National Republican., 1875-11-22
Unitarian chureh.

Youth.
Unitarian Church.
The services at this church were Of o peculiarly
interesting character. As noticed in our columns
at the time, q union OF the two congregations was
effected IN accordance with the resolutions
adopted at the recent annual meeting, and the
service yesterday was the first In which both con-
gregations participated.
Notwithstanding the inclement weather, there
was o large attendance and great interest mani
tested by the entire congregation. A new feature
"a ritual somewhat similar to that in use In Epis-
copal churches, and now adopted in this church
added much to the impressiveness Of the service.
THE REV. RUFUS P. sTEBBrSs, D. D.,
Of Ithaca, N. ,oficIated His sermon was founded
upon Matthew xvii:20, "And Jesus said unto
them Verify, say unto you II ye have faith Ia, as
mountain, Remove hence to yonder place and It
shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible to
He said the truth contained in the text is ex.
pressed in one Of the strongest and most striking
OF Oriental proverbs. To perform great and
tains, and this Oriental form still remains both in
writing and speech. The Saviour need not be
Misunderstood. He says that obstacles to pro,
by the earnest souls. The soul, all afisme with
assurance, with faith, climbs all heights and
Marx how strongly the Saviour puts the effi.
cheney Of true faith. If 1t is as grain OF mus
tard seed ye shall remove mountains. Faith is
an all-conquering power. In its least degrees as
grains Of mustard. seed, it removes mountains
stirs the world. The humblest worker may work
nobieness Of characteis Have faith and YOU viii
be victors. On great occasions, when great crises
come in ones life or in human affairs, how the
SOUL imbued with faith, lifts itself and shows the
stuff martyrs are made of how sublime enthu-
slasm makes q mans word the trumpet note to
startle and teach and regenerate nations. No
Ern hFa str T1nfI ha haa fal ha
power Of faith.
HOW SUBLIME THE STRENGTH
Of great souli How 1t keeps the body under !!
How 1t holds Its activities in subjection II is sus-
tanned by the Inspiration OF the Almighty. As
the lower Is ruled by the higher matter by life,
the body by the soul, so the spirit in man, the IN
inSisoratsd by fiitf. It T is not SuoWisdgs that
moves the world, but knowledge In use. Wealth
is nothing unless It can be used. A man may
world, any more than the strong vault that holds
the miser's treasures. As the arm Is ready and
waiting the income of strength from the imperial
will, SO these treasures OF knowledge are waiting
its command. The intellect must be aroused and
spurred into activity: And this is the work Of
the Spirit took possession OF Elijah. He cannot
Iest, and yet knows not which way to 20 or what
is best to do; still he must go somewhere-hem must
do something. David, the lad went forth to meet
the champion Of the Philistines in faith. Faith
sees not the means, but the end, and summons all
knowledge to her aid. Her resources are mex
will not despair, and as 1t never can be emptied,
she hopeth on and hopeth ever, and II the work
Is not seeomplisned, she oegueaths herself and
with richer materials and more ardent assurance.
PAUL, INSPIRED BY AN INvIHcIBLE FAITH,
went up to Jerusalem, where his enemies were in
wait for him, preierring to be bound and Die
Gospel. Luther would go up to Worms and meet
his mortal enemies, even were the devils as thick
as the tiles on the roofs OF the houses.
Ynosame sDirft fills and impells all rafOrmers
in church and state. in forum and laboratory.
Howard and Watt, Fitch and Wesley, Wilber-
force and Sumner, Charming and Mann, were all
inspired and sustained by this invincible omnipo-
tence Of right. The great leaders Of the world
have been men Of faith, not Of doubt and denial.
regeneration have been like tho upheaval Of con-
tinents the force ofinternal fires and not Of out
ward deIriess. Il was faith, not science, which
spread Buddhism over Eastern Asia;
IT WAS FAITH, NOT KNOWLEDGE,
which carried the religion Of the prophet of Naz.
areth from the village Of Galilee to the throne
and dominion Of the Roman Empire. In these
movements the propulsion came not from qusntita-
tive and qualitative analysis, nor from the doc
trine of unity and diversity the race of evolu-
tion and survival Of the ttest, but from the idea
Of God, Of right,
OF MANS CAPACITY AND DESTINY.
