The New York herald., 1877-09-03
GOSPEL TEACHINGS.
Persecution as a Tonic for the Soul
of the Christian.
THE FAlTHFULNESS OF GOD.
Conversation in Heaven and Spiritual
Famine on Earth.
ST. 1GNATIUs' CHURCH.

ST. IGNATIUS' CHURCH
pua CONVERSATION Is IN HEAVENLY THE
REV. DR. EwER.
Rev. Or. Ever preached in St. lgnatus' Episcopal
Church. West Forteth street, yesterday morning. the
text ssOur Conversation is in heaven" Philippians
I'LL 90 Taking this text by ITSELF alone, he said, We
might be In some perplexity about the word "conver
sat,onn though thinking that II meant more than 1t
appears 1t is partly explained by preceding verse,
the seventeenth, which says 'Bretnren be followers
together Of me, and mark them which walk 50 as ye
have US for an example" Tho meaning OF tho word
icon seems then to be about the same as 10
walk or to live. The clergy man thou cited number
similar passages In support OF MS theory Hc con-
I'VE thus find ST. Paul writing to his brethren
at Phippi concerning his present e, not as to what
It had been before he became disciple Of
Christ. Tho contrast is very striking aud re-
mark able between lie then, whea, he said In his
Ipeech before Agrippa Ater the srictest sect OF my
religon lived Pharisee,' and at tho time in which
he writes We not to think, however. that this
sstriclest sect" made up Of open sinners and
believers; but rather TINT It's followers to great ex
tent, wero deceived with regard TO themselves. All
their acts were performed corresponding effect
other mon, Christ said "All their works they do
10 BE- seen OF men," We cave example here, VIII hch
ON h. moi To puss uunotceu of ono who followed Him
VINO great humility casting oil tho robes
oi pride and putting on the garments OF humiiity.
Paul made q full confession before the Church
for all Paul is txhortng Us TO inmate
himself In his conversation" Tor, he says, "many
walk, oi whom have told You often, and now tell you
even weeping that they the enemies ol the cross
Of Christ, whose end Is destruction. whose God Is
their belly, aud whose glory is in their shame, VINO
mind earthly things" He also exhorts them ~ avoid
imitation OF those who he Such are not
out ot The pale Of the CHRISTIAN Church Ihey may oe
members thereof, though not living members There
are sl,li many rharlsees; they those who glory
their own imagined goodness
Paurs expression In the original Is very peculiar.
and much moro expressive than when translated by
the word conversation. II means citizenship or the
lie oil citizen. Whatever rights citzen may have
car'h he Will receive IN heaven, which is a king
dom, having dehnite constitution aud laws which
must be obeyed An organic life is impaired TO u
by the LORD himself, and the government Is lree
from any human nperlect,ons II can only be en-
joyed BY those have ceased to care for earthly
lhngs Paul was born IN larsus, no moan city ITSELF
aud ne was born IA Roman citizen but he has found
citizenship which pleases him better than any honor
the mighty Roman Empire can confer upon him.
Once he had treasure iaid up on earth; but now ne
has not All that he values most Ia in heaven once
he had duties earthly Kingdom to perform; but
now ms sphere OF active duty u different one, and
all actions reach TO aeavon-he does all things Tor
ths glory OF God. We II suppose that the neav
euIy kingdom Is u thing of the iuture II certain
that the citzenship be held now as Is that the
kinpdom of God mas begun ON earth. Tho apostles in
their preaching do fail to present to The idea OF
ideal perfection, as In tins case. we are all in
state OF progress all that we gam ON this side Of the
grave amounts 10 much ON the otner, ana
Sl that lose will then bo iound Us great loss IL
often believed and acted upon that all we can do
tue heavenly kingdom. We must while on earth en-
ter upon our divine citizenship and prepare while
here enjoy IL IN the kingdom 10 come The citizen
snip OF which speak consists as III an earthy stale'
OF certain rights and privileges and certain duties
The duties are 10 ''pess the LORD praise MIN anu
magnify him forever" We must '.love, bonor and
serve him, and magnify mis- molly name forever. "
veys an idea vi compulson more dsag reeable
while 10 praise God cannot DC other than great
pleasure oi the privileges Of that heavenly Kingdom
no tongue speak. They Will impart happiness un
ltteraOe 10 HIM that hath shall be gwen, aud no
5hall have abupdantly
EIGHTEENTH STREET NJ. Z. CHURCH.
THE YAIrHFULNEss OF GoD--sEEMoN BY REV.
W. F. HATFIELD.
In the Eighteenth Street Methodist Episcopal
Church, near Eighth avenue, the pastor, Rev. W. f.
Hatfield, appeared in his pulpit yesterday morning
after the usual summer vacation. The church
beautifully decorated with flowers, and the music,
which under the direction OF Mr.. n. r. Atwood,
assisted by Mr. George Brouer, was excellent The
text was selected from Deuteronomy, vii, 9-"Know,
therefore, that the Lord thy Cod he Is God the faith
full God, which keepeth and mercy with them
that love him, and keep his commandment to thou
sand generations" Almost from time immemoral
have been accustomed to make contracts and
form treaties with another, said Mr. Hatfield.
Society exists and only exist by certain promises
or contracts made between individual members OF
which society is composed. Let these be broken and
The greatest disorder will prevail the civilized
and enlightened lands. All organ liza tions, social,
political and religious, bound together by some
compact, the keeping OF which essential to their
prosperity and preservation We have recently seen
the uie effects resulting from the breaking away
those contracts made between tho employer and tho
employed l do not say mat those contracts were
wise Or just. am OF tue opinion that the most Of
them were made III tho Interest oi the capltaist and
against the laOorer. But see the consequences Of
breaking the contract without due considcra-
tion. That broken covenant between capital
aud labor has this nation $50. OO0, 900 and
has put heavier burden OH the shoulders of the
poor thaa he has ever carried before and those
who oppressed the poor man by reducing his wages,
instead oI sharing their lvss"s with nim are CHIEFLY
Responsible lor all the SUFFERING waste and desoatun
that occurred IN this country during last July. Men
are prone to forget their promises, but God never ior
gets His promises. Men promise God IN times of
trouble, they will bc liberal and give largely His
cause. In time oil sickness and death they say, "lf
my hfc Is spared ana my friends arc spared then We
will devote time and all wc have 10 God and His
cause" But how iorgetiul men are Of these cove
nauts after the trouble past But God does not ior
get his covenants witn man. He made covenant with
Moan, and stands upbrokcn TO tnis day. saw the
beaut full seal oil that covenant ON the bosom OF the
cloud not long ago. tnerc II stood arching The hcav-
ens an incontestaDe proof OF Gods iaitniulpess
HIS word. God has been faithful TO us. He has pre-
served our lives during tho brei period OF our spa
Sion aud has brought Us together again IN HIS chosen
temple, where we would remember His past loving
kIndnesses and woulI render to HIM our devout
thanksgvings Aud, remembrance OF what God
haIh done Tor u.s. let covenant anew to servo Him !;
and, as another summer has gone and TIME is growing
short with redeem the bric period that re-
maius tor US on earth and never forget AMID the bus
ness, the cares and socl,uucs OF he, that this God
whom worship is ''tne faithful Gou which Keep
eth covenant and mercy with them that love him
and keep his commandments 10 u thousand genera
tiona"
CHURCH OF The INCARNATION.
how TO AVOID RELIGIOUS FAMINE--sERXoN
BY REV. DIR. ARTHUR BEooKs.
kev. DR.. Arthur Brooks, rector of the Protestant