New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-03
SERMONS WORTH KEEPING.
HONEST LIVING NEEDED IN THIS CITY.
DIR. RoDEMcK TERRY, OF THE SOUTH RE-
FORMED CHURCH, REPEATS THE WARN
ING OF JOIN THE BAPTIST.

ING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.
The South Reformed Church. at Fifth-ave and
Twenty frst-st is one of the landmarks of what Is
rapidly becoming downtown. The preaching ana
the music of the highest class, however This Is
Of the few wealthy congregations which does not
close its doors in summer. The PASTOR the Kew
Dr. Roderick Terry, preached yesterday on The Fore
runner of the Messiah taking for his TAXI thcse
words from the Gospel according to ST. Matthews " III
those days came John the Baptist preaching IN the
wilderness Of Judea and saying, Repent ye Tor the
Kingdom of Heaven is at hand" These were 'ho
main parts Of his sermon
Any estimate Of the life and work OF the foreruhner
OF the Messiah must embrace the period before tie III
carnation and that which followed, that We may
understand FIRST what needed, ana tnen the
manner in which God satisfied that need - A..
The condition OF the Jewish nation ana Oh Ine
world at large at that time Is clearly represented III
the pages of the Roman writers of the day and was
such as might be expected TO result from many
centuries of heather rule, and from the INTRODUCTION
Of Greek and Roman luxury. We hardly need the
words of Juvena to tell that they :" were suffer,
ing from the evils of long peace, that he Is LED
to add: Luxury more destructive than war has
engrOssed and avenges the vanquishcd world
IT is difficult enough to find nation imbued with
the principles OF Christianity which can stand inc
debllatng influence OF continued prosperity ana not
fall into selfwil and sefindugence, and all the flood
OF ills which sweep mankind into the whirlpool OF
godlessnesS and immortality; but where there Is no
restraining influence but that OF Unborn morality.
aided only by the weak teachings OF heather phl0so-
pliers, imagination can easily picture the terrible
imtators, the unworthy children Of PONIES former
sturdy mobiles, carried their diSsolute ways through.
out the world and the latest fashionable caprice OF
Roman aristocracy found many eager imltators even
in the Jewish Capital. Herod, upon the throne OF
Judea, though prOfessed jew, the leader In al
movements tending TO Romantic his subjects. And
from him, through all ranks of nobility and among
not according with Roman fashion was unworthy the
Thought of an enlightened man. Even into the
Temple OF the Jews had this feeling entered, not by
stealth. but boldly the resdlt OF the Roman con-
quest for HerOd, not only Josephus tells us had
golden eagle of great value in honor of Rome, but
he mad even introduced upon one occasion the
worship of the Capltoline Jupiter.
LIKE KING, LIKE PEOPLE.
The effect of such tendencies upon the minds Of
Priests and Pharisecs be easily imagined had we
not the words of the Master to that follow
ing such guides they had made of religion thing
for street corners Of the tithes means Of devouring
widows houses, Of themselves whited sepulchres
The time foretod by Malachi had without doubt, and
evidently TO many minds now arrived Inc DAY
which should burn an oven, when all the proud
and all that did wickedly should be burned up" SO
the fulness of time when the wrath of God should be
made manifest, in sending message OF warning
Messiah. We may well Judge from the words of the
men at that time that they were looking for him
words OF preparation, and were repeating among
themselves, "Who may abide the day of His coming
and who shall stand when lie appeareth"
What such times called for cannot be doubtful.
DARKNESS covered the EARTH and gross darkness the
people and the sun Of was about to
disease, and the Physician was approaching But
probation of the prevailing darkness and there must
be of sickness before the Physician would be
their condition, and make that condition loathsome
to them, was an imperative necessity; TO replace
naneless dread and uncertain shudderlng with true
knowledge of what should be done was the work OF
John the Baptist. How he prepared for that
mission and how he fulfilled it we may well seek to
lnqmc.
In the region which stretched to the west and south
OF te northern end OF inc Dead sea there ad aWett
Born at the time of his parents old age, according
TO the promise of the angel he had been from his
birth consecrated TO the Lords work. after the
Of the NazaIites Of old. His character too and
desires appear to have been in accord with the hopes
of his parents COngenial TO his nature the life
of selfdenia and hardship led by him. Like his
great prototype, Elijah, he was a man and even in
severity. " lie in the desert are told and
clothed with robe Of camcls hair, bound about the
wild honey. lie led the life Of recluse and anchOre.
John the Baptist IS thus seen to bind together the
ascetlcs Of the old Testament and those of the Chris
tan Church. And it was from his example that the
arguments for hermit and anchorte life among the
followers OF the Master have been drawn.
RISING ABOVE THE MAJORITY
Like these good men, of whom that age was I'M
worthy, John the Baptist shook OFF from his feet
the dust of wicked Jerusalem, and thus denounced
the ways OF its people. But, unlike them, he had
not selfish, but noble and generous, motive.
For not only example of purity and nobility Of
character, DuJ as 1uInfc prophet tcdcncf, dlu
he tread the stony paths of Judeas hills; thereby
preparing himself to be the burning and shining
light which he became. We must judge Of his
character from his words and deeds, and from such
facts as know must be persuaded that this
rugged life, with its privatiOns and dangers, but
made the prominent in his mind and heart
the unyieding principle Of determination and
pentancc Sharp and impetuous were his words
when he came like agel Of wrath, preaching
pentance i'll the Wilderness. Ills character III the
light Of the tender, sympathetic nature OF Him that
after, may ana must appear severe ana un-
attractive TO minds but his was such character
as was needed IN tne worn S preparation az that
geOns knife, which must enter the sore before restora
tvcs can be applied was the me ana preaching Oh
Of one Jes Sp' Of Haza R1S '' ~ '' ''' ''
An classes we're represented in that large congrc-
CATION, from the scribcs and Parisees accustomed to
the soft living Of Temple devotees 70 the publicans
familiar with insult and hardship. TO al me same
words Of warning were spoken. " The Kingdom oil
Heaven is at hand mightier than l is about 10
come, nav is already among You In anticipation
of Ills appearance the axe is laid at the root of tho
tree Of religious influence, ready 10 he taken IN lis
hand for use In its destruction" Well had 1t been
for those wicked leaders and simple people mad they
hearkened to this warning voice, ana turned from
known who JOhh declared was to come " with his
wnnOwing fan in his hand thoroughly TO purge III.
floor and to gather Ills wheat INTO te garner n Du'
The mission Of the human foreIunner OF the human
Messiah was thus performed ana mus ended ron l
tons TO be made in all times for the comlnes OF
that same Messiah as spiritual hulue anu SdNloW
to Inc hearts of menl Times, circumstances, nations
conditions Of people change and this congregation Is
&c lar from that which listened 10 the preaching
Of John in appearance. thought and environment
as can he well imagined; yet hearts DO not vary
according TO outward living, and hearts beat mere
and abont us today with the same sense OF SIM ana
tbe same need Of repentance and improvement. WIN
Tho same need of a Savior to come. the same longing
Tor higher life the great impulse to learn the
truth which heat in the hearts Of those who thronged
the Main OF the Jordan when on its banks arose the
DICE sent OF God
pUARISEEIsM IN NEw-YORK TO-DAY.
look about and Phariseesm to-day. II TURKS IN
the claim TO holding the secret Of God as peculiar TO
certain sect it turks in the pretended sancy cloak
ing true love Of sin in Journalism, III the attempt 10
make gain of religion Pharsee ana publican SIT sue
nv side to-day in the Lords house; whlted sepuchres
stand among Gods people in the courts Of His New