National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-01-18
TIFFANY At THE METROPOLITAN METHODIST
RANKIN TO coNeREGATIoNALIsTs.
Presbyterians and DR., Chester.
Dedication Of st CeeiIia's Catholic
Institute - Meeting OF the
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Ritualists.
Memorial Church.

floor rises from the pulpit, and the peWs are cir
eGlar of solid walnut, all supplied with bOoks
and cushions. 1t is church OF free stttinEs, and
has no pew rents-its revenue being derived from
the basket collections. Its financial success is
hopeful, though the plan Of voluntary support is
an experiment.
The pastor, ]. q. Butler, preached yesterday
morning upon "quietness before God, y from the
tenth verse OF the 46th Psalm, commonly known
as "Luther's psalm " and which he Yersihed in
that grand old German choral-eiH Jfesfe Burg est
THSeT Cot. The words OF the text were: "Be still
and know that am God"
Its mel an unusual thing said the preacher, to
question the kindness Of parental government.
The unEise aud weak parent, the good old Ell
being q type, yields his judgment and authority
10 the view 1.-THE child. The wise and kind pa
rent rules, not arbitrarily, but firmly and kindly,
and saws, be still, and know that am your pa
rent That is the spirit Of this text. Amid the
unrest and confusion and mystery by which we
are surrounded, men sometimes question whether
God is-whether he is God, our paternal sover-
eign. He saws, "be still, and know that am
sthat / am God
In discussing the subject, the preacher noticed
some of the things that appear to conflict with
Gods paternal sovereignty. Among them are:
The introduction OF evil into the world; all
curse OF sin. How can il be reeoncled with the
Divine goodness? The marked inequalities Of
Hfe-health. sickness, wealth. poverty, the pros
perity Of the wicked and the suffering OF the
righteous. The expressions Of earth, the Oppres-
sODs Of governments, the bondage Of men and
women, the grOauings Of the widow, the suffer
fngs Of Orphauage, the wrongs OF the weak, the
sighings or the poor. Is God a psternaI SOW
ereign? Lies mysterious bereaVements-of
property and health ard frfends-the impenetra-
BILE cloud that sbrOuds them. The history Of
Gods Church; its struggles with poverty, amid
persecution fro without and the Itreachery of
friends from within. In the great conflict be-
tween good and evil how often does wckedness
triumph and truth lie PROSTATE? In the presence
Ofthese things we stand confounded. The philoso-
ply aad matefllism of the age do not solve the
mystery. They are cold and cherries as the
grave. They take away our Lord, but leave
US in darkness aud sorrow. The pantheism and
pOlYthetsm OF Pagan lands declare God, many
gods, bee use they feel after the only true and
living God. BY rea-Ou o. these mysteries the
faith Of Gods people is sOrey tried. Who that
has ia tn has not been tried?
The: imagery Of this Psalm is of the boldest
character. God is our refuge, &c. Therefore,
we will not fear though the oarth be removed and
carried into the midst OF the sea, &C. The occa-
sion Of this Psalm probably the signal Dc
feat OF the Assyrians under Sennacherb, Isaiah
1xxvi-xxXiX chapters. or the thrilling history
under JehOshephat Cor xxx chapter Gods
answer to mans arguments yindicate the pater-
logic. By searching we cannot find out God. He
brings the counsel OF men TO Raught and con-
POUNDS the wisdom OF the wise He bids the
world be still and know that he is-that he is
God. Know it-hoW? From all Gods work.
Heaven and earth are full o. his glory. From
all the blessings that follow obedience. From
the hard ways Of the trausgressor From the
good that comes out OF that which TO appears
evil. How, for example, q noble manhood is de-
Teloped out Of adversely. Perfect through sufh-
cheney is the Divine economy. Even nations are
purified, elevated and ennOblcd through fiery
thrilling prOvidCnces. From the history OF gov
ernmeuts Take but one illustrations God-deGy-
ing Egypt and oppressed Israel With this his
tory We are all familiar. From the rewards Of
faith to every GOd-feariug believer. God his
refuge and strength, very present help in
trouble. They that know his name do put their
No matter what the mystery that shrouds the
Divine EatherhOOd and the Divine Providence.
God has not lett himself without witness N his !
works, in his dealings with men and natiQnS-!n
the PIoEidences which I'LL the life NJ -. a.
Ineir darkness OF sin, NAV rare and 1roeIafm no
God, yet his voice rises Dove all c.amor, bidding
us be still and know that he iE-that he is God
that he will be exalted among the heather and
through all the earth, until every knee shall
bow to him. Faith gives quIetness.
Metropolitan Methodist.
At this church there was large attendance
including the President and many members of
bosh HoIses of Congress. The sermon was
preached By the pastor CDr. Tiffany from the
text, Deuteronomy xxix:29-"Secret things be-
long unto Gcd, but revealed things to US and our
children forever" These words are applicable
to us as we'll as to the Jews. However far we
may push iuvestiG etious, We are conscious
thai there are spread out before vaster fields
Of rescarch than those which have been already
explored. This is emphatic1lly the case in spIr-
itual things. Revelation; properly speaking,
is that which could never be known by any re-
search without the Bible. Man by searching
cannot md out God" We may imagine a crea-
tor, but be Dg with the attributes OF Jehovah
as revealed in the Eible, we could never know.
