The New York herald., 1876-07-24
ST. PAUL'S NJ. L. CHURCH
COME, FOR ALL THINGS ARE NOW READY

sFRMoN by REV. Z. H. PEARCE.
At ST. Paul's Methodist Episcopal church yesterday
morning serm preached by The Rev. Eugene
II. Pcarce. OF the Drew Theological Seminary, Mad-
son, n Y. He selected a text that portion of the
tweaty.sNth verse OF Luke, xiv, which reads
''Come, ior all things ready" Tho text, he
fell sure illustrated the scheme of redemption. The
plan OF redemption was good, surprisingly good
that none but ood could have devisedlt And yet,
however great the work, 1t was simple, when prop
erly understood, thar wonderfully well adapted
to the understanding OF all. AS 1t with the
declaration OF The text 1t with the parable OF
the mustard seed; 80 OF tho net which was cast INTO
the sea, aud SO when the fishermen and trade m,
gathered arout the saviour to hear more concernns
the pearl oil great price. Thus II as With CLrists
teachings Always, whether IN the hovel or IN the
volume OF inestmaby valuable thought couched in the
simplest OF language But, IN consideration ol the
text had cited, he let 1t to be well 70 give attention
to the special Indications in the nvita on-''Come Tor
all thugs are now ready"--to those VINO, as the pre-
cedinp verses showed had refused tho nrst invitation
and hose who had made excuses, In the declaration
made read the invitation WIS pointed expression
the need OF the Gospel by all aud the call to parakc
OF the least was IN entire accordance with Other eA
prcssons scattered roughout the record OF The say
iugs OF Christ They were IKE tho compass 20 the
Mariner enabling nim to navigate sa ely the otherwise
unknown aDa dangerous seas. The Gospels were
guide men, telling them the way IN which they must
20 order reach the barbor OF bllss hereafter He
then proceeded 10 ow that unless there was IN men
desire TOR and acoomp ishment Of union Win
Cnrss through His declared word, there could
any hope he then proceeded TO consider the anaoges
found in he text connection with the needs 10
salvation He claimed that IL appealed 10 the social
nature OF man. 1t nvitcd him to least And in that
connection he would take the case OF a man who had
become entirely isolated from society While he con
unued III the course which nsd caused his isolation
his way grew darker and darker until he reached the
PRISON house ol his lite. Other hearts might be
gladdened, but no
SOLITARY RAY OF GLADSxss
would enter his bcniGlted soul until he wen. down
forever. Bul those, however DeDighted who sought
the Gospels for light found in them the consolation
winch God dcsened-a consolation beyond all others
which had been sought Tor. Science had been tried,
but 1t had been found wanting; IN TACT, there was
nothing equal TO the Gospels OF Jesus Christ Tor afford
ing conso.ation tho afflicted who honestly sought
relief. Then, again, there was The text The other
sniitude OF thc Qualification OF hunser-he proposal
supply the neou oi the body, which was IN simili-
tude OF for providing Tor The craving oi the
soul In the same nc OF thougnt was the narrative
elsewhere OF how the multitude was fed So also, was
tue oi the feeding OF the children OF Israel with
All these were IN Illustration OF the lact that
however engrosscd IN business men might be- however
worldly their religion they, as soon the need was
iet ior a consoaton whcn they could not una else
where, came to Gods onerng to them and therein
found reeL SO lsraci's children felt when they re-
ccived the heaven sent mamma which they found
taned them in all their troubles. From Illus
trations he drew the conclusion that God worked Tor
the ation OF men with Himself; and he felt that
il true that rcco meditation with God meant recon-
citation between one another There was he said, a
Tine "A Crisis a culm nation in the affairs men-a
supreme time AT which man rejects or lays hoid on
God With the first admonition that he is sinner ana
needs his God, he stands delicate ground, for he
rejects the lesson OF the adm he IS apt TO so on
until bis becomes deadened aud declines TO
admonish him further. Ana yet even then there came
the iuvitation Come, tor all ,biDgs ready"
1t the oit repeated Invitation 10 come out for sod
Without II the best Intentions would fail OF success,
AID II was, therefore, OF the utmost Importance that
prom ty and fully respond TO the caii-Come ior all
things now ready"