National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-05-17
The Time OF PENIEc0SI.
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HE Time Ut PEkIECUSI.
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|. came to a neighboring river which had to be
forded. Asking an old man who stood by its side
"PIuDge In" In he went. The waters were deep,
and he turned back to ask again, sis It safer"
Again t me, answer IiiI o. Inc water rose
paused, and over the river came the voice again,
''Go on, (" and the waters enveloped him. "Go
other side, saying to himself, 81 know now the
meaning Of walking by faith" Moral philoso-
piers tell us that underlying natures depths are
principles and emotions we cannot explain. In
spired writer's can't explain, either, the feelings
down in the heart-Of faith. No man does any
thing great that lays not hold Of what Is beyond
himself. He must use outside influences to pre-
vent evil tendencies, and rest on faith and work.
An old writer says: "Silken threads are let down
from heaven to earth for man to SEIZE When the
heart is touched by these angels pull the thread
gently, and man is transported with them"
his efforts with these influences, and he multi
plies faculties is the growth OF his development.
There are magnificent scholars In England, and
to-day two young men are stirring Old England
and her archbishops and prelates as they could
net, and all by faith. This is the difference be-
tween Washington and Napoleon-fsith. Last
night came knock upon my door as hope TO
hear often. A man entered, saying, ~ have
here, and my soul is aroused to the need Of my
salvation; what shall do to be saved ~ and my
answer was, KNOCK, and It shall be opened unto
St. Paurs English Lutheran Church.
good congregation was present yesterday
morning at st. Paurs English Lutheran church.
Rev. 5. Domer, the pastor, selected his topic OF
discourse with reference to the occasion, it being
the anniversary OF Pentecost in the Church year.
The sermon was delivered without manuscript or
notes, and hence the following sketch gives but
the general outline and current of the thoughts
presented. at night Rev. Mr.. Domer filled the
y NJ
large congregation was in attendance. The fol-
lowing Is q sketch Of the MORNINGS discourse:
Acts, ii:l2: "And they were all amazed, and
were In doubt, saying one to another, What
meaneth this?" Who were amazed? IAN those
dwelling at Jerusalem. devout men out OF every
nation under heaven" Why were they amazed?
1t was the time OF Pentecost. There were won
dertul and strange manifestations. The Spirit
was poured out never before. Prophecies in
remarkable fuIhllment followed close upon the
ascension of Jesus q the disciples were waiting
in prayer in obedience to the command and direc-
tion Of Jesus. Now they began to understand
why he had gone away from the visible move
sence was compensated by new presence as
suited to the new epoch of his redemption pur-
poses among the children of men.
The phenomenal wonders on this occasion were
very striking and great The sound from heaven
as OF a rushing, weighty wind, tine cloven tongues
wonderful utterances prompted by the strange
inspiration which filed Them making them poly
glOtal 10 their prOwers to address the diversified
sembly. II was wonderful thing to hear these
disciples thus opening their lips in the many Ian
guagts and dialects represented on that occasion.
A wonderful impression was therefore, legltI-
mately in result; and thus, lamar ed and in doubt,
many said one TO another
WHAT MEANETH THIs?"
There was everything in the occasion and demon
STATIONS to start thoughtful minds into honest
inquiry. They would naturally want to know
what all these things meant; what they so
LEGITIMATE n affairs that sunh nhRnnmana
EhoUld impel these people to start up into new
currents OF thought, and anxiOusy desire an ex-
plan alton OF these new and strange uhfoldings.
Thus they appear before representatives of
the effect which new disclosures OF the Divine
purpose should produce on the thinking mind Of
The world in all ages. The eternal question OF
humanity is, what meaneth ths2' And thus
we take as our topic to-day: Pentecost as fact
Ofredemption, its place and meaning in the econ
We take it as fact in the order of redemp-
tion. We need start no question on this point
Record, brings this fact into view as much as any
other fact of the Gospel, and as one Of those Gull
tbe sTa mission of The Sa o.
ascension to the inward zones OF glory and power
whence he had come as the author, revealer and
consequently, object to this who does not at the
same time reject all the facts Of
cBR131's CHRISTIANITY.
