The New York herald., 1876-09-18
CHURCH OF THE STRANGERS.
SERMON by THE RKv. DIR. DEEMS

SERMON BY THE RKv. DIR. DEEMS.
At the Church of tho Strangers, IN Mercer street,
Eighth yesterday, Rcv. Dr. Deems preached to
a very large congregation, for Notwithstanding tho
tempesuous weather tho church filled throughous,
even TO tho galleries Rev. DR.. Deems took his text
from Hebrews xiii, IL, 1s-"whereforc, Jesus, that no
might snnctfy the people with his blood suffered
without the gate Let 90 forth, therefore, unto him
without the camp bearing the reproach" He said the
Jews had always been Gods people, and they asked
by Paul give up all their old SACRIFICES their old
lgion the religion Of their fathers and grandiathers
and accept the sacrifice of the Cross They asked
go forth without the gate bearing tho rcproach 1t
is hard imagine the Jew of that nc but you must
bring the imagination up to that point TO understand
the It going forth from all those he loved
from hts old associations, from tho traditions OF con-
turcs to accept Jesus their light and become part
His sunerings. But many Of the Jcws did &C.
ccpt the sacrifice and 90 FORTH and they became Gods
people with light that cnghtencth everything
that comes into this world.
When Paul asked the jews however to give up
their old religion he gnve them better one; but we
often forget when VIC ask people to give mp their rc
gion that we do not always offer them bcttor one
For every man has religion Of his own. mover met
any atheists. Those old mca that without tho
Church. that como into It, they all have rc
gion, and you must ofler them something better, be
able prove TO them that Jesus tho only saliva
ton before you can change them. lfyou can prove to
all earthly ties or earthly possessions then they be-
converted and live. Some people will tell you
that these scientists. Huxley, Tynda and such men,
are atheists They nothing OF the
kind They have religion OF their own but IL must
demonstrated to them that religion is supreme.
l havo had men OF all professions and all positions
come TO me and unburdcn their hearts They knew
and felt there God, and tncy instruction
what they should do 10 prepare themselves for
the great hereafter. l always tod them to accept
Jesus and the sacrifice Of the Cross to look to that
ana believe in the power Of Christ to save
them, and their way TO eternal happiness
assured TO come without the gate, to
give up all their pct theories about religion,
the false idol that they had been worshpping and
ccpt Mt only roal true sacri0ce-thc sacrifice
of the cross Many mon have come to me in this
ner my dear friends, for the confessional is just
thick among the Protestants as is among our Roman
Catholic brethren But my friends, If man comes to
you with reli ion that Is superstition do not throw
down the superstition TIL you build up in
his heart the knowledge Of true religion, for do
know which is worse, sccpticism or superstition.
have thought Of 1t often and often. think supcrsti-
tion is worse sometimes think sccptcism is worse;
but never could como to a conclusion.
Como, my friends, to-day out Of your own religion.
Give up your Phariscesm and all the other lsms that
amount to nothing and accept Jesus Christ the
COmpctc sacrifice