The New York herald., 1876-12-04


seals OF the covenant madc between God and man The
spirit wkch Christ gave HIS lie teaches us how we
may best do His WILL
TRINITY CHURCH.
MEDITATIoSs ON ADvgNT--sERMoN BY THE
REV. DIR. DIX.
The text of the at the above church yester-
day morning taken from the book OF the prophet
Isaiah. XIV, s-"Drop down, yc heavens, from above
and let the skies pour down righteousness; let the
earth open let them bring forth salvation, and let
righteousness spring up together. r."
Modern students OF the Bible, The speaker said,
too apt their sircnatn on the garU words
and he, therefore, preferred the reverend men OF os
mer days, who loved more believed ana saw
more. The Scripture has been rendered in all Ian
guages, but in more expressvey than in the
translation of ST. Jerome the fourth century. Let
US take the II is, thcn--not sub
stitutc, but commentary tho
have read. How clearly and fully II
speaks OF Christ; CHRIST IN Ills ADVENT
the child OF Mary III the future, cur Judge To-day
Is Advent Sunday and the sounds Of Christmas
around us, and the bells ringing aud the lights
10 be HI 1t Is time to meditac the goodly and
CHEEKY. The text presents three events Tho
openiug OF the skies is typical OF tho coming OF the
salvation. In the opening OF tho earth His
resurrection from tho omU, and finally, His ret.rn to
the heavenly Kingdom. All these are in the little Ad-
vent psalm. Whoever has kept Easter knows
what that Is seed that planted IN the earth bears
iru and in due time did the earth yields the LORD.
Each OF these events may now be maue subject
Tor consideration in personal form. In tho
humility Of Tho child OF CHRIST VIC must learn
tlrst lesson. The exalted may be
excIuGed tho sight God. but they have
place there. The tact that man lent from
heaven for our salvation should destroy our earthly
pride. We taught TO be hopeful and trusttul
Him raised from the dead. II is the character
OF the true Christian never 10 know what defeat IL.
Men saw Him suner and sconcd at but they were to
learn that He never TO die. Ages oil suffering
martyrs give evidence Of the nvincibny Of Christian
..Vul,,, ~
what should do return. This thrccfold mystery
is set before US to-day There Is one more that
holds all three togcther-the day OF Judgment
and tho end OF the world Let US think OF tho
way In whi4h meet Christ. The skies
ana the earth and the heavens are preparing for that
ovenL There between tho day OF Advent and tho
Nativity less than four weeks three OF them are
plete, Ike what has gone before; tho fourth is unin
ishcd But the end IS not yet We are lving out inc
broken week. All these things to to Just
certain any evcnt that has occurred IN urivcs
They shall come in the broken week. There three
speakers addressing Tho Past tells Of lives that
have been wasted years that have ncwn and lett
scarce a footprint by which VIC may trace them; tho
rescn, treats dangers and pcris are surround
ing and the Future holds It's secrets and warns
moi 10 pry into them Let US turn the season 10 good
account 1t OF tho impressive
Christian lie. Let lay aside vanity aud earthly
glory and seek the glory Of God SO It may please HIM
to number US among HIS elect and 10 hasten HIS
Kingdom.
CHURCH OF DIVINE PATERNITY
cHRrsr's RULE OF L1rE-DIscouRsE By THE
REV. Z. H. CHAPLIN.
The pleasant sunshine yesterday, aud the expecta-
ton Of the beginning or Rev. Dr. Chapin's Advent dis
courses drew immense congregation TO The Church
Of the Divine Paternity, Fifth avenue and Forty
street. Dr. Chapin disclsimed any intention, this
year, Of attempting any series connected range OF
topics for his Advent season sermons, excepting
far each discourse may unfold such central truths
concerning Christ and Christianity gIyo unity 10
the thought and reasoning tho observanccs tho
time and tie subject chosen for yesterday mornings
sermon was ''CLrlsts Rule OF Liie,' us gwen In
Matthew, VI, 33-"But seek ye nrst tho kingdom OF
Cod and his righteousness; and all things shall
be added unto you'' The Scrmon the Mount,
DR.. Chaplin, been entitled constitution Tor
the Kingdom OF Hcavon.n II has also been claimed
that tins discourse is addressed primarily TO tho dis
ciples; second, TO the people, AMI Ultimately TO the
wnole Of Christendom. We may presume that
tho words OF tho passage chosen .or The text
included somo things which had . special
aud temporary application lifted to the exceptional
portion which tnosc early disciples placed, but
thus up0idcu from the groundwork OF thosc essen
tal truths which apply 10 aiI time and 10 ali Ono
OF these truths the Divine Providence, and nowhere
IS tns ruth laugh, beauty and power as IN
tho Sermon On the Mount. The great power vi
the great process oi EXISTENCE are beyond known
control Tue springs oil nature bands OF
Hun who leeds the spairows UNI he's the lily. Tho
great outlines oi mans Individuality and o. lis lot
are ordained and maintained by n divine purpose. A
thread OF human votvn Is iorcshadowcd the text.
Amid these great currents OF Providence there Is
tnng you, aud ior and Tor every man 10 40.
Each Is 10 look hts soul he means oil living
Implicated with mysterious processes lar beyonu
the sphere human acton but the rule oi lie is an
ALTAR personal and conduct The Significance
ot the text u.s. DO your duty and trust
in Cod ., star. with the t.sh' principle
which Is within, that whch is most essentially yourself
remain loose and unconnectcd and all without w run
INTO Confusion. Let Gods truth, Gods Will. Gods
law irst, aud the enc the essential good life,
will be obtained Ii does not signify that, II Gvds
law and righteousness come IN the way, tis 10 have
the inside track but II not We may do as We please
The law oI righteousness prcvais everywhere, IL Is
the starting point anc guidng line Of All our acton
Religion is not to bo regarded as sentiment diTuscd
the entire organization OF our beng and iocl
Ing every day anu hour; oui II is specific junction,
having little organization by itself We perform
call our religious duties IN church
day; that Is We perform them irst the lrst day OF
week. ana VIC let tho other six days Jog along q
general atmosphere OF wordiness, aud " one sees
say prayers at all he says In the morning and
tncn gives up the OF time 10 avarce or anb
tion license, or lying, whatever imp ses
him and carry him along. he gives nod toward
heaven ANA then pitches In another direction. lie
shuts up religion with his hymn or leaves IL
in his closet Lie Is complete wnole--not o
Of disconnected acts and feelings aud righteousness
Gods righteousness ~ to be hrst, not only in psnt
OF time, but in coniroithe perpetual spring, the
tive power OF the organization. Religious duty Is
section To HE but all life should be relig-
ious duty seeking the kingdom Of God anu His
righteousness is not simply getting religion, mean
ing thereby some single experience coming on at
once, some mood OF thought al particular season.
when, being experienced secures the good the iu-
turc world and much good In tina We see God every
where in the blades OF grass and in the scroll
armament; He - the God Of nature, the controlling
power IN our daily lie AMI being. Every man should
have some rule Of c- Hc act SIMPLY from
impulse or follow caprice, but highey government
must DO acknow wiedgcd. There be n principle 10
check impulse restrain passion and control desire.
Men must not be like disjoinlsd rafts,
floating the stream, nero jces, or
ganizcd Jumps oil Some men seem
10 try brutalizc themselves, cast aside and out
every high prerogalivc Of nature Tho brutcs are
better than the many cases. for brutcs have
dignity inherent 10 themselves, which the man loses
In the brutaizing process Others again lead lie OF
IN