We take Penticost, moreover, as a meaning
full fact in the economy Of life. If 1t have such
place in the plan oil God, must It net mean some
Thing? Must 1t not start the thong htful mind to
ask, what meaneth this?" Do we not mistake,
by any conception of ours that would take re-
demption as great thought and purpose OF the
infinite Father out Of the universal or cosmical
plan OF the great economy of life? Can we. or
dare we, give II any other place than that which
passing in its import and relations with all
rational being and life? Is not redemption itself
creation in fits profounder meaning and nature,
and all creation lower than rational and spiritual
being? Is it not subordinate and ministrant to
the higher in the redemPtive purpose and plan?
Every plant and flower and creature, from the
lowest 10 the highest, has its placeIn the Divine
economy, and can be nationally interpreted only
is regarded in the relation 1t sustains to that
economy; and can we give any lower place in the
cosmos to the mysteries and facts and purposes
and designs OF redemption in Christ? Surely not.
And as Christ IS the life and the light Of man. so
we must Of necessity ind every fact Of Christ
hood in the general 'plan divine, and the truest
interpretation Of the universe, natural and super
moral and spiritual life.
Hence we may not even hesitate to consid er
whether or not Christianity, as manifesto ton
Of the life Of the world should be conceived Of in
these universal relations; but
DOUBT BECOMES UNREASONABLE,
Pnd we promptly look upon each glorious fact In
its fundamental oneness with the universal crea-
plan and processes of redemption, appears as q
new unfolding. Sinai with Its thunjers and hre
and smoke, its CANCELLATIONS Of majesty and
law, lay far back in the pathway Of the order in
which the fulillment was marching on. Sion, in
Pentecost, has lifted Sinai out Of the thunder
and smoke, and only the tongue Of fire and the
ecstacy Of sCul appear. The law, in its phenomena
of love and glory, reveals how the order of mercy
has advanced into the supremacy Of spiritual
PGwer ana no are os tT al
throughout the economy OF God. Science has
had its PentecOsts. New light, as from an ever
upon the thought of the advancing world, and
thus there are epOchs which mark the deaths OF
old systems and the births of new. 1t takes the
n thnnEanh gnmntimag
advanced thought, though the truth aud light
may have been near at hand all the while, and
asking for the favor Of recognition and love.
Philosophy has had its Pentecostal seasons, and
the earnest apostles of thought have mounted
into higher realms Of the beautiful, the true and
the good. they have been quickened into new
life by the inDreathiDg spirit of the unfolding
cycles Of the advancing world. Poetry has had
its seasons of refreshing from on hiHh," and
DIVINE MIYsTRELsY
has been touched into sublImer harmontes by a
new baptism at the fords OF the "riyer of life."
Calico, and Kepler, and Bacon, and HAUNT, and
Newton and Shakespeare, with host OF others
Of being, are the inspired apostles of their day
to a listening and admiring world.
WHAT meaneth this?
Gsds economy we do we'll to stand In amaZement,
love and awe, and here to start out always into
new Inquiries as to the things which come down
to us in the my steriOus methods Of providence and
grace, of creation and redemption. Take the
Pentecostal facts and phenomena as given In our
text. What do they mean? What do they mean
in the line Of redemption? What, in the line OF
an unfolding plan Of Divine government? What
do they mean as TO the nature OF that economy In
which we have our being and destiny? What Is
the coming glory Of that age (aion) toward which
all these facts and wonders tena, and OF which
they give US scintillations and types. What
un verse God has brought into birth. What
glory shining out of every part, and what glory
yet 10 come, when this glory all give way like
shadows TO q fsirer glory. What does Pentecost
mean for humanity? What new life and light
from the spirit of God? What hearts to praise
What culture of heart aud soul to keep pace with
an ever unfolding universe? What tongues OF
hre to tell to countless hosts burning love to
Christ for that grace which gave us being, and
such a destiny of we'll being forever.
Unitarian Services.
The Rev. VIM. ]. Potter, Of New Bedford,