New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-10-04
TRUE GROWTH OF THE CHURCH.


/ AK him TO anu partake Of the Lords supper
with US
TRUE GROWTH OF THE CHURCH.
~, Per John nan at the rim Arenue Presbyterian church
The Rev. John Hall, ID. d. preached yesterday
in his church at Fifthavc and Fifyhith-st The text
was Acts xi, AZ" And the Lord added to the Chureh
daily such os should be saved
DR. Han began by speaking of the two kinds OF growth
In the Church Jesus Christ. One OF these may easily
escape notice he said and the Church may even seem 10
stand still while making progress. The other an increase
Of membership. is growth that may be realized THIS
increase OF members is pointed to in the text and sug
gests the theme for to1ays discourse Ever since the
Lord has had people on the earth VINO nave loNeu
Him there has been Church. stephen refers 10
II when lie speaks OF the Holy Ghost of Moses; ana
many paslares in the Bible show that there was
n Church prior TO the coming OF the Lord Jesus 0hrS'
This Church was in the wilderness and out OF 1t came
those who prosecuted and denied the Lord lie laid the
foundation of the new church by His disciples whom lie
selected from the crowd. The number in the beginning
was only eleven. Their preaching sweled the number
OF believers gradually TO 800 and 5000 more were added
their number the day OF PcntecoSt III Is goon i9r
Us to notice the singular simplicity win winch thlt
Church launched into the world Ihey TeT s,lpy
instructed and sent forth to preach the Gospel 1hS re-
ceiyed orders from those in power except to cease to
preach and this they dsreSdIded Ihey Nerl Sen
10 Irnraim to both Jews and Gentiles that Jesus Cst
had risen. The world is not even assured that 'e rst
preachers received the ordinance OF baptism lae Chucn
Sye4 Giyurlv instituted ana may be looked M Ia as long
es i teaches the faith So the Lord taught and by tS
simplicity !he followers OF the faith were drawn Ioit1
the Jewish Church The true Chuch IL tAo Zoe Oh
none, but the friend OF all. It, agency Is
to honor Gods ho feasnSf' , ai Tae
corrupt Church gives up the latter part ct the LordS
day TO secular enloyment II deG re iS IL end
of the civil government, but hns no connection VITA s
the people how vote and threaten the pains OF the
other world unless they yield obedience TO the rope
This is not the true Church but fungus ouGTowh. The
NJ
A1ippa TIE Church of the Lord should be the helper
OF any good institution and only the enemy Oh such as
Poole nave no option rs to whether they shall serve
ami obey God not. Ii invited To become member Of
n club person is free TO join or not ~ ne pe!sts lbs
il not SO in regard TO the Church. IL is the Divine com
Inand and there is option except TO obey We arc nor
cnDmeG 10 become member OF ms orihat palllciuh
cilrrl but Of some Que within the great Church OF
Christ. But person may ask, Does NOT
that contradict Precept that church memp t
shin is vOiuutayl 1t Is voluntary as Iaf
as the state aud civil government is concerned II can't
De- voluntary 90 thc King of hnS Tor wien ne siks
have no option except 10 near ana onry III d ,nU,
sand WAYS He has commanded us. Al the coihilUuili
table the Savior says, This do ia remembrance o.
