The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-04
FIFTH AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH

DIR. ARMITAGE PICTURES THE AGED DISCIPLE
In the fine church on F0rty-fith street, near
Fifth avenue, the pastor DIR. Armitage, before the
sermon yesterday morning, called attention to
the fact That the present Is TO be observed as
week OF prayer In all the cnurches, and announced
that prayer meetings would be held IN the lecture
room every evening except Saturday. The dis
course was addressed particularly to the aged.
his text being the sixteenth verse or the twenty.
first chapter or the Acts OIL the Apostles-'There
went with us also certain OF the disciples OF Cesa.
rea, and brought with them one Mnason, OF Cy.
prus, an old disciple. with whom we should lodge v
After referring to the context in order to
proper understanding Of the passage and
to the conscientious regard for detail manifested
by the apostles and the evanRelIsts in their mar.
ratives, and especially by Luxe. the beiovcd
physician, ne sketched the character OF Mnason
drawn from the meagre details given OF him and
nom the probabilities as shown in his association
and residence He then proceeded to consider
FIRST what an OLD disciple is: second what an
old disciple was, and third, what an old disciple
Is to be. And, first, he Is the pupil OF 4 noble
master. and ~ such he acquires the doctrines
which Christ taught. Again. while sitting at the
ieet Of the Master he catches His spirit. ana
through friendship and constant Intercourse with
Him comes to be like Him. God SPOKE oil Abraham as
his friend, the only man thus addressed under the
OLD dIspensation and until the Saviour came upon
earth, when the puplls who sat at his feet found
thereby the nearest way to hts neart. Outwardiy
the ola disciple sits At the feet OF Jesus while in.
wdrdly he catches the spirit within nm. Second,
what has he2 He holds IN his hand That book old
In composition and compilation, but containing
matter always ana ntirely new. II took l,5Oo
years and sixty writer's t. form 1t, and 1t mas
existed more than 1900 years. Slnoe i,s compie.
ton thousands OF books nave been written to ex-
pound 1t and yet It's depth of meaning remains un-
ravelled. Again he has firm convection oil the
truth OF the religion which ne PROCESSES ono
grand thing with the old dlsciUle Is lie mas ceased
TO doubt. satisfied in his heart ne longs to have
all the old and young subjects o. the grace
which has been afforded him; eager to
devote ali his energies and powers TO the good of
the Church and to winning sous iOr heaven. To
him has been granted tie privilege OF graduation
in the higher classes OF Christ's pupils. Las w.
what Is the old disciple TO be? He IS so n 10 De
young again; soon going where there are no
aches, no pains, no impaired senses There
are no old men In heaven. There he
will experience the lull fruiton OF his hopes as q
Christian. BE OF good cheer, Tor eye has not seen
heard, nor has 1t entered into the heart of
man to conceive OF the eternal JOYS thaS await
him. In conclusion he addressed himself TO those
In The congregation who II such there were. we're
Old ana yet not disciples lie urged upOn them
that they mad great work to do, and though the
tenth and eleventh hour had passed, they might
yet commence work In the vineyard, trusting to
the Lord thereafter TO pay them the penny.