The New York herald., 1876-11-20
and morality Is p,ety mis- not signing
articles nor mu;tering paiernosters
CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH.

ZEN lhAL EIHODlSI CaChSfl.
cHgIsT's MISSION ON EARTH-sERMoN BY
BISHOP II. s. FosTEI.
Tho Central Methodist church, Seventh avenue,
Fourteenth street, was not uncomfortaoy crowded
yesterday at the hapast ten O'Clock services owing,
doubtless, TO the bad weather. although II had been
announced to the congregation the Sunday previous
that Bishop Foster would preach tho sermon Tho
reverend gentleman took for his text John Kill
32-"And III DO lifted up from the earth will draw
all men unto me-" He said he needed not to remark
that the words OF the text Of power the like OF
which man never spake before They were uttered by
the only being who lived on earth who could
consistently usa them They spoken
b. Christ just before the close OF his
ministry. The text prophecy rather than a
doctrine. II in the Grst place prophesied the
manner OF the death lie was 10 die, the words III be
lifted mp" signiiying His crucihxon on the cross
Christ had throughout all the ages OF eternity under
stood what would be thc end OF His incarnation. lie
knew that HIS benclcent ministry would end in death
Yet as this death appeared To His human nature II was
full OF dread for Him. and many indications spoken OF
IN the Scriptures show that this fear was at times
overwhelming. Still lie never lost sight OF the end Hc
was to attain by HIS death He endured all for the
sake OF mankind The languages OF tho text was pecu
liar in respect Despite tho lact that He knew
HIS death was TO be one that was dealt
He He predicted aiy thu. in the ages 10 I come
all men would be drawn to Him. II was not thnt lie
meant to say that His name would become famous
aud simply excite the admiration OF the world for
who had died for principle AS great martyr, bit
that all the world day would bow down 10 do Him
Him. that IL would accept him as It's master, It's rc-
decmer, IT'S saviour. Hc stood, rs I; were on noun
tain OF vision when He uttered these words where lie
could the world way down tho ages that werc 10
follow HIS death, amid MS trials and struggles,
To do Hin homage. The words OF tho text wcrc pre-.
dicton tnat men would como To Him personally "A
friend; that there would be a close relationship be-
tween Him and them; that His own people. longer
looking upon Moses their last great teacher would
love aud worship Him. that the Romans would aban-
don their false gods; the pagans IN tho far outskirts
tho world would rcnounce their ignorant sulersli-
tons and into the temple oil Jesus and receive
the law IRON Him. recognize iiim as their sole master
and humbly and submisslvcly bow down TO His
divine Will The text meant even than
this-that Tor His sake would their SINS
theinscves in fact, deny themselves OF
love ior HIM. Another thought suggested BY tho
the attraction that Christ had for mankind
Ii not because He died on Calvary that men
drawn Him. though in certain sense II was OF
the things that drew TO Him the hearts OF men, IL was
this--that there was something IN Him that made
man aud Himsclf one us 1t werc-a divine magnetism
Our hearts craved for the TRUTH and this lie
Piled All the TRIVIAL wants OF this world that :.nawod
our hearts nothing 10 the want OF truth the
soul suffered from at times concerning redemption and
eternity. We poked about in the dark, and, standing
on the verge OF great abyss We often asked What
become OF US IN the deep unknown" There
philosopher who could answer
this question satisfactorily, and u was because Christ
authority that tho great God OF tho universe ten
der and loving God that death here earth not
the end, but that thero beyond realm OF bliss,
where holy beings dwel,, that men wore drawn 10
Him. II was because Christ had revealed all this 10
u.s. that He had shown us clearly that no matter how
great our sins, the mercy OF God would always be
tended TO that, matter how polluted the soul
light be, repentance would, through His grace,
make II white 1t was because Of all this
that the world, crowded down with despair. to
Him now, us He had predicted IL would come TO Him,
and falling down before Him. cried out "Jcsus thou
son OF David. have mercy me-"