Let us consider the growth OF the Church. There il
true growth and there may also he splfCus one. 10"
has the Church made lrogressf NhSA l5 DS! VI r'
the Apostles stood up and talked OF Jesus Oh
Nazareth ui at irn1ih cry aTI'G " mas, Sil a b"U
that OF Peter t. tell them what 10 DO to be sated ne
bapZrd his followers aud thOusl nis received tue iu
and were added 10 the ChlEch. Inc subJ'et p,'. w
one theme talked Of IN Jerusalem Knots OF persons
People talked with thcir h"lsE3oi' "II ' h
ore another stories of Jesus Christ The suct OF the
risen Lord was pressed ny moe VINO AST % nro a1d
those who had not known 81 u before o.li4s 'ioi
file table OF the Lord together, they partaSe IN re-
mem f hui and the lord bieses tho efforts Tns
il inc true growth. II is easy 10 find the spurious church
growth. Fashion or custom may cause a large attend
aucc and membership. Attractions may be he'd 0nt 10
young people that may cause them to become hcIDslS
OF church ana this would cause an increase, buy 1t
you'd pGT qo DC to T o 1sms Cbrisi Many may he
ffip
OF guarantee OF character, and ihcy hoie 10
repair shattered reputation or 10 IehaGita T.,
a church because il is prosperous Oihi" become mem
BIZ i5 6ec ~ In a , ,ci y the re.r services or
the rare talent in le pulpit. some cnnt'Aes are M
0f6"rs have Enack Of interesting pc ons ~ giving
them some work 10 do The trur way Ia increase chrch
membership Mas found D. saul OF fd.sos lie %as over
soui. Lord, what wilt Thou have me TO DO"
say1d lie showed ucm their sas and hey confessed
Themselves sinners. They received the ""id AMI were
Anostles and broke bread, and 50 were added
daily 10 tho Church such rs Should be saved We want
pastor 10 concerned Tor yOU want You to strive that
we may nave additions from Tie right quarter.
II is very unreasonable some my sy' 10 eA-
peel suci things IN our tthe' Ihrh tG'Ie "tis
appeals from the Living God iel us l2ot AZ NC Iolcc OF
such reasoning for moment II may DE raid at III INC
time OF thc Ap0stlcs there was certain novelty and
freshness which We have not now. Then there were
great miracles. and signs 10 move the pnDlc iul
an! wiling admit All this but there II an offset III the
Which The Church IS held al the present DAY. But, SAYS
somebody the earlier days OF the CAuith there were
few none of the conventional thil'tinS 70 poht TO-
and ,tv If be Christian ia 10 be Ike that person,
what Is tie use OF becoming u Chulci mem
Boz We may admit the force OF this,
and c0noede nothing TO the corrupt Chnrch.
TIcIe was no costly machinery in tie
lltl!r-al dIys OF the Church no hislprictd prWs. IN
The dow. OF the Ap stiles when Irlfcsscd Chris
tlnity Ice laid ali his worldly goods al inc foot OF the
altar. IHcsc men and women saGrA,ed hrlf an Tor
J,,u, and w = U.rna'cd 70 stlEd all tr3 and
tom. In this particular congresaio ION yon nave pcen ia
fsttf,
~ OF yuIr money The Lord added 10 The Church
daily suc. ~ Should be saved. wherefore were
tlpy adieIl Tie were added 10 realize in greater
ITei,,rra dly by DAY. the truth of their saliva
lion When The question was raised a. 10 what
Righteousness thcy had, il answered that they had
some have been trying To make that Clear bu ~ mas
been done 50 Loosely that they are teaching personal per
ferOu We trust however t.ai iht} are tiljh$ on! "
the Interpretation OF the Language OF ne Il' Itupe
are i Of sins and igui"s which are Away trjnS to
gam mastery them Each day We nced the puiiiita-
ton OF Ciuist's GtDulug blood.
our appreciation, while standing upon the mountain
ana gazing into TIE sky a tie mYadS OF STATS, or WHO
looking upon the peaceful !aAe tEdt yes gust hg anu
sIuub!ing ia the valley Is heightened hy the cultivation
OF our tastes md faculties, and our capacity FOR ENJOY
ment SO let grow In grace that We may have - hEh
caa,ity for enjoyment in God. We to have week
prayer by ana by, some Que may say; ge cl scIis
and teachers to speak 10 as, ana theh siii eaten
the spirit OF the times and DO drawn In.
You make great mistake. Inc Eiho j. al
hand III Won POSTPONE the acceptance OF Gods voice, II
will be q fatal mistake. The door of Heaven never
be open wider Than II now H. nor the blood oL C,t
sur into All your ncarts Now Is your accepted time,
Your day Of salvation. Now you can acquire the HSl to
b. believer OH listen ANA believe. Jesus i auie TO
save to the uttcmost DO You possess title TO
glory that shall DC revealed
THE COMING OF MOODY AND SANKEY.
The EsJ Thomas ArDHage D. d., at The fQ" h'eHue HG9iH
CHurcd,
IA 4