New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-09-16
CHRIST CRITICIZED.

The Rep Dr. John at F Avenue PreibgsTtdn Chu'e'
The regular services at the Fifth Avenue
Presbyterian Church resumed yesterday morning.
The congregation was large. The Rev. Dr. John han
occupied the pulpit for the first time since his return
from Europe and chose his text from First Corinthians
L. 22 For the jews require sign and the Greeks seek
after wisdom but We preach Christ crucihed"
Many people to-day. said the preacher demand phe-
uomepaI preacher. They must have, they feel SOME
thing that will hold their attention whether or no. We
must see to 1t that seek nourishment such as sens
BILE men and women need-such as they find In the
humble acceptance Of Christ cruoihed While the Jews
were inclined to the supernatural the Greeks were pho
sophjea They cared more for laws Of God than for
His personal dealings with They sincere In
seeking wisdom Paul would teach them that good
as this wisdom was in its place. still 1t could not TAKE
the place Of Christ cruced To tho old Greeks who
have given noble philosophy, to tho modern Greeks
who have given ms scientific knowledge We owe much
that makes life pleasant but for the purposes OF max
ing men holy we want Christ crucifed-he preacher to
teach It, the people receive It, The spread OF educa-
ton and OF knowledge and the reorganization OF society
will not answer spiritual regeneration OF men, Inat
is only through Christ crucifed-
Aud thus we come to the apostolic teaching-not
signs not wisdom And let me- therefore, speak to you
of Him He is to be received in simple faith, TO be
taken as God sends HIN. with love and
obedience. We have only 70 identity our
selves with Him by faith, aud We are accepted as He
This s che process ths is what IL olvrd in Christ
crucihed Thus IL is that man shall know God. Ihough
the Jews demand sign and the Greeks wisdom, We
have before spiritual ends and aimsChist crueihed
We are not working for time. but for eternity. We give
the message; do His will aud leave the rest to II W.
This message, tnen that must continue 10 deliver
20 YOU While have been away have been consider
ing what would be good for congregation. divided as
IL 10 In classes. There poor people IN H. althOugh
that not the popular impr sson. But thank God "
is true. To you, help you bear your burdens, what
shall I say | shall preach Christ crucihed FOR you
For your sakes He became poor. You are rich there
FIRE m
And TO the class that comparatively rich, what sha
say them that VIII DO them good except Christ cTuci-
hedi what will keep them from the sius which wealth
brings What will comfort them when they must give
up all that the world 20 hold dear Christ cruci-
fed Aud what shall say 20 the many young men who
attend this church. aud Who IN the great city, are sur
rounded by so many temptationsf know nothing but
Christ crucIed aud honest allegiance TO Him. Not edn-
cation nor sefrcspect will hold them Fdlthfulncss
Christ will Toe strongest motives FOR unselishness
and purity emAnate rom Hin. There are sorr0wlnE
hearts here too them what set form that
will satisfy and comfort these bereaved souls Nothing
but Chrst cTuced. Jesus died and Is tho resurrection
those have gone shall share with HIN His glory
We preach Jewish signs Greek wisdom, but Christ