Witness Paul's lofty inspiration as he exclaims,
III can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth me-" "Thanks be to God who
giveth US the victory through our Lord Je.us
whole matter, religion exalts faith as the great
power in her realm It is In accordance with the
whole a5alosy Of life: All the kingdom Of truth
and alkalies any more than the kosmos is ex-
bausted when We have cIrcumnayigated our
The religious nature Of man opers heaven Of
truth higher than soils and seasons, Is the stars
are higher than the mountain tops. The Chris
fragrance from unseen fields. His strength is re-
newed by breeZes from unseen hills. He mounts,
be flies on invisible wings. He feels In every
nber Of his being the glow Of assurance, the thrill
"Sing we then upon the mountains,
Where the glory shines complete,
To the eonquering Christ Hossnnas-
Fling your gariands at his feet"
Second Baptist Church, Navy Yard.
Notwithstanding the rain, large audience
greeted the pastor, Rev. Mr.. Ingersoll, at this
church yesterday morning. The choir opened
with soprano solo and chorus, "what shall the
harvest be7'' which was finely rendered.
The text was chosen from Epheslans, FL. tin
whom We have redemption, through his blood,
the forgiveness Of SINS according to the riches Of
his grace"
Who can spesk Of the fullness and significance
of this passage? 1t was uttered first by one who
had been deepest-dyed in the guilt which. the
blood Of redemption alone could cleanse. It had
been uttered in all ages since, and under such
variety OF circumstances as God only could de-
Scribe He alone can tell the fullness Of the ex-
preston. We select one thought for our remarks,
namely: :.
REDEEMED ny HIS BLOOD.
NY brethren, sacred ordinance awaits our
service, an ordinance of God. This royal King Of
Kings has excluded the world, and those who are
selected are those.who have the blood mark of
redemption on their foreheads, and they are ad-
asked why we are invited, We can only say, "Bs
redemption through his blood; not BY our own
good works, not By oar own deserts, Or our pro
blood Of redemption" Unless We are born Of
Christ we have no part or lot In the matter.
same Condemnation. The blood-marks on the
brow Of Jesus, the torn hands and pierced side,
place upon all the world, place upon you and me,
Son Of God. We cannot escape It. oh, what
efforts have men made to wash of the blood
marks Of murdered neighoorl But you and
must acknowledge the greatest Of crimes; that OF
numbering our Saviour. His bleeding wounds
are silent, Jet potent witnesses against us. As
he Pie destrOying az angel that the occussnt had
obeyed the commands Of his Lord, 50 the blood
mark on the brow Of the true Christian tells that
What is essential TO make us 1T to enter and sit
at this feast Of the Lords supper, which we are
about to celebrate? believe and be baptized"
cannot be altered. The blood mark distinguished
Ms, and Christ says, "Come In by the door OF bap-
t,m;m Aano9gn m we nave Deen sugmaa,ed s ana
pie Injunction stands. and will continue 70 stand
The blood is redemption ITSELF 1t is not the life
OF Christ; not the beauties Of his character, but
his blood that redeems. The moralist and the
riiualIst tell you OF thsir peculiar way by which
they expect to reach Heaven. We say to them,
none can be saved except by the blood Of redemp.
tion alone.
They tell you they initiate Christ. It Is Impos-
sible for the unconverted man TO initiate Christ.
1t is only sfler he is redeemed by his blood that
he can initiate him. Around this point-this doc
trine Of snostitution-more battles have been
fought than on any other feld since the world bs-
gan, and the battle Is not yet over. There never
has been time when the position Of this doctrine
was assailed with more determination and hatred
than today. And under the shield and blood
stained banner Of Christ Istand. and will stand,
God helping me, while live. We must nail our
blood-red banner to the mast, and as We 90 out 70
ses, encountering shoals, rocks and rough winds,
there let 1t remain, inscribed "Redeemed BY
blood"
a Just as ! am, without one p1ea
But that thy blood was shed for me,
And that thou bidist me come to thee,
Oh, Lamb Of God, come.
Just as Am, and waiting NOT
To rid my soul OF one dark blot,
To thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,