Evening journal., 1890-02-03
PULPIT EL0QUENCE.
JUBILEE SERMONS AT GRACE M.
{. CHURCH.

Church and DIR. D. Richards Boyle on
Hope-A sTelodious Service OF Song
Last Evening.
Yesterday was the second Sunday of
the Grace Church jubilee Rev. George
r. Crooks, d. D., president of Drew
Theological Seminary, Madison, N. j..
and pastor OF st. Paul's NJ. 4. Church Of
this city from 1866 to 1857, preached at
the morning service.
The floral decorations were the same
that have ornamented the platform for
the past week. In addition to DR.. Crooks,
Rev. ]. Richards Boyle, ID. D., and DIR.
Jacob Todd occupied seats on the plat
form. DIR. Todd read the scripture les
sons, which were Psalm lxxxiv and part
Of John xvii. The opening anthem of the
quartette choir was "Christian, the
Morn Breaks Sweetly Ger Thee. Miss
Lillian jackson sang Hear My Prayer,
for the offertory.
DR.. Crooks preached fifty-five minutes.
His sermon was one Of the most eloquent.
scholarly, and convincing ever preached
In Grace Church. His text was Psalm v.
4: "But as for me, l will come into Thy
house in the multitude of Thy mercy.
and in Thy fear win worship toward Thy
II
what we understand by 1t, and the rea-
sons that should constrain man TO main
| tain 1t.
In opening DIR. Crooks spoke Of re.
| cent visit TO England and Of the sensa
tions that passed over him as he paced
| the aisles of the cathe trails of the
twelfth century, seeing the busts and
statues of crusaders, knights and princes
of that by-gone era He described the
services in the old Lincoln Cathedral,
where lie attended on one Sunday morn
ing the deep toned bell that had called
people to worship for 600 years, the sol
emn impressive service all gave the feel
ing that he was In a century long past
Evening prayer in Horthminster Cathe-
dral on mellow October day, was
tenderly and eloquently described, with
the rich, melodious tones of the music,
and the dusk of the evening. The i'm.
preston was, how wonderful are the dec
orations Of art that lend soemnity ia
the worship OF the Most High, and yet,
said the speaker. often preached in my
youth in the bare, unfurnished rooms OF
the West, and one was as much,the house
Of God as the other.
In the days of the Psalmist, the temple
was Gods house. Since the Psalmist
Jesus had come, and he is worshipped il
spirit and in truth. and the best, tn.
most glorious place of worship is the as
sembly of the saints themselves.
Il Coming to the first proposition of hi
. discourse, which was, what are we to an
! derstand by Gods church. DIR. Crook
! said, when men speak of the church, no
, more than two or three have the sam
idea of what they are speaking. Mel
hold different opinions, many of then
errors. The church is not SUBSTITUTE
for Christ. Il does not take his place il
not mediator between God and man
The speaker described the claims and be
iefs Of the Romanish Church as an alb
3 solver from sin and mediator between
8 God and man. Christ did not teach such
Christ is first and shares not His glor,
r with any beneath him.
d The church is not a substitute for tn
/ divine work. 1t is receiver and
, reflector Of divine light. 1t cannot alte
e ia the least what it receives. 1t is no
t co-ordinate,witht the scripture. The churc
, Is, however, the guardian of the grea
! Book In the deep wilderness of tn
e middle ages the saints hid themselve
e away to keep perfect the blessedness o
l. the Book, laboriously increasing it b.
u
t truth of the Book. AS a competent wit
3 ness ii attests its truth. When tn
= Saviour was laid in the grave and whe
g he burst the bars of death the churcl
Q was there and bore witness to the facts
D The church bore witness to the unshrini
d ing courage of the great Apostle Paul a
o he went from place to place in peril
The church is not the Lord of the con
4 science 1t is the teacher and enlighi
- ener of the conscience. On the authorit
of the Book it lays its obligation on tn
s conscience 1t SAYS because the Lor
T says so, therefore do this. 1t is the but
= mess of the church to teach men the
responsibilities to God, by whom the
r will be finally judged. 1t is the helpt
d and strength of the good purposes {
& men.
}. The church is not a voluntary associa
K tion. This idea is because of the wis
d separation of the church and state, an
therefore men think it is entirely voluI
e tary. The church is divine institution
It men did not form it, do not guarantee II
n perpetuity, and do not form its sources
3, life. 1t subsists in Christ, He is I'll
s. Lord and life of It. If the church
Is divine it is universal There is an obi
II cation in it, on me, to act in regard I
n that great fact of divine institution +,
d the uplifting and government of mel
Yet it differs from the state, because
ID will not compel the man to comply wit
rs its requirements. 1t win implore, Ell
treat and plead with men to enter int
l. the divine relation. God waits on tho
a. to whom he has given life and strength
resist the divine importantly.
10 Men enter into the church voluntaril
ID but that does not make it voluntary i
stitution. The church is not created
creeds, but the church makes them Nj
: come in warmth and nearness to the
!, vine world and at last their beliefs a
% expressed in creed. Yet the church
" and exists because it has the life Of Il
J. divine head Only as living body CT
's man have fellowship with man. 70
y" III family is unity and fellowship, with
4 peculiar attributes. Yet it is not the Il
- lowship Of the church In the chur
we have common redemption by a con
mon Redeemer.
'As 1 stand here and think no
- thirty-fve years ago came here q
~ thirty-three years ago left you, 6
y. Bates. the friend of my youth, with {
III ever Thoughtful face see DR.. Aske
3 Mccall is there and Young, Edward Moo
20 and Robinson, and D, how blessed is
OH memory of the saints. Never while h'
did hear harsh word or an abrupt 81
tence. What power moulded usl WI
warmed us toward each other"
fnk be