The New York herald., 1879-02-03
CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH.
RELATIONS BETWEEN MAN AND aoD-sERMoN

BY REV. DIR. NEWMAN.
The Rev. DR.. Newman preached on 'The Great
Teacher taking his text from Luke tx. 35:-"This is
my beloved son; hear him." Christ said the rev.
erend doctor is the only universal teacher known to
All other great religious teachers
tonal confined within certain geographical limits.
But Christ spake for all men and for all times. He
is the most multitudinous man that ever trod our
earth. He knew all men, died for all men and can
save all men, He is the contemporary Of all men
He announced the ultimate truth Of religion: He
tered the words salvation and damnation which ex-
cite the attention of men wherever heard
In certain He without nation
ality. He was not Jew. as Napoleon was
a Freuchman, Wellington was
an Englishman. He said and did nothing that was
not in the interest all mankind. He is the perfect
embodiment and living example of all virtues known
to our race. Many of the heroes of ancient times
men of singular virtue in particular lines Of
conduct. Aristides was the just, who guarded the
spos of Marathon and rejected the proffered bribe
OF Mordinus; Leonidas was an incorruptible patriot
Socrates sank his personality in the depth of his
Epictitus was the model of seif.possession. whose
maxim "suffer and abstain from evil"
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus as Roman En-
peror distinguished for his learning, vir-
tue and benevolence. But Christ
plete model of human character, possessing all
virtues in their perfection. They the jewels Of
crown of glory united by the golden band of perfcc-
tion He had in their fulness and symmetry all the
isolated virtues Of the renowned heathens just
toned. They united in Him like the colors of the
rainbow that blend in ray of light. Christ Is the
safest and most important religious teacher known
to man. He reveals to the fatherhood of God il
was never revealed before. The God whose character
He disclosed was not much the stern sovereign,
the inhexibe lawgiver and the inexorable judge in
whose presence men trembe and from whom they turn
with dread He the tender and forgvng father.
Would He encourage the penitent to hope for pardon
He declares the Heavenly Father is ready to forgive;
would He invite to prayer, He teaches him
"Our Father which art in heaven" would He cheer
the dying saint it is with the that In My
Fathers house there many mansions"
MANS DIGNITY.
Christ proclaimed the brotherhood Of man
other religious teacher. With Him man is greater
than the nation, greater than the Sabbath, greater
than creeds He would not allow any one. mat
ter how low he might have fallen TO be despised.
He would permit no word of contempt to be spoken.
lie boldly declared that the angels carried beggar
Paradise and the crowning glory of His teachings
was the reconciliation of God and man. He pre-
sents Himself to the centre OF all human his
tory. without Him all history is mystery, formless
and lawless; rising and falling of nations without
order or end. without Him the world is enigma,
but in Him we find the key to all human history. He
who rejects Christ moves in triangle. he ascribe
moral evil to God he is a pantheist; If he
chance he is fatalist. Philip Of Macedonia
thanked the gods not so much that they had given
him son as that they had given that son an Aris-
totle to be his teacher Let thank God that He has
not only given u soul, but also has given His
Son to be our teacher. Humanity demands simple
comprehensive rule of action. Language is not SUIT
fcently full and accurate to define and enumerate oil
the relations between man and man and man and
God. Mohammed gave his disciples 0,0O0 precepts;
but these were not sufficient. Christ is wiser. He
has given ten foot rule, which goes down the
lowest man and up to the throne of God. 1t is q
complete summary of all human duty. In conclu-
sion the Doctor said that Christ Is the only religious
teacher known to mankind who has future. Soc
had their day and arc exhausted, while Christ is
fresh and inexhaustible.