New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-04
SERMONS WORTH READING.
THE REV. w. NJ. SMITH IN THE CENTRAL
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
DE-. WILSON'S SUCCESSOR BEGINS HIS PASTOR.
ATE BY CALLING UPON HIS PEOPLE TO
PREACH THE GOSPEL BY THEIR HOLY,

fully 900 interested listeners heard The hrst sermon
OF the new pastor Although he mas preached I'm
other churches Of the city at various es' this was
the first time that he had preached IN the Central
Church 4 committee from the church went to
Cleveland some weeks ago to hear him preach, and
on It's recommendation the church eAl'u him.
Mr. smith Is not vet thirty three years OF age. Ho
re born in Elnira his father having been for years
a Supreme Court Judge position now hold by a
brother OF tho young clergyman Inc Drothers were
graduated from Princeton College IN The class Of
1877 Much has been written since Mt. smith was
called % New-York about his baseoah record at
Princeton especially about his famous curved balls"
Inv which he saved many game TO tho college. He
IS still fond of the National game'' and while a
student at tho Auburn Theological Seminary he
captaip Of a miner at Elmira ono vacation Every
SUNDAY during the summer be preached 10 large houses
I'm which the other members OF DIS hlhe' were
regularly found. But HIS popularity docs not need
boster1ng up by sensational stories Oh Els younger
days lie is an earnest polished. forciblc speafer
Of medium height with light hair and HeiStache HIS
opening sermon was preached, not real from manu-
ecr4nt I'M, he occasionally breaches wholly extemporc
Nrs smith * the daughter VI Commodore Van SAINT
voord owner Of the Albany Day Limo OF steamers,
and viee-prcsdcnt Of the Lincoln Bank with whom
The voupg couple will make their homo for the
present at No. IS West Thirty-ninth-s'
TRUTH MUST BIZ ILLUSTRATED.
The text Yesterday morning was In the third
cbapter of Pauls second letter 10 tho Corinthians;
"Ye are our epise written in our hearts, Known ana
read Of all men fofasmuch as ye are manfeStly
declared 10 be the opstle Of Christ minsiered by
-. ur,ten NOT with ink but with the Spirit Of the
living God: not in tables Of stone, but in Heshy
tablets of the heart The following Is the substance
Of the sermon;
Truth cannot easily be sraspcd IN the abstrac' ::
tbeorh.s go a. begging nOWa1ays. Unless ny
arc enforced by abundant Illustration or made
clear hy proof or object lessons they must IA
general acceptance. The reason ts that the human
mind cannot grasp an abstract truth II must have
proof or illustration. 50 true IS tAis maj education
to-day proceeds upon the plan NOT OF teachng general
11.nrIe object lesson to tho general truth involved.
Thus your l;tle one, who would scarcely comprehend
tho general truth that Two and two make four, Is
casuv taught By tho tSo marbles held in each OF
voiir extended hands making four when placed to-
eether The eor! a' YOU E nave T Srai sou has nop
dcrcd for many fortnight, when you strive 10 uhioio
It IN explanation, meets only cola dlsc'uraScIeht
but let your uuth illustrated IN inc posnea
whcols working effectively and smoothly, and instant
assent Il. granted YOU. Truth aostracuy stated can
wiring acceptance only from the few truth put 10
the proof and illustrated By object lessons nndS instant
recognition everywhere.
Now. This IS Just tie reason why mon cayil and
stumble al religious truth. II Is abstract and seem
fpeiy theoretical. If l could present religion to You
as fu proven problem ouI6 & mne matcria
thing out Of IT., so that Your eyes might behold
and Your hands handle IT,, and your mind
sec nto S cycry working hsm ,nosstSe r %%1r
But on tho other hand when must present u as an
influence from on hign working III inc nc.r'i a. %
series % impulses and better purposes d IA" pa
life see that my propositions. though they he
Gods eternal truth, fail Of instant rscognton mee,'ng
heart md ] know tho reason IS that religious ruin
Is lor the most part abstract incapable OF specific
Individual truths IN Christianity arc enforced by
obee e5SoH. %hta can an pSnt er tsay b. the
lie and work Of Jesus bur Christianity as must
preach It % men, a. i 'hn9ory as asa ioli hrng
home with forceul emphasis And where IS that oIlGct
lesson Some Of you are already catching te thought
believe expressed in he text ChristanItys object
| II means 10 be- cpiStcs known and read OF all men,
CHRIs1TANITYs OBJECT LESSONS.
