The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-04-11
DIX HoGE IN ST. LOUIS.
ais Sermon Mt the DsdIea ticn OF the Gram
Avenue PRESBYTERIAN Church.

His ~ Ynou ut thc DrufFa Hon " s"N $500
Avenue PRESBYTERIAN Church.
The following IL from the st. Louis
GLOBE Democrats report OF the dedication
of the Grand-Ayenue Presbyterian church,
OF that city, which took place on Sunday
last:
Rev. DIR. Moses d. Hoge, OF Richmond.
Va. delivered the dedication sermon. lie
selected his text from st. John:
M, kingdom IL not Of this world"
he commenced by saying that the day to
which the pastor and congregation nad
looked forward for so LONG bad at last
come: the building all had hoped ana
prayed for had been brought to compile
zion. and not only were all grateful for the
contamination OF the work, but were CRATE
ful that IL had been accomplished without
any casualties 10 any one connected WIN
the work. and that the utmost harmony
had characterized all parties connected
with Il. When he looked at the beautiful
structure, so complete in all Its
ELABORATE DETAILS,
ne could not but be impressed with ITS
beauty and but feel deep realization OF
the sacred purposes for which 1t was
erected, When he looked at the memorial
windows. one Of which was constructed
in memory OF one OF the prominent pas
tors of the church, they seemed flooded
with sweet and tender memories-memo-
ries that recalled the time when the praises
of those persons were still in the churches.
Their memories were ever present, ana
their spirits rested in the bosom OF God.
Everything appeared perfect, the harvest
appeared to be complete, and there was
nothing 10 prevent the service from being
A bappy one. He hoped the blessing oil
the lord would always be upon the
building and its congregation, and the
LIGHT of the Lords countenance Oh
WAYS beam upon IL. Aside from this.
IL was the application OF the text that made
the building so conspicuous. 1t was
house dedicated to God, who has said,
INV kingdom IL not OF this world"
There was something different in character
md devotion to thus kingdom than TO
Earthly Kingdoms. 1t was the Inauguration
of a new age. 1t was the event that chro-
nologically located the commencement OF
everything that was valuable on earth.
There were no such associations connected
with earthly Kingdoms. Christ speaks en-
phatically OF this kingdom as His. This
claim was more than real. Christ bad said:
al am the light OF the world"; also. who
ever drinks OF the water OF life shall never
thirst, but have life everlasting. Christ
was always exertlng His divine right and
authority. What a contrast between
the worldly philosophers who claimed
almost supernatural wisdom. Imagine
Socrates SAYING that he was the light
OF the world, or Plato saying that
he was the water OF life. With Christ
such expressions fell from His bps
rs natural as the dew falls from heaven on
the flowers. Christ claimed no local king
dom. The Lord was recognized by Moses
and David. John spoke OF Him as one
greater than he. Solomon whose name
was synonym OF all that was wise and
magnificent recognized the name OF the
Lord. Was there ever an earthly poten-
tate who received such a recognition
Christ was conscious Of his divinity, and,
knowing all that was in man and God, EN-
bodied oil that was necessary to reconcile
God aud man. There was no ostentation
or display in Christ. Christ said, g am
the way and the light" and there was no
other way or light.
THE WORLD
had no other hope. Christ sought no sub
iects save those who we're redeemed by
His grace. When Christ said that Hi
kingdom was not of this world he meant
that It was different In reign from earthly
kingdoms. This kingdom was not the
product OF historic forces, which frequent
ly established kingdoms on earth. It was
not erected because some public sentiment
demanded Il. There was no earthly phi |
losophy out Of which such q kingdom
could be evolved. 1t was not developed
from a race religion. 1t was not developed F.,
from principles at work in the Jewish
kingdom, because that kingdom was dia- |
metrically opposed to Christ. The Jews
were local In their religion. They restrict
ed il to the Jews only, and ab0minated
the Gentiles. Christ made His king
dom universal and international, taking i'm
all the nations of the world. The Jews /
were restricted TO plaees and Christ to the |
whole human heart. There was also diff
ference in the character and purpose OF
Christ's kingdom and the earthly Kingdoms. /
The earthly Kingdoms were based upon
utility and strength, and worked ont pro-
cess OF development TO make them power |
full; they sought national glory, had
standing armies, and other evidences Of
power. How different with the heavenly
kingdom-the kingdom OF Christ which
consists OF the image OF God In the
souls OF men to prepare them for inn
mortal life. ultimately for the spiritual
reward. ri was spiritual, inward, IN con-
tradistinction to the outward. worldly
Kingdom. Earthly Kingdoms were limited
by geographical subdivisions, royal robes
and palaces and symbols OF power. Thel
Kingdom OF Christ was not restricted by
geographical limits or distinguished for
royal pomp, for the Son OF Man bad not
where TO lay His head; but its boundaries
extended to the utmost limits OF the world.
II was kingdom whore the king selected
his subject instead Of the subject selecting
the king.
The speaker then compared the princi-
pies OF Christianity wish those OF heather
philosophers and explained the difference.
He detaiied the progress Of the Christian
religion from Judea through Greece, giving
the names OF the cities through which it /,
passed until Il
RsAcHsD RoMs, !
and from there scattered throughout the 4
world. lie said 1t proved It's power byj
dwelling heather temples and scattering
idols to the winds. II overturned polythe. |
ism and overcsme persecution. IL grew I'm l
the face OF persecution and produced
great transformation IN nations rs we'll Oh |
individuals. Ii possessed the power To-
make over and regenerate men. II made1
men over again. The world was full ou
such illustralions-esu the prosecutors
was not Paul, the missionary aud martyr. |
After referring 70 several types Of trans
formations he spoke OF The bond OF
sympasy which sncircled the reTi-
gious world, and then alluded tod
the spirit which should animate the dis
penser OF the gospel. He said that the
preacher who confined himself the closest
70 the Bible would reap the largest har-
vest. Estheiics were appropriate In some
places, but NOS exactly IN the pulpit. Therei
was no iinpropriety To 80 eloquent flourish