The New York herald., 1877-07-23
HHE CHURCHES YESTERDAY.
Warm Weather Christians at Their
Devotions.
TIE BROOKLYN GOSPEL TENT
CHURCH OF THE STRANGERS.
SERMON By REV. EDWIN H. DEEMS ON THE
RIGHT AND THE WRONG WAYS OF LISTENING


RIGHT AND THE wnoNa WAYS OF LISTENING
TO THE GOSPEL.
In tho Church Of the Strangers yesterday morning
Rev. Edwin N. Deems, son Of Rev. DR.. Deems,
preached a farewell preparatory to his depart
take the pastorate OF tho Presbyterian Church
oil Longmont, Colorado. Tho text taken from the
eighteenth OF tho eighth chapter OF ST. Luke
Stake heed, therefore, how ye hear; Tor whosoever
hath, 10 him shall be gwen and whosoever hath not,
from him shall be taken" Thesc, said Mr. Deems
words OF Jesus Christ Jesus was man who
had in lie q mission OF the deepest import
and He realized this fact HIS time was short
and He had much to say Hence whenever Ho opened
His lips He sad something strong or sympa-
thetic Instructive When Jesus speaks We may well
stop llsten silently and earnestly In the words
OF the text have warning. not given IN tho spirit
Of Wanting threat but In tho spirit OF wise, low
ing and iarsightcd riend who danger ahead and
longs to prevent It, We have also reason given as
Incentive TO heed the warning TIE warning Isl
"Take heed therefore, how yc hear" the incentive
added is whosoevcr hath, TO him shall be gwen
und whatsoever hath not from him shall DO taken even
that which he seemeth 10 have"
Imined lately before utlering this warning Jesus had
preached the Parable OF the Sowcr, wheren The ord
Of God iikened 70 seed ~ tho hands VI sower aud
different styles Of hearers OF tho Word kenod
10 the dne5eut KINDS oi SOIL into which seeo iais und
from He then said can easily draw our de-
ductons how We should hear the Gospel aud how
should It. Let hrst consider the wrong
ways oil reading the Scriptures
There those who read and study the Scriptures
Tor their literary merit They pore somo OF its
wonorous passages that they may DO pleased intel
ectusly with the grandeur ot its poetry They not
seekers after Word OF God, aud akin
those flock hear tho eacher but not 10 profit
Ly what says Then there those wt0 hear the
Gospel rivoousIy. Its solemn precepts and promises
by material Tor puns and jokes aud
the very sanctuary Of God ID stunned aud lts solemn
services interrupted by their empty whispcrngs and
shallow snpcrin2s. such people these would even
laugh anId the thunder oi Sinai and she
bloodsiuined top OF Calvary. Sull others hear the
Gospel cariessiy nattentIvely. They read Gods
Word aud attend HIS almost like machines.
Then, again. there those Who while they are not
guilty IN any of The erroneous ways ncntioncd, yet
iail iuto equally great error They hear selirght
eousiy. For such hearers the Gospel had no meaninx
Again often do themselves Injustice md dtshOnor
by hearing with prcJudiccd mind.
RIGHT WAY TO nKAR rHE GOSPEL.
Lot now consider the right WAYS. We should first
hear IL with simplicity and iaith with tue simplicity
of little children. Secondly should hear
IL honestly and inpartaiiy Tor these traits that
lind especial favor IN The eyes OF our Lord Thirdly,
VIC must bear II patiently When mysteries aud hard
sayings up the Divine ord must not 10
discouraged but 10 patient TO the cnd Fourthly, we
must hear It studously, not with blind and super
sIitious creduiy; and, finally, must hear II
Eesliy We afford bring q critical apd
trng spirit into this matter; the stake
too grave.