New-York tribune., 1874-05-04
A PASTORS SALUTATION.

m Re- SIb,E> at Ia Firsi RorBcd Episcopal Church
The congregation of the First Reformed
Episcopal Church met yesterday for the first time III
their regular church cdi6ce Madson-aye and Forty
seyenth-st The Rev W. T. Sabine, who has accepted
the rectorshp conducted the services assisted by the
Rev. b. b. LeaeOck, who is to I'LL regularly the position
assistant The congregation was as large as tho size
OF the building would admit, which was gratifying TO
the promoters of the Reformed Church. Tie sermon
was intended salutation from the rector to his con
cregaton and besides his aectonate greetings 1t con
tanned many suggestions for the future guidance OF the
church. The text was from the Second Episte OF ST.
John 81 verse Grace bo with you, mercy ANA peace
from God the Father and from tine Lord Jesus Obris
the son OF the Father, In truth and love-"
Such was the sauaton lie said, OF the Apostle John
to that interesting family to whom the letter commonly
known as his Second EDiste originally addressed
1t is our salutaon 20 you today Believing the same
truth which John believed for the defense OF the same
gospel which JOhu proclaimed ana stihuIhR aluWong
you beloved, to i1augurate ministry whch snaIl 10
longer or shorter the Providence OF God appoints,
ministry which, Ike all other MINISTRIES sh nde iS
sunshine and its shadow its experience O 10Y anu soI
row, success ana dsippohtnent, toii an1 ntoh 10 ~
happiness, ministry the one great end OF wDlCh. SO
salvation and edhcatiOn of the souls for whom lie de
standing among you to indugurate such mn @mnistly' '
mercy and peace from God the Father anu lroln the
Lord Jesus Christ the Son OF the Father III truh anu
lave" This is the aspiration OF the day. Jle
hone OF the hour the expectation OF tho future, and
when the mn.Ey now SP;nns S9y mp.t Sa co3e eio3e
and when you and look back over Inc PAIN tBat W;
have trodden, may 1t be TO rejoice IA tse i95hI oa
that aspiration, the accomplishments or TINS nope Jle
realization Of ths aspi.9I IA y y ~ oc 81 m m of t T
ave verify grace hath been unto mercy and peace
from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Chflsl,
the Son of the Father truthand love-" Reading these
words The blessing which they crave appears like
stream which hath fountain, hOwing, ana lertll-
inc power seem TO see that rising far away,
from hidden sources UP among the everlasting
hills coming down from God the Father ana rom Jcau5
Christ the son OF the Father. trace ~ rs It gdes III
cleaning beauty the years, an inDwng Or grace.
mercy, aud peace. mark tle Ncfllf6 an Jni lfSSI-
ness which eycrmore attend its course Green banks
ana Howery m ,as witness 10 it, fertlzilg power,
manifested in neutrality-suspicious. OF ana dtn dc.
vOtiOn 70 the truth rs III ny SWeeC
controlling and unifyns inhi'nces0i genuine Cnrisuah
love. Let then, beloved m the drs place D u our
eyes to the source IRON whence arc 20 oe eVo
blessings which Christian ministry lnvOkeS upon the
objects Of s love an care Ihey are 70 DC sCg!h IRON
God the Father and ir0 Jesus Cnt' tg o'h OF tho m
Father. Let the people uG3efstaua tnis, eo tl9
OF their mutual relationship. HacS, 'eiVy, gu ~ P'oo
they the choice possession OF the Chs h
Tney where the Spirit OF God aples IN His IN
dwelling presence and power. the heart whicn has
them IS happy heart; tho nome Wlcn hds tneh IN Is q
LIVING influence among ITS membership must Dc "ttrc
tive, useful, and spiritually pF0sperei N an emhcn! de
gree And We this clear, fresh, sparklnS living
Of beuedlCtiOn back, NOT 10 corrupted hdlh
nature who can bring cleau thing Ont OF an unclean
not broken csterns Of worldly phllOsophY-nOt
To "a mere human Intelligence, Dut 10 the on Steat
source OF hight and life and love and truth, Goa the
Father and Jesus Christ the son Of the FatGer IL no
religion; It Is no at5 and startling intelligence We
bring. IL Is the old, old story TO wnlGh SIN and sorrow
smtLon world has listened through the ages ana sha
now now; and hereafter 10 tell - the story OF
the originating love of the Father, VINO gave
His only bcgOttcn son, that whOsOeVer DeheEeth on
who sent not ms Son into the world condemn the
world but that the world through lln ngh, Dc saVeG
the story OF the cOusuumatng love ot the son, VINO
came into the sinners, who laid down HIS
life of Himself aud who bore our SINS IN hs own p1ay
on the tree; tle story OF the convincing ana ancyng
