The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-10
FLEET STREET METHODIST CHURCH.
FAITH AS AN ESSENTIAL TO sALvATIoN-sERMoN
ny REV. I. IIgHTBOuRN

FAITH AS AN ESSENTIAL TO sALvATroN--sERMoN
DY REV. 7. LIaHTBouRN.
Yesterday forenoon the Rev. T. Lshtbourn, Nom.
Der OF the New York East Conference, now In
session in Brooklyn preached before the congregation
of the Fleet street Methodist Episcopal church. taking
for his text the words found in the Gospel OF St.
Matthew xvi, is, 10 He said the Interpretation OF
the text by tho Catholic Church was not correct Our
Divine Lord did not intend convey the right Of His
apostle to forgive sins when Hc said. Whatsoever
thou shalt bind upon earth it shall be bound also
heaven and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth
shall be loosed also IN heaven.
All the power OF Peter could not forgive the sins OF
tho Christ transferred to man tho inspiration
OF His teachings and example by which alone the sins
OF the world can DO forgiven The great elements
senal to forgiveness them found sincere rcpcn-
TANGO and IN faith in the infinite mercy Of Christ
Apostolic succession Is not essential ia tho preserva-
ton oil the ministry. Tho pohty OF the Roman Church
had been 10 some extent retained by tho founders OF
the Anglican Church. but the Christian Church is uni
versa aud Is not 10 be confined 10 the limits Of
any particular FORM There no necessity for abso-
Lutte uniformity IN modes OF worship 10 obtain saliva
ton Faith ard grace alone needed. Unity In the
essential truths With diversity OF character, are quite
better that Christians should be OF diverse de-
nominations than OF one fold These divisions OF tho
Church OF Christ arc neither uncxceptionabe nor In
expcdienL The Holy Catholic Apostolic Church he
did not consider either what His Holiness In Rome
Dr. Pussy would make II out TO be. This Church does
not ask you what form OF baptism you desire, or what
badge you wear. II asks only .Have you loved Gody
Have you the faith OF Chrlsty Do you
form your conduct TO tho principles Of HIS word ~
In tns Church wc hear nothing ABOUT Baptiss, Pres
byterians Congregationallss, Episcopaiansit COM
preLends all churches. You may excommuni-
cate from the Protestant or from the
Catholic Church for supposed defects In my creed on
BAPTISM said tho speaker, but You exclude me
from this Church OF Christ No accommodation
OF Pope synod all the combined powers OF earth
or hell can do SO II belong 10 Christ. 81 viii build
my church and the gates OF he'll shall not prevail
against It." BY this Christ meant that He would up.
hold His Church against its forever In sccur-
ity scarcely had He assembled into heaven than the
persecution OF the Christians began They were mas
sacred by thousands Tho Ottoman Empire was Tor
centuries the strongest OF the Christian
| Church. What sick and vulnerable nation Turkey is
\ today While Nohammedanlsm Is waning Christianity
| is rapidly taking hold OF the heart CT the TURK.
Mr. Lishtbourn said, turning his attention
| the Pope again, that Rome upon tho
discovery Of this continent divided America between
Span and Portugal. wishing to control the possess
sion. But at that epoch God up Martin Luther,
years The decline OF the Pope began with the riso OF
Luther aud IN lSis beneath the very shadow OF the
Vatican wall, heard the cries or the people,
"Dcaih TO the Popev Then came the liberty stirring
lcgions Of Garipad paving the way the overthrow
OF the temporal power Of the Pope, the which has
been completed by Victor Emanuel Last century an
other pcrl was encountered to Christianity when tho
black dag OF inndciy was raised In France and men
OF intellect such as Voliarc, Hume and Gibbon were
enlisted In tue cause OF s'roong out Christianity, IS
they called n. These Indcs had boosted that CHRIS
taniy would only have existence IN history when
the nnctccnih century would 10 usncred In where arc
these nndcls to-dsys The winter winds have SWEPT