New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-06-15
THE FIRST GENTLE CONVERT.


wero standing reproof to all who urge the oitheard
plea "lack Of opportunity" 10 explanation OF their In
attention to religious matters. Toe text was: "There
was certain man In C8sarea, called Cornehus' Oen
turion OF the band called the italian band: devout
man and one that feared God with all his house. which
gave much aims to the people, and prayed to Goa
alway."-Acts x.1,2.
I,s not without its significance and propriety said
he that the history OF Cornelius Is appointed as the les
son from the New Testament for the second Sunday
after Trinity For the first half Of the Christian year.
viz from Advent to Trinity. Is specially devoted to the
presentation Of Christian doctrines while che second
half from Trinity G as s BRET
history Of the first conquest OF Christianity IN me
Gsos d aay Se Ssr' Study
The wIch 1t brings and comprehend the stand,
abe nspraton and the standard OF the duty which de-
wolves upon ourselves At first sight, this record seems
Roman soldier to Christianity. but as we study 1t more
carefully, lights and shades IN the deiinea u OF ms
the story present with implicit faith expressing
itself prompt and earnest Tasn oacs
its through all studies OF duty IN the year
rea and the religious opportunities offered, very
counting house Is Christian temple aud your business
place closet PTaysr coud pTeacS
30 devout religious life, what shall be said OF the man
tbe yery atmosphere Of Christianity in every market
Mace and shop, shall yet tmdy cnge before the FORCES
of evil and sent 10 be a slave OF SIM
Passing now to more careful study OF the
character OF Cornelius. We are met at onca by Two
Of it which are equally instructive ms
Of his re giOus character aud the second with It's 90
fects The positive deneation Of his character Is brief
but comprehensive. 1t Is asserted that he was "a
devout man that feared Goa with all bis house
which gave much aims to the people aud prayed to God
always" Transatng these terms Into the language OF
ordinary life to-day, they deneate character OF con-
Of s M wa aud the Of Isy and Ths
this although heather, he had learned the beginning
Of n Apd mer iGaT pe St hns
influence through his family and bore IT'S precious fruits
testimony of its genuineness and the token of its power
for real gauge OF religious life Is not so much
easy to bo saint amid the the
but to be an earnest anna the drs and cares
Cornea the mother of the Graceful could point to her
Ser o 0s same eo send th e on
his gody fehr through his entire household and mold
character based upon such principles and
influence In tho narrow circle OF his home should also
bear the fruits OF practical charity In deeds of beray
and almsgving That his charities were not stnted,
sufficiently Indicated by the expression that he gave
much to the poor In addition to this said that
he prayed to God always"
Here hen have the positive religious character Of
Cornelius portrayed: conscientious, God-fearlng
gion his family. liberal IN his charitable gifts and
constant and regular in his prayers And this brief
but comprehensive catalogue before OF
who quite Christian In our faith and duty must
Is here xed At ali events il we can Compare ourselves
fayOraby with this land that there are many who
of nG Gse q"
recognizing all that Is beautiful and lovely In the charac
ter Of many s0called moral man, are we not COM
PEELED Also to recognize the fact that with all these
there may exist serious defects which can only be
mands Of Christ and personal participation in the
ordinances Of His Church In every Christian community
the Kingdom OF God. and whose characters almost
late the beauty and completeness OF the biography
ing men. moral and upright in conduct, highOned aud
honorable In all business TRANSACTIONS liberal In their
upon the the public services Of the Church. who
yet stop at this point and go no further who never ex
press the faith that Is In them by implicit obedience to
the positive commands OF Carsf. and who never IN the
ordinances OF the church assume tha professed and
peratIyey demands. For our moraes we can easily
ind reason; for the outward proprlees OF the Chris
are certain other duties which rest upon no reason
Of nd oyr .ne Is mort Dl se
is has included these. There must DO public and per-
sona confession Of Christ before mem there must be
and grace which through them conveyed to the
Church as will separate from the world and make
His peculiar people. Until these requirements are met,
rise 70 condemn u.s. aud the moralites Of hves how
ever beautiful, be little less than delusive.
And vet the Gospel Of Christ has no harsh words Of
rebuke for our shortcomings and defects To this
earnest sodler-more than half Christians vision Is
visible Christ looks upon these today
nzos all that is good and beautiful il but marking
s;S u
wet one thing thou ackest" And therefore, belOvedas
the Church has arranged It, until the Advent Season
comes again. let see " that these defects are RENE
God has given u.s. let us make our Christian life
pete and perfect one and using well the opportunities
peach~our very obedience shall be the channel Of
grace to souls; public and personal identihca
the pathway Of our daily duty win be disc.
plInc aud prophecy of the divine life to come.
PREJUDICE AND JUDGMENT CONTRASTED. |
BroIky~, Il. D.
The Rev. T. T. Kendrick, pastor elect Of the
First Methodist Protestant Church Of Brooklyn, E. d.
having been prevented by injunction and the action
Of some OF the from preaching In the Grand
Street Methodist Church, delivered discourse yester
day morning In Smiths large hall, at South Eighth and
Fourth.sts Brooklyn, E. d. to q large congregation
the majority OF whom from the Grand-st. church.
leaving that edfce almost empty, although services
were carried In the building Mr.. Kendrok selected
IN bis text And Nathaniel said unto him. Can there be
any good thing como out Of Nazareth Philip saith
unto him. Come and see."-st John, chap. L. 40.
Nathaniel was said DIR. Kendrick. devotional Jew.
while Philip was disciple Of Christ. In the question
before them Nathaniel illustrated the power Of preju
dice and Philips response presented the real remedy
nv inviting thorough investigation OF the subject
under dispute. The object Of the discourse was there
fore to show the evil Of preudgns and to set forth
antid0te. Men were very often pre1udoed against |
religion, because II did not entirely harmonic with
their desires What preiudicet 1t 10 the Of pre-
Animation II there were time Il might be well to con-
slider %o!s % ns a
worse effect than prejudice. BY its means any opinion
might become firmly impressed on the mind without
even Giving sufficient examination TO establish either
the facts the argumepts. IL had the sane effect
on the mind as coored glass had on the eye. arrayng
objects In improper hues oft times even monsous In Its
character The injurious character Of prejudice per-
vaded all spheres OF human fe social cyn. religious
and personal. Prejudice judged whole commun mites
from tho Character Of . particular wember. aud In |