New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-16
THE WORLD FOR CHRIST.
DIR. PRATT, OF NORWICH, BEFORE THE
AMERICAN BOARD
THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH OUTLINED, AND
ITS FUTURE PoRTRAYED-HELPFUL
CRITICTGM


The annual sermon before the American Board
OF Commissioners for Foreign Missions dellv-
ered last evening in the Broadway Tabernacle by the
heV' Dr Lewciyn Pratt. of Norwich Conn. 1t was
listened to by large and interested audience.
Dr' PIaits subject i" The Christian Church Es
sehtlaly Missionary his text being: Jesus there
fore' said to them again. Peace unto you; the
ta'her hath sent me. even send | you And when
lie had said this He breathed them, ami sad
them Receive We the Holy Spirit; whatsoever sins ye
lofeVe they are forgiven; whatsoever sins ye etain
lhey are ietained.'-John Xxx, 21-23. The sermon was
In part follows:
,o bethre9 and Fathers These words take us back
nc beginnings OF the Christian Church. Thcy define Is
MISSION, confirm its authority and reveal its world
WIue power. II th0le be any special occasion when
prayer OF Jesus Christ just before lie yielded up Ills
M, ana come under the baptism of His first meeting
MN we disciples aftor HIS resurrection, when lie
FORMALLY and for al time commissioned them--t is I'm
Such services as this which calls together tonighL
We arr gathered from our distributed tasks TO counsel
lOf The work Of the Church In the world 10 study the
pan OF me Leader aud to learn the nature of the
MISSION rom the Head Of the movement from the King
VINO Iends the embassy of which part.
vh JnE back then, to that prayer of conservation in
NHnh Jesus surveys the extent OF the work ntI1lsed
i ii'ii we near Him praying for new means Of action
ur ;he World Having finished the part to be
sell restoration to the complete exercise Of divine
powers OF which lie had for the time Invested Him
SCH Not simply for restoration divine blcsSednes
ana giory doe lie ask-for the aim Of that petition is
3t ms own satisfaction, but the continuation and fin
send Me- ' i"o" N''''
Assuming now. what lie had up to this time for
nn1en the disciples to use. the title Of the Christ,
MAJ they may have His sanction 81 It's use since IIe
j. III little while to commit IIlN work ON earrh TO
them and 10 give them the word of command for
mahhhl lie prays by an appeal to the decree Of tho
by which sovereignty the whole human race.
an nesh'-had been conferred upon Hin Redeemer
ana savior. That sovereignty, He, " the Christi IS
now TO use as the basis OF the command to 60 ami
nSpe az the nations-that IS, to take possession of
In the very terms used lie shows that He Is the ono
apostle the mission Of the disciples is included In His
ana IS simply TO realize that to the world. He claims
this i'm the word used to express His sending while in
PASSING II on TO them He uses simpler word implying
sending under that lie is the Apostle: th"y are Ills
evangelist And there is properly but one mission
there IS also but force for fulfilling. that which he
higher stage, Jesus raises them by the Spirit 10 this
new position associates them in His state raised
rom the dead just later at PontecOst He viii mako
mem participate through the spirit IN His s!atc a,
E'lhe communicates to them the spirit Of ADOPTION
wills into unison with His that they that may be pre-
human being IN the name OF Christ. Peace be unto
Me cs ePa YOU R Into 6G wST as the aser
sins ye forgive, they are forgiven"