| So then Christian when teach men Of this sacred
way Of life and they doubtful OF s power. put me
! % my proof l must point them to you. You are,
you must b. Chnstanhy's object lessons There IS
a depth Of solemn meaning I'm that thought leadon
reght of ,.spon sib,lfy Your life illustrates Chris
tiantty Christianity rests its claims It's arguments.
| upon you. II stands falls with you. It's proven
1-ic + consistent Chrlsfke character. II can never
ia unless its dcahblow from the Inconsistent,
/ unchrstiau lives Of lis progressed followers
1t Is said a Christian minister Of rare ability had
! among his hearers a learned but sccpncal Judge,
! whose sccptcism he sought 10 heal. After many
weeks 0: careful stuy he prepared sermon. struns
and ably fashioned in its every argument, IA meet
! the peculiar doubts and difficulties of lis heaIer lie
sent a message that the sermon OF the morrow was
meant especially for him. A. tie morning camc and
the hour OF service fast approached. among other
thoughts in the minister, mind wa, me ieaF i, 50
e'nnalv inruded his feeble word into the service
should couneract by laundering speech the full
! effectiveness OF the morning sermon. The sermon
was one Of rare power and splendid a a ana
Tie iurist gave attention ~ rs every wore: hnt at
by faterlng words from single corner OF the church,
who're This same simple minded Christian; anna re
mirth Of some and curious staring OF othel'. with
stumbling words and choking voice was endeaVonng
10 tell what the Lord had done for him and the
low a, "A
That very might summons from the indg' brought
the minister 10 find him deeply anxious and pentent
for sin and a, he sought point him u the light.
rratef, for What the Lord hal done, he said Oh,
siir sald The Judge. II listened attentvely 10 all
the wealth Of IFilnent in your sermon ana algncl
| Vancrd before Won had even finished Il, bu' when
that old man In blunderng way told what The Lord
Was CGristanity in theory -Christany in lrozeu logic
eland and stately and a, coruy hcattiu a y9nr
winter icebercs. The other was Chi1stahiV NJ me-
tried ana proven IN life experience IN heact glow
ing with tie love Of Chris! 49,. ..u,o ~.
But Ne shall moro clearly thc IOIcN OF con
s,stcnt Christian life when ansyzc morc carefuly
If, nover In the drst place It 10 the power Of truth
E"yen en IN ' b S9n persoHay FIRST then truth
| nnw,cr IN lie Thi, Thought has ALREADY been sug-
ge sor9. Id rciiy6ns Other systems q thought
claiming equally 10 Re the truth challenge men's At
tbn "tbcr, must be- tested by It's fruits. If another
faith accomplshos more, builds ny letter ShaTocer
solves satisfactorily the pNpchS VI lhe 1n'ure
has wider and better sway in human hearts, then, ba
yond question must take e precedence OF Christian
nv.
| TIE INFLUENCE OF TIE GOSPEL on THE HEART
Come. then unbelievcs, point you To the object
lessons Take Christian character; what other power
cClld change mens lives Is You have seen them
changed what other theory. rule Of life. ha.
ever lifted mon So that they have risen on the step
piigstoncs II their dead selves" to better things
THIS Christianity has done. II reaches down into the
very depths OF degradation; # males pollution to
bloom and blossom with purity, and from nfamy and
shame has bullded strong aud manly aud Christian
principle No other force evor did 1t, M
| other philosophy Law iS finger on
! such long array of re- slices Proof
Christianity meets you here shc stakes her all upon
that issuc. Either She Is power d. human heart,
She is hoIelcssly and forever gigantic fraud. She
demands u b. put 10 the proof ana chalenecs aiten
tian 70 he character she builds 20 the millions O
hearts whom burns tbc incense Of her offering Thcp
her truth f. tried and proycnpIoyeh In life in living