the nearer art thou 10 eternal
felicity the less thou carest for Its load, the fur
ther doest thou recede from It, Let US, then, work
while 1t ID called to-day; the night cometh. when
no man can work. Time Is short, but eternity hath
no END. Who among US here present, he asked,
may not before the end Of Tins year have to appear
us viii live on earth ten years hences Perhaps
not one. cory p said a voice to the prophet
Isaiah and he said Was sna cry tn and ao the
illness thereof is as the flower OF the field. The
grass withereth; the flower fadeth; but the word
OF our God snail stand forever" One trusts in his
money the other in his reputation in society, the
third in his Skill; but whosoever win find his con-
ISOLATION his JOY IN anything else but alone In the
dear saviour, Is a poor misguided mortal in
CONSTANT ANXIETY AND FEAR.
OF course, as long as 1t fares well with them,
most men think they need no saviour; but when
the ordinary pillars shake; when the for
tune Is being lost and friends forsake
us; when the Lord takes from us our
dearest ones; when death comes upon U.S.
and must leave all, what shall we do Then must
We leave associations not one OF which would we
give up for Jesus sake. That hour may come
sooner than we anticipate. But our trust Is In
the Redeemer. He will 90 with US. DO not post
pone thy conversion till tomorrow, said the
preacher In his exhortation, thou knowest not
whether thou shalt live till tomorrow. Even now
say-'Father, have sinned against heaven and
before Thee, and am no more worthy to be called
Thy son." and thy Father and Creator will receive
thee again as His child for the Redeemer's sake,
and thy soul shall be filed with unspeakable JOY
and bliss