I. CHRIST'S MISSION. THE PATTERN.
ChriSps mission the world Is our starting point as
we strive to find the motive lying back Of the Christian
Church. He Himself makes this III" pattern for Ills
disciples and declares the extent and character Of the
sympathy which must SuD~iSt between them and their
pattern The most absolute oneness OF heart will and
life is required Of them to receive His mind on all
things as perfect wisdom His Will as absolute law 10
be able TO cry TO Him a, He cried TO the Father not
my will, but thine be- dOne7-this is the spirit OF
Christian dlscpeship. II Is not merely the fact of
mission but the character OF the mission which Christ
their relation to the world. lie assumes It be pos
sibe that Ills followers enter into the spirit that in
he says 10 the Colossia,: ill up on my part hat
which IS lacking Of the Affections of Christ in my flesh
IL I,g -.Ira tt-t oh f.H ln
word Of Cod even the my 5tey which hath been hid
from all ages and generations: but now hath Il been
make known what Is the riches Of the glory among the
Gentiles, which Is Christ in you the hope of glory
We do not forget that there Is tho great distinctive
work Of Jesus Christ IN which man has partnership
which done for all and declared 10 be finished
sacrifice which lie alone made for it, eNpiaon. He
Is the Author Of salvation a. well rs the Witness OF
om Heaven. I'm the sense lie IS not sent. lie IS
the Absolute Undcrived Origin and Source lie is the
Lamb that hath been slain 1Om the foundation Of the
WORLD in the other, lie IS the Messenger OF ne cove
nant the Apostle Of the Gospel already provided who
ton Of the world God reveals Himself in Christ by
what Christ does and Is rather than by what lie says
but lie pTocaimS Himself and His death making sacI
fee Is a revelation and proclamation. Not "a He
makes the Atoncmcnt for sin. but lie brings that
out Of the cOuusclS Of eternity and makes 1t operative
upon the world Is lie her, 10 be the pattern for the
Church Tahe. for example, a few of the salient
features Of ChTist's mis- ion.
l. He was sent into the world to declare and apply
the remedy for the disease Of sin-a scientific remedy
which made application Of Gods mind, by careful
method. by inhnlte wisdom, to disease when lie
alone couI measure: Christ cruclGod the Wisdom
Of God and the Power Of Gol' lie was sent to
declare that ono mighty to save had entered into the
miserable conditions Of humanity, put Himself under
Gods law; one who knew no SIN had taken upon
Himself the sin OF the world and been ma1c curse
for sinful man. that thus there might be, by that
rational and beautiful law vicarlous sacrlice-the
Intervention OF a stainless Will and an untainicd
love through which God might drive in His wedge
and effect a separation between man and his heritage
OF sin that there might be IN the world inc rresis
+ o., ,ri1I mi pp1yC
strong moving with patience toward the beauty OF
holiness. and with Is unwayerlng eyes ever hNei
on Cod the source OF life and health. He was sent
10 bring the remedy which lie provided Tor sln-sh,
the source Of the poverty and the sckneSSes ana the
disticsses Of the world-and not to work away az
cause: and hence He ever more anxious when
men came to Him 20 say and mhy vain Ti' DC 'oS''
. lie was sent to declare that this remciy was
tho supernatural puposcd act OF the PefsoHsi TOt'
an act ont OF Heaven, orlghauNo anu AM an, hi,,
Not mn from man. but down from God must heip
come The force Of the whole story OK Shr rds
coming POUNDS Itself upon the truth that GD' nus f
begin the work OF salvation, that the misery OF SIN
Is lis powcrlessness TO begin the recovery thal man
cannot 9egct himself der Ic al our natural fe pre-.
cedng hidden enduring so secret act 0i si
liicIenewlGg love, omsmai; fc
B. CHRIS, was sent to ind place for nd SRd ca 10
bones dwe iI that which is uP HOY can
purity love the impure The ac<S sI lii4I man m
Ills Son into tho world to have part win ih"; ,oI
bn idcntiaSd with him The act. then. by when GPa
parlons brings out Of Heaven ne power 70
bc world the change that justihes ne Ior.H To
God parons by sending Ills Son into the wUH a. man
has ever been ready. has ever Dee EN- ye die9p hut
What there in which I, His 1 f &tbn 'f fmsc
h ~ ,t 80 attacbment by which TO lay hod
The love Of God waders rond G ana no r Gnor that
sinful nhosPtable wor lana an" hat is stretched out to
ae i in rciore TIG sends ,h r.p s2S world g nS
mis- rrpugnant humanity. Gods eNpeueu M ae NO
other door, are boiled win open way Ior an thar
man VIII admit 1t. IT. Will itseil- Oe'o'"' ''''
may find admittancc' ,.,o-s q, 4he truth
l. lie was sent hs to bear wines e from TO &c Cod Is
/ bv man Therefor lie became man 'nr mai
became flesh This condition was m SboVc places
he was 10 otand Tor there must be both rcDCio
Of Gods claims upon hm Imaniv aIh t,o lie must
he a real man who should live so as 10 DInT d bv
lfr in Ills own person mp 10 me stare aPp"' nnd he
Gnd and ron,t, tbc evil brought I'm by SIN anu uo