The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-13
quirements OF her mission then II may appropriately
be asked :--"Woman, Is 1t well with thee 7"
UNIVERSITY PLACE CHURCH.
osrENTATIoUs RELIoIoS-sERMos By REV. DR..


osrENrArIoUs RELIoloS-sERMoN By REV. DIR.
BOOTH.
The Rev. Or. Booth pastor OF the congregation wor-
shipping in tho University Place Presbyterian Church,
preached yesterday forenoon the that will
DO delivered in this church TIL the third sunday In
September next Preceding the service the reverend
gentleman made this announcement and suggested 10
his hearers that they might probably attend tue min
istrations Of Dr. Paxton al the church Filth avenue
and Twelfth street The text selected for the closing
service was from Matthew vi, 16-''Moreover when
70 fast be not the hypocrttes, OF sad counte-
nance; for they disngure their faces that they may
appear unto men TO last Verify say unto you they
have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest,
anont thine head, and wash thy face; that
thou appear not unto men TO last, but uric
thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father %ho.
seeth ia secret shall reward thee openly Chriss
wanted His disciples to be happy, and they were 70
show IL in their appearance, said DR.. Booth me re-
ciop OF the Pharsees that Christ condemned was the
DESTINATIONS display aud show OF what they did IN the
public streets that they might gam the praise o men,
they distributed their aims 70 me poor on tns
and when They tasted their countenances wore such
sad appearance that "tbey looked like rights" Iner
manner VI fasting austere and unnatural IL Was
this that Christ condemned, and why De commanded
His disciples when they tasted to be OF cheerful extc
rior that lheir countenances might testify the JOY OF
their hearts. They not to grid their oins with
sacKcoth and their heads with ashes IA okenoi
their humility. They their heads with OIL
wash their faces and appear among men joyful rs pos
siblc Ac condemn the idea Of signals OF dis
trees beng blended with religion He wanted HIS
disciples 10 take their places in the world going among
IN all the avenues OF business with Joyful laces
testifying to the goodness OF God. There did como
OF genuine sadness In the midst OF tho happ
OF life, when tho soul bowed down with care,
tho countenance became furrowed with grief and me
buoyanL md elastic motion became a funeral step
These the assumptions OF tho pharisees. but
they facts OF sadness wish which God sy mpa
th,zcs and man respects. The assumed sorrow ana
affection nabe but tho genuine sndnessin
the grc! stricken had its reward In the comforts and
CONSIDERATIONS OF tho Gospel and tho true Christian would
ever manifest The world his source OF giadncss
Pure Christianity carried tho JOY OF Christ with 1t
everywhere and was the realities OF Christian
life There was nothing done for parade or show, as
evidenced by the secret closet for prayer aud con-
munjon with Cod and IN the good That was done 10
others the right hand knows not what tho clt hand
doeth and the Father seeth IN secret rewardeth
openly. The practice OF true Christianity brought its
own reward now. The sef-dcnal OF which some men
are so terribly afraid rich in human blessing The
who gives himself up to God lives above the evil
that surrounds him and treats with msgnan'mity the
offender instead Of debasing his nature with crafty
ing his revenge The grandncss Of the Christian law
Is ever the Christian face and nothing there
simulated.
In conclusion Dr. Booth said:-"Be not. therefore,
the hypocrite OF sad countenance, but BIO joyful IN
God, rejoicing evermore."