The New York herald., 1879-09-29


of our Western papers. that SO far as his opserva-
tion goes. those who desert the sanctuary and its
services. soon or late come to grief. So come to
you with great longing in my heart to stand with
all my brethren of every name in the urgent plea
they make for the presence of all who feel there
be help for them in the house of the Lord-nay OF
those who do not feel this but who would
fain help Others Are you borne down by the burden
OF your sin? There is help for you in the house OF
the Lord. Do you think you can do better alone!
doubt that, but il of it would still say.
Who are you that you should do this thing when you
to help them? is God to be worshipped in the
woods? Surely, but the most holy place Is that
which has been made holy by the mighty cry OF hu-
the Christ is forever in the Christian heart
and life. when we can ind the angels in human
guise and in it all and through it all worship the
eternal. immortal. invisible, whom no man hath
seen see. God all. blessed forever more
and say with our whole heart as the good sweet day
comes round. "I was glad when they said unto me
let US go into the house OF the Lord
FIFTH AVE. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
'TuE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF ooD"-sER-
MON BY THE REV. DIR. HALL.
The close of the summer season was attested by
the large and hionable gathering at the morning
service Of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church
The announcement that Dr. Hall, who returned from
a European trip last week. expected to oficiate
had also not little to do with increasing the
ber OF the congregation. Punctuality is of the
eStopusueu rules III duA uiluAStrys anu tue scr
vice began promptly at eleven o'clock. He made
reference during its continuance of his trip abroad
and took for his text the last clause of the twenty
fourth verso of the twentieth chapter of the
Acts-"The ministry which have received
Of the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel
Of the grace of God" Paul had been at work,
said the minister, twenty-five years when these
solemn words were uttered, under solemn circum-
stances to the elders-words which are the keynote
of my thirteen years Of mininisterial labor among
you. They should be engraven upon your hearts.
Let us look and carefully analyze them. may
do under four heads. the first of which is the
specific work Of the ministry-to make God known
to men. The first duty Of the ministry to is to
Is it that induces the coal diggers from abroad to
seek in our Pennsylvania mines for coal? Because
we have taught them it is there Why do we seek
health and recreation in the country during the
summer months? Because we believe they are
there; and upon the same common principle in
our nature, in order to go to God We must
believe in Him, we must know Him to
seek after Him. It is the highest duty Of the min
istry to make Him known to man and the greatest
boon that poor mortals of clay can receive is the
knowledge that they shall see God and know Him in
that sense that they feel His presence and under
visible is nothing. It s with electricity, magnet
ism and other powers that We know There are other
ministries-the ministries Of human knowledge and
of natural sciences 1t is ministry that does not al
ways know the bearings Of what it is doing. Science
has its own ministry and is doing its own work.
and ought to be grateful for what 1t has accom-
plished.
THE INCARNATION.
The words Of the text emphasized the sphere of
the work Of the ministry OF the Gospel concern
ing the grace of God. The sinner cannot appeal to
justice. for that condemns him; to the goodness
of God, for that only makes him blacker by its
whiteness 1t is the distinctive grace of the Gospel
OF which we must think-that grace which works
man complains that God pleases to give man his
food from out Of the earth that He gives wealth as
the reward of industry and diligence. and no man
can complain that He gives grace through Christ
It must not be supposed that the incarnation is in
conceivable or incredible. 1t was in the religion
Of India and in the Greek and Roman mythology.
1t has general prevalence and is embedded in the
human heart. for millions upon millions Of people
have conceived it and believed in it. We find as
spiritual knowledge Increases the fitness OF the
plan OF our salvation In . new and clearer Light.
Men were wont to paint their own God. To make
men know Him as He is He made divinity in
humanity that we might the light of the glory
Of God in the face Of Jesus Christ HIS Son.
There is nothing easier than to convince ourselves
We have IN idea. when we have word only. The
light aud truth OF the Gospel as necessary as the
food We eat and the light by which we see to our
happiness and usefulness in serving the end for
which were made. Great additions to human
knowledge have been made, which add to our
comfort and power. We travel great distances
in short periods Of time and communicate
readily with each other when far apart. But
there is a want deeper than all these things can
reach-our sins. soul, eternal life The last
consideration of the words of the text brings forth
the idea that ministers witnesses testfying the
grace Of the Gospel. not merely repeating
porting 1t, but telling of that OF which they know.
Christ called His apostles His witnesses They were
eye Witnesses and we are their successors. though
not in that 1t must be poor. slavish work to
be uttering. parrot-like words tho meaning Of which
has never been apprehended When Peter uttered
his solemn warning against the wiles OF the Devil he
spoke OF that which he knew best The value Of that
testimony extends through parents to their children.
through Sunday school teachers to their pupils and
through every Christian worker-all OF one heart
and mind to make known the grace of God.