New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-15
THE MEANING OF CHRIsrs WORKS.

BfsEoD Simpson The Heddin0 Methcdst Episcopal Chur
Bishop Matthew Simpson preached yester-
day morning in the Hedding Methodist Episcopal
Church In seventeenth-st His text ST. John
"a: II had not done among them the works which
none other mau did they had not had sin; but now
they have and hated both me and my Father
The passage selected. said the Bishop, contains
an important train Of thought. There never but
one perfect character in this world Christ alone OF
all men could His adversaries in the aud say
Which OF you convinceth me of sinT But He docs
not appeal for belief in Himself 10 His purity alone ;
but passing 1t by He says: II had not done among
them the works winch other did they had not had
sim" You and could have no thought OF God that
had SIN in it, Holiness IL the attribute fire.
quently ascrbed HIM. But this holiness not the
absence OF sin disinterested benev0lence-an ey
hbton OF is character for the sake ~ doing good for
men. ills tho works OF God which call forth the
strongest Inscriptions of praise the Bible The glory
given Chrts works we'll To the manifestations
OF his character. The power that the world Is
the exhibition OF wOrks-goOdues., bencvolencc, char
ty So Chrsts miracles were exhibitions OF the power
OF God But this the main feature IL not the
power the of the performance to which He
called attention. OIe pecuiarty OF Christs works
were that they not wrought for Himself H.
wrought no miracle for the sake OF showing his Divine
power. They were outgushings OF Divine Power
for the benefit OF others. In this respect He was
different from all other men. How much of work
OF those who commonly called great workers" Is
purely selash But with Christ work was wac
whole human family. lie joined Himself to all cases
of suffering and sorrow Then lind HIM sanctifying
the pleasures aud enovments OF life. He il not monk
but He join Himself TO humanity in Its dearest
hours
His works performed os TO become model
for all humanity. He blessed the little children
But not the OF those boys or those mothers
alone but for all the children and all mothers for all
coming time Christ did not raise the widows son Tor
the sake OF the widow alone but wherever the Widowed
M Christ speaks through this miracle the void or
hope. So the Christian. when BIS the spirit OF
Christ, begins to for the children aud the widows
alone in the pews but In garets and cellars OF the
back streets. Christ joined himself TO all forms OF ao
tive business that In their aD0rs N gt feel SWEEP
union with Him. Among men the constant tendency Is
10 feel more sympathy with the cultured man ana less
with the poor and unfortunate But Christ joined Him
self 10 the masses He had on foot system OF instfuc
ton which should make wise, wealthy and
refined. He directs that the church In all
ages shall of the masses sometimes she wins
her greatest trumphs hen whom Christ
cared for but of whom no one else thinks
You are 10 do the mission which Christ has
pointed out 10 You by His works The recognizes
the spirit OF Christ In you when II you doing His
works II is yours 10 show the universality OF love
which burned In His bosom.