National Republican., 1876-10-23
CHuRcEsrRv1cEs YESTERDAY.
ASSEMBLY Presbyterian Church.

charge, strengthened in health and laden with
the rich treasures of a summers travel AMI
keen observation in the far West, the congre-
cations in this church have been largely 10.
creased. This is due largely to the great pop
ularity of Mr.. Little, his earnest, impassioned
style, his personal magnetism and original
lire of thought, Much is due also TO the mu-
sic. Under the direction of Professor Fair
lamb, aud with an octette Of fine male voices,
a quartette, which is composed of such singers
es Mrs. FafElamb, Miss Morref, Mr.. Keen and
Mr.. Stevenson, besides G chorus of about six
teen picked voices, the music rendered here is
of the best, in quality and style. Yesterdays
morning service were as follows, and will give
the reader an idea of the N amer in which oar
Washington composer re1ders the delightful
service of song in the scored house: Opening,
"CaEtate Domino" octeste for male voices
Fairlamb. Invocation, "Jubilate," chant.
0feTtory, fHear my Prayer"-Abbct. 0c-
casional, "Reward them, o Lord'-fall an
them by Fairlamb. These gems, added to the
regular praise rausic'ot the service, were finely
rendered.
The pastor prescaed with great effect from
the following passages: John viiiSl, 32-"Then
said Jesus to those Jews which believed on
him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye
my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the
truth, and the truth shall make yoa free"
We are told in the second chapter that when
Jesus was at MS first passover, "meny believed
in his name" but Jesus did not commit him
self unto them, (or, translated literally, he did
not believe In them, because he knew all
men. But to these Jews who believed in him
on this occasion he did commit himself by fur
ther instruction. He thus tac;tly yacknowledged
their Rossession Of something which those at
the passover lacked, for men cannot continue
in anything until they first possess 1t. With
this acknowledgment of their belief he shows
the twofold result of continuance therein: L.
The development of their belief; 2. The devel-
opmeut of the word believed.
The belief required of those who hear Christ,
which they must have before anything more
can be given them, is not expected to be per-
feet. 1t is accepted as sufficient, though it is
very imperfect. IL is not like an iron suspen-
sion bridge which, high above the water, grace
fully spans the stream, but rather like the
bridge of grasses which Livingston describes
in Africa, which rests upon the water and yet
keeTs them out Of it; which is sufficient to
bear up the weight imposed upon it but which
bends under their feet in uDdulations like the
waves of the sea. Though so much like the
water, it differs from it in this important re-
spect, that it serves for bridge to those who
would pass over il. So Christ divides his
hesrers into two distinct classeS-unbeliever
and believers. Thus We read in Acts, after
the death of Ananias and Sapphira, ''Of the
rest durEt no man join himself and them, but
believers were the more added to the Lord"
Christians may and do differ greatly from each
other, but there is still greater difference be-
tween them and the rest of the world.
Christ accepts a belief which is very imper-
feet, but he shows how it may and should be
more perfect. ''If Ye continue in my word,
then are ye my disciples indeed" the word
disciples is used in the more general sense OF
followers of Christ, but in its primary sense 1t
means learners, and may be so translated here,
and make rapid progress in spiritual things.
Cnbelievers remain stationary. Belief is open
ing the door into the kingdom, and going in to
examine and learn its mysteries. Unbelief is,
at the best, only looking in, and then staying
without Thus Paul speaks of those "who
have form of godliness, but deny the power
thereof, ever learning and never able to come.
at the knowledge of the truth"
Christ says again, "And We shall know the
truth" Thus learning develops still further
into knowing. As in the case of the Ephe-
slams, who, "being sorted and grounded in
love- were able to comprehend, with all
the saints, and 10 know the love of Christ,
which passeth knowledge. Thus Jesus de-
scribes the development of faith through con-
tinuaDoe in his word, as believing, learning
and knowing.
He then shows, in the second place. the de-
velOpment OF the word believed, aye shall
know the truth" not the word which contains
the truth, but the truth contained in the word.
Truth is actual conformity to the reality.
Christ says, 81 am the way, the truth and the
liie." As when a stranger shows US the way
10 find a certain person, and then reveals him.
self as the person sought for, so Christ, at
first the way to the Christian, becUmes the
truth itself. Not long ago l saw an engraving
which looked like q beautiful and true descrip-
ton OF fine mountain scenery, shadowed in
the mirroring lake at its base. Looking again,
recognized in the picture a familiar spot
where myself had been. no longer saw the
engraving, but the real scene, which was ir-
delibly stamped on my memory. Thus the
word of Christ becomes to the Christian the
truth, when by personal experience he becomes
familiar with the things taught through
containing in the word. This truth, thus
known, does not simply rest in the mind like
a jeweled crown on the head of the king, only
to be gazed upon and admired, but it becomes
an active agent in changing the condition of
the believer. "And the truth shall make you
free"
With freedom from condemning and con-
trolling power of sin, the truth gives also q
proper conception of what freedom is and how
it may be obtained. Every evil condition
leaves its evil impress, even after the condi-
lion is changed. The slave is untitled by his
past condition to understood what freedom is
and how TO obtain the greatest advantages
from it. The believer having been the slave
Of sin, not only needs to have the fetters
broken, but, being free, needs to have his
former views of freedom corrected and en-
larged. This the truth does in giving a knowl-
edge of Christ, as Jesus says further on in the
chapter, 'If the Son therefore shall make
you free, ye shall be free indeed"
This developement Of believing into learning
and knowing, and of the word believed into
truth, and of the condition of freedom through
the truth. constitutes the higher life into
which Christ invites all those that believe in
him.
Foundry M. E. Church
Rev. B.Peyton Brown preached at the morn
ing service yesterday from S5th Psalm, 9th
verse, "Wilt thou not revive US again, tharthy
people may rejoice In thee :" This sermon was
Introductory to series of meetings to be held
every evening of this week in the Foundry
church, for the promotion of the revival of
religion which is now progressing in several of
the Methodist churches of this city.
Mr.. Brown stated that God uses instruments
in accomplishing his work among me1; but the |
glory Of that work is to be given to himself. !
The text suggested the theme of the discourse |
"a revival, 8 quickening, a restoration Of |
Gods people to his favor and to their Joy.
Nature has its revival. Business has its re- |
vival. The laws of nature and the laws of |
trade govern these. So religion has its re-
viyal. The necessity existing for this revival |
appears in the lives of individual Christians. |
The normal condition Of Christian life is that |!
of growth. The moment he ceases to grow he i
begins to die. This growth may be quickened. |
In proof of this he referred to the condition of
the average church member. In the second |
place, We need revival to fill up the ranks of |
the church. He referred to the manner in |
which those ranks are reduced-by death, by |
removal, by the saddest of all, backsliding. |
These destroy the ranks of the church. Again, |
we need a revival Of religion to reach the |
masses of society. Novelties such as elo- |
quence, and other means of this character, are |
but the accidents of society; they soon pass |
away. But Gods spirit makes a permanent |
benefit.
Objections are made to excitement, but these |
point in good and virtuous direction. They |
promote the good of society. A storm may |
destroy single vessel, but It watts hundreds |
into secure and safe port. He was saved in |
revival of religion, and he loved them now. |
Our Church was born in revival, and as a |
Church we will die when we cease to have re-