The New York herald., 1876-08-14
CATHOLIC APOSTOLIC CHURCH.

SERMON ON THE NEAR COMING OF TIE LORD.
Tho subject OF sermon last evening at the Catholic
Apostolic church in Sixteenth street. between Sixth
and seventh avenues ''Reasons for Believing that
the Lords Coming is Near" The church edifce Is
small and the sect to which 1t belongs is small also.
There ordained minister's and laymen o1lciate
in prayers and ceremonies that appear be parody
OF the Roman Catholic services One of the dcacons,
who felt reluctant to let his name transpirc, preached
the subject given above Hc said:-We cannot know
the day hour Of the Lords coming, hut there was
every indication that II was near. Men generally can.
not bo made to this simply because they do not
their calculations and make them uncomor-
able. Unless you arc willing the Lord
should thcro is little use in showing you the
reasons why HIS coming is not far off, If men would
not be selfish in thcr religion and conne themselves
to anxiety about their personal salvation they would
desire the Lords coming, for Ho Himself desires TO
come deliver mankind His coming is not TO
burn up The world, but to bring in what every Christian
m IN ought tolong for-namcly, good government ana
justice to sweep ChrIsendom clean Of all the wicked
ness that dchcs IT. To raise the dead saints and to
translate the living, AID To bring succor and peace TO
the sick, weary. groaning crcatiOnthngs which men
cannot do, and wat will not be done iii He comes
We ought therefore, 10 wish ior that tlme and be
ready ~ believe near. Our age is "the times OF
the Gcntlles" Our Lord said, Jerusalem shall be
troddcn down of the Gentcs I'LL the times Of the Gen.
tiles shall be lulncd and that at the end Of that time
lie would be again.
The question is, What is there believe that
these times are nearly fulfilled? The because
We zee all the evidences OF the end which the Lord
HIS apostles foretold before eyes luke xxL) lie
said, When ye these things begin come to pass
then look up and hit mp your head, because your
demption draweth nigh" These things ''sgns in
the sun and moon and stars; the Garth distress OF
nations with pcrplcSiy; the tho waves roar
ing; mems hearts failing ihem for fear for looking
arcr the things that shall come upon the earth This
is prophetic description OF our times. The sun,
moon and stars symcolizc the centres and sources
of light guidance ana order In the moral polit.
zeal and ecclesiastical world. In our day they
are pecula iull OF signs OF startling develop
ments anu changes. Men say the Old institutions
passing away, but our Lord said that these things
the signs OF the end of the age aud His coming So,
too, 1.-The distress OF nations, with perpexity" is too
remarkable and universal tn be unnotccd by any
thoughtful person. Aud men OF wisdom and thought
md their hearts failing them Tor lear, because they
see terrible results inevitable from The commo-
tons and tendencies OF the time ''rhe and the
waves roaring this symbohzes the people, the
masses hcavcd up ana tossed about by every
wind OF doctrine. breaking out in revolutions
and disturbances, and ovcrturnng all that has
been held stable. THIS, too Is peculiar
time. so also the powers OF heaven are shaking
the hold &c Christianity aud the truth of Christ on
mems conscience Is hcing lost, ana all the churches
which claim authority ftpm God and have the
s;rumcnts OF furnishing heavenly blessings being
shaken 10 their bases. and vast numbers OF Christian
men are apostoizing ana deny Christ These sig ms
unmst kabl- The times the Gentilcs are nearly
done Christ's time coming TO take His kingdom
ana rule Us nj the door. ITO them that look or Him
He will appear second time without into saliva
tion.' These things arc only tbe begin They
shall culminate the grvai ,ribulation, rs our Lord
said. The like OF which nor ever shall he
again. Therefore, every man ought TO take warning
amt remember the Lords advice Watch therefore,
and pray always that ye NAV be counted worthy to
escape all these things that shall TO pass aud to
stand before tho SON OF Man "