New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-26
SERMONS WORTH READING.
VII.
TIE NEEDS OF THE HUMAN SOUL.
THE REV. DR. JAMES HALL M'ILvAINE, THE
NEWLY ELECTED PASTOR OF THE CHURCH
OF TEE COVENANT.


warm welcome awaited the Rev Dr. j. II. Nell
valre In the Presbyterian Church OF the Covenant at
Thirty Gftl-st ard ParLave. yesterday morning. when
he preached his first sermon pastor OF one OF the
youngest and at the same time of the most pros
porous churches of its denomination in this city. DR..
Marvin il. Vincent, the former pastor, has been for
year professor in the Union theological Seminary.
Or. McIlvalne was born in Utica in lS46, and when
twenty years old graduated from Princeton Col
ege. Before graduating from Princeton Seminary he
taught In the college, where his father was also pro-
fessor Ho was ordained by tho Presbytcry OF Mon
mouth In 1873, and accepted call TO the Presbyterian
Church at Beverly, N. j., where he preached for SIX
years, when he went TO the Presbyterian Church at
summit ~ j. He was then called TO the Union Con-
gregatonal Church of Providence, r. L. 10 succeed the
Rev. Dr. Bchrends, who had accepted call TO the
Central CONGREGATIONAL Church Of Brooklyn. where he
now u.s. From the Union Church Dr. McllvaIne
comes to the Church Of the Covenant lie Is an ex-
tempore speaker and carries even notes into the
pulpit His text yesterday morning was John vii, 81
" II any thirst let him come unto me and drink
and lie said in substance:
Thirst is the most imperative OF human wants II
is The representative therefore, Of an The deepest
needs of human life. Jesus Christ offers Himself as
the satisfaction of these necessities NO one can give
thoughtful attention TO Chris 'iany. IN what Is ana
villa IL proposes. and also 10 human nature In what IL
is and what # needs, without perceving how wonder
fully and mercifully The former Is adjusted 10 tne
latter. The adaptation IS Ike that OF me uehd 10 INC
eve the atmosphere to the lungs the solar influences
to the earth inhabit God has madc no mistake In
the gift hat He has bestowed for our acceptance and
faith. We want just what He has given us, and We
want # more than we can know oGTseyes There Is
nngngs of human SOILS and the fullness that is In
We need then first revelation from God. wher.
there mind it must be fed and the proper food
for mind is truth all else is hgks from Hence Hence u IN az
an mperogs cry for truth What Is the rni hor con
Hel What does lie demand Of us, and how can we
satisfy His requirements And what are We? Where
s cg we wsy make ars tho best ana Of oa
ves These are irrepres ;oie questions Reason docs
Iestates, faters, contrad!cts herself Is pcrpetuay
discouraged by tho OF her own nsdequacy hastily
ton, sinks back into perpl kitty and silence so It
among the cultivated heathen before Christ came
Agnoscism is not term Of repio9ch to those whose
opinions it describes yet what Is It but confession
problems that can engage the mind of manf Men
have never been satisfied with their own answers TO
better answer, surer and more authoritative than
their own wisdom can supply JESUS Christ oilers
am the TRUTH Show US tho Father" " He that
hath soon Me hath seen tie Father what shall
is the work OF Cod, that We believe Him whom God
hath seDt' IF man die shall he live aganf", Il
am He hat llyeth, and yas DEAL and behold am
Cod in the Gospel Of Je-us Christ meets this need Of
ifc Of earth attcsdns il ~ signs and wonders from
Ieavsn disclosing IN IT H.. nature and PURPOSES TO
thing that they cam safely ana surely believe
which they rest with mistaken confidence amid
all the mystery and uncertainty OF their mortal en-
virOnmcnt. A simple reasonable faith in this rcvola-
thoiy in all matters OF which IL treats. Is the
sary condition Of mental relief and spiritual quetdc
No matter how much a man knows how long and deep
his speculation, he must come al last TO believe In
God and in what God says, and because God says II,
or find certainty, rest for his soul. Those who
too wise for this faith too wise for their
welfare. As the foundation Of our philosophy well
OF faith, rs the guide OF our reason as well
Of fiOSDcl
Jesus Christ Is worth thousand times al the IN
genOus speculaiioDs and plausible srmses the eager
guesses and blind groupings after truth since the world
THE NEED OF PARDON FOR SIN.
The most prominent fact of history iutting out like
mighty promontory into the sea, Is the fact of SIN
No consciousness among men is moro universal and
alarming than the consciousness OF SIM and want
more profound and soulsearching than that 10 which
this consciousness gives rise, the want Of pardon
1t IS as old as humanity. We just beginning to
read what Is probably The oldest literature OF tho
world, written upon the clay tablets strangely brought
light I'm the buried cities OF the East Inc remnant
Of civilization old and passing away whom Abraham
We find its hymns and llturgos full OF The same cry
that breaks from the lips OF Job How shall man be
Just with GOdl- The BabyOnian psalms also
clear and strCng tie psalms OF David In their cry
OF SIN. The old Hindu vedas s.rke the same note.
The old Greek poets are full OF the same thought in
The frlogy Of Eschylus the Oedpus Of sophoces tho
0restes Of Euripdcs. the one Grcat problem IS. How
shall who has committed Sin escape from his
sin. and atone for #
Nor Is this especially Characteristic OF Eastern
thought. In The beautiful lake region OF England,
near Keswick, yol find the remains OF an ancent
shrine. In the centre Is large stono that served