The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-23
FREE TABERNACLE M. E. CHURCH.


CHRISTMAS NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. by REV. WILL
lam n. sEARI.Es,
THAT star in the east stands transixed over the
spot and the chorus Of the angelic legion is hushed
they hear the feeble cry Of an infant who en-
bodies the promised redemption Of mankind" said
Rev. William n. Searles yesterday during his dis
course on Christmas Thoughts" in the Free Taber-
nacle Methodist Episcopal Church Thirty fourth
street. The speaker had chosen his text from
Isaiah. xl.. 3-"Prepare ye the way of the
Lord" This he set forth. does not imply in
the least that the part Of God the way of the
Lords coming and triumph is not already prepared.
The address simply contemplates the heavenly part
the preparation of human hearts, when. described
in the succeeding verse. Every valley shall be ex-
allied and every mountain and hill shall be made low. .
when human pride and human ambition, now in the
ascendancy. shall be laid low grand highway made
and the way of the Lord thoroughly prepared.
Nothing that is important should be entered on
without and preparation. Just as the heart OF a
true Christian should exert itself to prepare for .
Sabbath Day so are we to prepare Tor Christs COM
ing Christs victory in our hearts. 1t is presumptu
Gus TO rush boastfully and thoughtessly into any
grand work. The disciples prepared for the day
OF Penticost with prayer aud burning thought,
until at length Peter by his preparation had reached
a boldness never known TO him before and never
known in the experience of any other Christian.
We may learn this lesson from Christs coming into
the world that the religion we profess Is not the
mere spawn of an exploded philosophy. but great
fact In the existence of the world. and one that
| Is inseparable from its history and destiny.
Every incident in the worlds history every epoch in
the ages OF mankind has its relation to this important
event II Jesus had not condescended to assume our
nature in this very shape brief and terrible
tence would have summed up the whole history
of Adams race. This would be 1.-THE wages Of
sin is DEATH and the portals Of
the tomb might have been engraved the awful words.
.'who enters this place leaves hope behind. But
thanks be TO God for His unspeakabe gift in that He
| sent His Son for redemption-and the song Of
1 the angels for evermore IL, GLORY to God in the
highest and on earth peace. good will toward
| men," analyze hearts we Will
| find that there is nothing we need so much
~ personal visit from the Saviour. to the end that
He may reign in our hearts. II He dwells within me
my nature il corrected and am made holy but II /
expel Him from my heart am mean, sinful and cor
rupt II our hearts had more Of Christ dwelling in
them would be better men and women and bet
ter Church. Some of you are in tears to-day
| as you think of the loved now gone,
and who we're with you at the last Christ
mas festival. But remember that where they are
all His happiness and tears never known Receive
Jesus to-day. He is the great CONSIDER of bruised
and afflicted hearts and besides has prepared for you
a crown of glory to wear for evermorc.
The church tastcfully decorated with festoons
| Of evergreens. some Of which we're suspended from
the apex of the roof. The chancel and pulpit we're
also decorated with embems appropriate to the joy
| full Christmas season.