The New York herald., 1877-10-01
FIFTH AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH.
SERMON BY REV. DIR. ARMITAGE-FUTURE
LIFE.

LIFE
The Rev. Dr. Armitage, Of the Forty-s street
and Filth avenue Baptist Churcn, preached an elo-
quent and argumentntive sermon yesterday ON tho
subject OF "Chrst's Silent Testimony to a Future
Life" The reverend gentleman took his text from
John, XIV, 2 containing the following words-"ln my
fathers house many mansions; If II were not so
would have told you" No feeling OF the human soul
is Deeper said the preacher more universal change
less than the aspiration for Immortality; say native,
because the deep conviction OF hereafter seems TO
have been implanted In breast and TO be engraved
thore as the foundation OF all human principle motive
and action. No bong recognized this more fully
than christ IN HIS teachings both by direct avowai
and implication. So FULLY did He comprehend the
sweep or THIS supreme claim that he took special
precaution not to connive ut the wild demand for
special revelations on the subject by the return OF
zone from the deadn as we should last Sunday, be-
cause no such showing could make the doctriue moro
clear And III the text looks into the TACO OF His
disciples on the before His death aud admits
the Obligation unleceve them II they mistaken
grave subject: II II we're not 50 would have
told YOU II would have been piece of guile 10 have
ict those wno trusted Him with the lmpiicitness Of
baDcs msled and deceived In matter so vital. Ihey
gave our Lord their Iul credence tar they under
stood Him. and He proicssed TO open HIS whole heart
to them IN all the confidence OF bosom friend, eav-
ing nothing unbosomed which 1t was Of consequence
for them TO know He wished them TO under.
stand that His innate truthiulness had uttered HIS
whole heart to them, that He could not be silent
aud leave them bewildercd. Whatever might come
after he gone tnero should be no room 10 doubt
his candor or 10 suspect Him Of guile We are hero
naturally led to inquire why Jesus careful 10
the sacred guard around His own consciousness
OF sincerity and veracity. He wished 70 leave an IN.
delioe imprint OF His own transparency upon tho
minds of HIS people, and evidently for these two
reasons-Frst the perfect establishment Of His own
character as teacher. II seems somewhat uncom.
mon. II not unaccounable, that he should make such
orceul asseverat in negative form as the words
III II were not SO l would have told you" He
had never been suspected of completely with untruh,
much less ot equivocaton or prevaricaton. Now, II
you would weigh HIS whole motive you must take
into account thai He never put the doctrine Of
hereafter into the front rank OF His stirring truths
Therefore tEerc should be no mistake or hollowness
on the momentous issue. Every word must be
frank that Il gances through their bosoms iic sun
beam Ordinary goodness could no: allow Him to de-
lude them by selfish dream II the fearful secret lay
in His breast that empty nothingness would mock all
their aspirations when once they come to stumble out
OF existence INTO u bottomless grave. How could a
good teacher put the cup OF immortality TO their lips
ana then dash 1t TO the ground untastcd? Could
Christ look in dumb Indifference, mute composure
while HIS msled people were tanta!izcd by cruel
mocsery. He couples HIS veraclty IN this matter
with HIS established Character OF His Father, saying
'Yc believe God, believe me. Ye trust God trust
me Conide IN me us ye connde IN HIM. he asks
that the reliance may be put upon His
word which they reposed In the verify OF Jenovan.
Second, He makes this uvowa that He may lay the J.
rmest possible basis tor the confidence o His people,
lie condcscends TO foriiy HIS own word against the
possibility OF any questioning whatever; uo puts
under their feet a solid foun uation for hope support
and consolation by frankly avowing At II IL were
so He would have told ,hem They would be
called To suner and die Tor Him, and IL act Of
common justice that Ho should tell them II they
grasping SHADOW or pursuing dream, He could not
allow them TO MAKE the price OF marIyrdom perpetual
not avowing n iuture state forms the most positive
testimony Tor It's existence, and puts rock beneath
your feet on which you build your confidence OF
immortality. al II were SO would have told
you"