influences q; that Divine spirit or whom the LORD Jesus
SAID, lie shall not speak OF Hmsef-He shall testify Of
Me-" Yes, my beloved people, jesus Jesus only is TO
be the burden OF this ministry among you; Jesus sent
tho Father Jesus, revealed Dy the spirit IN the por-
sona consciousness Jesus, indwellng IN the soul mold
ing the character and governing tue me- a dying
perfected savior your conn ehcc present savior your
support and Joy IL OF Jesus Christ wish 70 speak 10
Jesus Christ wish to win you. And this ministry will
have accomplished IT'S purpose Jlst III the degree In
and leading you 10 fix your gaze more inenty
on the Cruclfed Grace mercy aud peace, sprngng IN
through its channel through the love and WORK OF tho
Eternal son. And as desire tnese prcGminent aGOrn
mcnts OF the individual Christian character and the
combined family and congregational life, let US remem
ber whence and in what they are 70 be attained
plainly lifted up and His spirit reflected this pulpit,
just In the degree which Jesus Christ received simply
aectOuately bcicyngly aud His spirit reelected from
these pews Just IN that degree VIII the prayer or this
day ind It's lulhment, viii 1t become manifest that
grace, mercy and peace abide within these walls.
THIS brings Us from the fountain TO the contemplation
OF the stream. Grace signifies unmerited favor The
word has different shades OF meaning In the New Testa
ment Here1 may be taken To Include a those blessings
that applicable TO Christians IN common denOtug
ardent wish that all the merces ,and fayOrs Of God for
time and eternity, blended under the general name
grace NAV be conferred onn those TO whom the epstle
is addressed French in his synonyms OF the New
Testament thus writes Charts (race) has reference
to the sons OF men; Eeos (nercy) to their misery.
Gods free grace aud gift extended TO men rs they
guilty His mercy Is extended to them as hey arc
miserable In the ID vine mind and In the order OF our
salvation conceded therein the mercy precedes tho
grace. God 50 loved tho world with pityiag love
herein the mercy-that He gave His only begOtten
Son-heren the grace But IN the order Of Hhe manfes
aon OF Gods purposes OF salvation, the grace must 20
before the mercy the ehS must 80 before the eIe0s
being at once the guilty and the miserable; yet tho
Righteousness of God which just necessary should
be maintained love, demands that the guile should
De done away before the misery eau be assuased only
the forgiven can or indeed may DC made happy'
When He has pardoned, lie heals. Men are
justified before they are sancted Inus IN each OF the
apostolic sautations Is first grace then mercy when
the Apostle the faithful Nor could the order
of the words be reversed The third word used here
peace, Is the fruit, the natural outeonns 81 tue other
two When grace has put away mans euiit, and mercy
the Apostle Desires % for the family Of the Elect Lady
threeod blessing the grace whcu pariohs te SIN ana
mercy which removes or allevates the believers suffer
ings from whatever source they may arise, ana the
ceptance with God and the sense that the soul is
rounded by this protecting love and care This blessing
particular In It's applications anu individual ~ ts
purpose. Tnis mDistraton OF the spirit ia personal be-
gins with person, terminates upon person The work
did IT. lie did it for me Tue iron reddens tue fire
only each atom participates Ia the merry glow Inc
households sanctifed III It's members the cohsiegauoh
in the individuals composing It, only as each one OF us
gets Jesus OF His grace is animated by His
and become instinct with divine life.
The pastoral work is therefore preeminenty personal
in It's character IL aims To bless all III the blessing OF
each. 1t illustrates the highest style OF culture, for IL
takes cOgzanco OF Individual tastes feelings, temper
and embarrassnents The wish or the Apostle not only
takes the household but receives to IL, loving em-
brace each member OF the household aud the language
OF text 10 is the expression OF pastors heart to-
day shall apply to each well as all While We salute
every one among you individuality Grace be with |
thee mercy and grace from God the Father aud from
the Lord Jesus Christ" May each one OF you III the
funess and freshness OF u personal experience know
We have surveyed this stream IN tho love ana gft OF
God the Father ana the finished WORK OF Goa the son
hL,D Lnl