The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-02
Catholic View of the Efficacy
of Prayer.
A DESIRE FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
Presbyterian Idea of What Constitutes
True Religion.
Justification of Sinners Through
the Saviour.
MADISON AVENUE REFORMED
CHURCH


DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING NEAR THE KING
DOM OF GOD AND IN IT-sERMoN BY THE
REV. a. D. GANsE.
The congregations of the Rev. John Han ana
Rev. II. ID. Ganse met at the Madison avenue Re-
formed church, corner OF Filty-seventh street and
Madison avenue, yesterday morning. Rev. DR..
Ganse, after cordially welcoming all the members
of Dr.. Hall's church to worship with his own
congregation while the summer season lasts an
nounced as his text st. Mark. xiii, 34-"And when
Jesus that he answered disereetly ne said unto
him. Thou art not far from the kingdom OF God"
The Saddueees ana others had tried to confute
the Saviour by fimsy arguments, but the Saviour's
reply was always too much for them. There was
Pharisee lawyer standing during one OF
these conversations, the whole Of which he heard
and tho result The Pharlsee asked Jesus the
question TO which we are coming. There was q
subtle temptation In the question, and he wished
to try the Saviours ability 10 answerit. His atten-
ton was not only taken up with the petty ques-
tons In which so many people or that day found
interest, but he asked of Jesus the great, the one
leading commandment to which all the rest are
subject. And when the Saviour had answered.
that to love God the Lord With his whole heart
his whole soul is the greatest commandment and
the second Is like unto ii, 70 love his nelghbor
himself; the lawyer sald that TO love the Lord
with his whole soul and his neignbor better than
himsefs
MORE THAN ALL BURNT OFFERINGS
and sacrinces. This was truly wise answer. In
this reply, as Wen as in almost all that Jesus
made, we can not nelp but notice the delight our
Redeemer took in speaking encouraging words.
When the centurion approached HIM He spoke
words OF kindness and cheer. We seldom
hears is Withheld wnere for hs sny enstn
Of time; But when the Pnenician woman came
words at first, because by holding them back lie
measured her faith. Il only for moment
tnat the kindness OF His neart was withheld from
the humble suDpliant Let no man think thai ne
takes step uDhelped. He needs Chrlst's Dene-
detion, and II he serves Him he will be near TO
heaven. Notice the form OF the answer which
our Saviour gave :-"Taou art not far from the
kingdom of God.n Tnat kingdom belongs TO no
every citizen Is son OF the King and greater than
all the Old festam mt prophets There each VIII
blend his voice with the voices OF angels and arch
angels for all time. 1t is q great thing to be
MEMBER OF THAT KINGDOM,
but IL is also great to be near that kingdom. Let
US consider wnat Is implied by nearness 10 the
kingiem or God. WHAT mad this lawyer done mat
he should be near that blessed abode? He had
only expressed mis- conviction and yet our re-
deemer said to man giving such an utterance
as he gave, Thou art not far from the Kingdom
OF God" This lawyer had but repeated IN effect
the language Of Christ who had IN turn
Let US notice the detalis that enter
this confession OF faith. FIRST he acknov-
edges The being of GOD second, the unity OF
God, and third, ne recognizes and Acknowledges
tine sole and absolute claim OF this God upon all
the nations OF the world and upon all the
creatures He has made. rRe service, as
ne 1ntlmates IL, must not be other than perfect
service. IL must not be merely external, but en-
tirely resting upon love. He Then ADDS that this
love must for Gods sake be felt toward other
men, not with the whole soul, but as men love
themselves. To make 1t all clear he adds that
duty Ike this so established Is more than al
burnt offerings and sacrifices. But far above all
ritual ana ceremonial he made a clear confession
OF faith IN God. Such belief is The foundation or
all religion.
A young couegian was seated In room full OF
college friends and as s apt to be the case, their
language became light and hollow when they be-
gan to speak upon religious subjects. They had
been talking about the new and strange IDEAS
which have lately been advanced on some religious
points, and were speaking like o set OF young
infdels, when my young frIend rose up ana spoke
with an energy and truth which startled them.
He said, There is a GOO, only one God; He made
you and He made me, ana His laws are greater
than man's.n Right Views OF duty are apt TO lead
on TO right feelings or Christ aud savation. In
our CRrNtian sanctuarles, In our sunday
schools ana in our Christian homes, where par
ents, with prayer aud wise counsel, endeavor TO
lead children to the Good Shepherd, how many
are there who are not lar from the Kingdom OF
GOD Jesus has told us that, except man be
born again ne shall not see the Kingdom OF God.D
lie may near IL, but he In sight of IL.