And especially we cen never comprehend the
moral Government Of God by any processes of
argument. But revelation presents to US q God
OF goodness, mercy and love.
The Immortality of the souI can never be salts
factOrIly proved without the Bible. The con-
lecsurCS and longing aspirations Of the ancient
philosophers were full oil doubt, and we're unsatis
lying on this most vital subject. Here the
preacher drew 4 vivid picture OF Charon convey
ing the DEP. rted over the river StyT, and pre-
scented in contrast the triumphant death OF the
Christian.
The rC dempt'on or the world through our Lord
Jesus Christ is pare revelation. Human reason
could never have imagined sucn ascheme of re-
denption and salvation. You turn from the philos-
Ophers Of ltIquity to Jesus and the fisherman on
the Lake Of GenC8s. ret TO learn these great
tr1ths OF revelation. II is Just such a revelation
as is adapted 10 our human constitution. God re-
Teals himself a. our merciul father; full OF COM
passion for his children. and q heart of tenderest
love- telling US what we individually shall be in
the happy nome OF the future
Faith must have an intelligen basis. Were
the Bible TO be destroyed the Iact that Christ is
the worlds rcdCemer is written upon the hearts
of tens Of thousands OF living witnesses. Per-
sonal experience is the great method Of preaching
the Gospel. He who knows Christ as his Saviour
tells another, and brings him TO Jesus. And thus
men are converted. with the heart man be-
leYeth unto Righteousness" Science never
changes the truth. 1t may and does change our
apprehension of the truth. The revelation
teaches US to do-telIs us our duties, and assures
rs Of strength 10 the performance Of them. Re-
Tealed things bei,,;SS to US and our children.
DR.. Tiffany delivered MS discourse with great
earnestncss aud pathos. His own heart was evil
IDENTIFY deeply affected BY the grand truths o. bis
gelher appropriate. The vast audience seemed
spell-bound TIL the clQse OF tho df-..oTTsA was
reached, and the hssaiisy amen from more than
The pe:OTatOn,
No minister Of this city appears to have a
stronger hold upon the affections Of the people
than DR.. Tiffany. A sermon he delivered on the
afternoon OF the first Sabbath Of the year, in Lin
coin hall, was pronounced by competent judges
one Of the finest specimens Of pulpit orstory ever
heard in Washington. aud the crowded audience
evidenced DODulaTItV. III
spiritual in his teachings, presenting in HIS dis
courses more Of religious experience than in bis
former ministry.
Metropolitan Presbyterian.
IA large number Of the residents of Capitol Hill
went to the Metropolitan Presbyterian church
yesterday through the wind and biting cold to
see the divine and solemn ceremony Of the initis-
ton ofinfant children into the church by baptism,
and TO hear the sermon Of Prof E. B. Bower, of
the Lincoln University Of Pennsylvania.
DR.. John Chester, the pastor Of the church,
commenced by reading the 10th chapter OF Exc
dus and repeating the ten commandments After
singing by the congregation he read the 44th
chapter Of Isaiah.
ne then said that this morning was the time
set by the church for the presentation OF children
for baptism, when an infant was brought forward,
and in performing tie service the Doctor spoke
Of bantam as a virtue they were to receive. Un-
der the old dispensation God gave them circum-
cisinn: under the new he gave them this seal By
faith the fond parent could lay hold upon his
promise and bring the little ones to an early &C
uuaiDtance with GOD. Inc DOcLoT Inen put MS
hand in water and laid it upon the bAby's FORE
head saying John Arthur, baptise you in the
name Of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost" Then
the organ pealed forth its heavy swell in accom-
paniment 10 the soft, sweet notes OF the choir,
and all the influences seemed to elevate and In
epire the Worshipers with more holy feeling.
Dr. Chester then introduced Professor Bower,
who read from the Second Epistle OF Peter,
iiiIs-"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" The
word grace was used in two Senses First, the
nerited forgiveness Of God; then that hearty
manifestation Of the gift Of his spirit; that per-
mspepcy Of mind and heart which Is developed in
man.
favor Of progression in spiritual knowledge, por-
fTsTinR The dangers Of inatteution in this life to
ouT future welfare. Peter had warned the null
fitude against falling in any degree from stead
fastness and e1horted them to grow in righteous
ness Security depended upon advancement in
spiritual lie. To go back or stand still endan-
gercd us tor hereafter.
Tbep he Illustrated that religion, when truly
at heart is necessarily progressive; that 1t
sSu1bt DEVELOPMENT and maturity in man IN his
eyeTydsy empioymeRts. By reason Of tts own in
herent nature spirituality sought advancement
and DEVELOPMENT to maturity. IL presses US to-
1Jfd he marx Of high and refined calling: Twas
roneluEiye evidence that there was no lfe but