The New York herald., 1874-10-19
ST. STEPHENS CHURCH,

Sermon by the Rev. DIR. McGlyun-The
Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
The Duty OF the forgiveness OF In
juries.
The services at st. Stephens yesterday morning
were well attended. At the first mass, which was
celebrated at five O'Clock A. NJ. by the Rev. DR..
McGynn, there was present large congregation,
the majority Of whom received holy communion
The number OF communicates at the other masses
could not nave been less than 1000. The Rev.
Father Carroll celebrated the high mass in pres
ence of q large and attentive congregation. After
the choir had finished the singing OF the "Veni
Creator" the Rev. Or. McGlynn ascended the pulpit
aud delivered telling discourse on the Christian
philosophy OF the forgiveness OF injuries. The
parable OF the.unmerclful servant gave the pastor
of St. Stephens an admirable oppor-
tuuty to contrast the beauty Of the
Christian dispensation with the deformity OF
paganism. Before reading the gospel OF the day
the Doctor impressed on his hearers the obllga-
tlon which rested on them to help to defroy the
aebt on the church. and urged them to attend the
fair, which is to open In the basement hall OF the
church on Thursday, the Goth inst. He then read
the Gospel-Matthew, xviii, 23-35-and spoke in
substance as foliows:-
The parable OF the unmerciful servant is de.
signed to enforce the law Of forgiveness OF in
jurles. This heavenly law, unknown to the Greek
and Roman philosophers, is distinctive charac-
teristic OF the Kingdom OF God on earth-uts
Church In lact the terms denOtng stranger
IN the Greek and Latin languages convey an idea
OF dislike and hate. While We cannot but admire
the great clemency shown to the servant, who
was indebted for an immense sum o! money to his
MASTER the conduct OF tnat servant Ill not only
refusing TO forgive his fellow servant the small
pittance Tor which he was indebted 70 him, but IN
selling on him and casting him into prison, must
excite
OUR STRONGEST INDIGNATION.
And we cannot Out approve oil tue punishment
inflicted on HIM by his enraged master when he
delivered him up TO the Iallers until he should pay
the last larihng. & LeS oa u; Apply tne paraoe
who IS indebted TO God to an enormous amount.
because OF original and actual sin. Tins man,
moved by some SPECIAL call from God ieels thar he
must render an account OF all his debts; he falls
down before God or the minister. con!esses all his
guilt seeks and obtains forgiveness. Going Iortn
IRON the church, wnere ne knet at the tribunal
OF penance, he meets q brother who offers hm
some insult; he resents 1T hastily, cherlshes III
VIII against that brother and iorgets God's infinite
mercy To himself although he prays each day tHat
God may lie mercilul to him. as he has been to the
nelgnbor 'Iorgive u.s. as we forgive those VINO
trespass against u.s." lie dies III that state OF en-
NIFTY and hatred, and Is delivered up TO the de-
mons who shah torment him ever and ever.
The just sentence PRONOUNCED against him Isl
"Inou wicked servant. forgave tnee all the debt
because tnou beSougntest me; snouldSJ not thou,
then, have had compassion also on thy fellow SER
want, even as haa compassion on thee ?'
THIS DIVINE LAW
OF the forgiveness OF injuries Is contained in the
prayer composed by CHRIST himself IN whicn we,
as members OF one brotherhood, call on a common
lather. When Jesus taught us TO say 'Uur Father,n
lie implicitly inculcateu the duty oil lcrgiylng in
jnrcs. But our saviour not only taught the duty,
He also set the example, when lie prayed on the
cross Tor HIS executloners, and snaii We, whie
looking on the crucinx cnerisn enmityY God not
only commands US TO forgive our enemies but
threatens that ii We do not lie snail not forgive
us:"if you VIII not Iorgiye men neither Will your
Father forgive you your onences.n The tltular
saint OF the Church 10 which we are assembled
gave noble example oil the observance OF Gods
command to love our Drethern from our
hearts. When his enemies were cruelty stonlng
him TO death he prayed his heavenly
Father to forgive them; anu in consequence OF
that prayer God changed the prosecutor OF Christ,
SAUL into "the vessel Oi electon," the apostle ol
the Gcnties Ii men would out observe this COM
Eandment the reign OF peace and good viii would
DC established here on eartn ana we would have
ioretaste OF the inenanle peace Which reigns In
hSven.
The music Miners mass in "a" was given with
great success by the cnoir, under the direction Of
the 0rganlst Mr.. Danlortn. the choir IS COMP posed
OF Nine. Bredeii. soprano; Mile. Munier, alto;
Herr Bernard tenor; Sgnor Coettl, basso, and u
chorus OF twelve voices. In the afternoon Cerutl's
"vespers,n Dances 'Salye Reama' and Corini's
"Iantum Ergon were sung IN presence OF an I'M
meuSc congregation.