New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-12
SERMONS WORTH KEEPING.
XXXv.
THE DIVINE PRESENCE vOUCHSAFED TO
THE CHILD OF GOD.

THE REV. II. I. DElsp, UT LIE DEBT mi W.
FORMED CHURCH, OF BROOKLYN, DRAWS FROM
pAUL's EXPERIENCE PRACTICAL LESSONS
FOR CHRISTIAN PEOPLE TO-DAY.
About forty years ago. when Bedford was village
lonr distance from Brooklyn though II Is now
reached in twelve minutes from the Bridge the East
Reformed Church held it's religious exercises In
schoolhorsc on the ccrts estate, near Fultonst and
BEDFORD ave The historian says that at that time
'wellcu,tlvaed fields strips OF w0odland, grand OLD
orchards gardens quaint with graveled Walks, out
lined with shells, borderd with beds OF sweetsmelng
herbs and bright with tie bloom of hardy perennials
the old folks still best love- prc-empted the site Of
the brownstone fronts OF the Bedford Of today
Mr. Crook OF Bedford, a builder by trade and
man Of means and liberal impulses. began the build
Ing OF church edice at Ormond Place and Jcherson
ave. which he Intended 10 give to the Fast Reformed
Church. Before the work was completed ne died ana
after the estate was settled the building passed into
the hands Of the Central Congregational Church, OF
which Dr.. Behrends is pastor The Reformed Church,
now known as the Bedford Reformed Church, has at
last after forty years OF wandering, secured inc Duild
Ing erected Tor them 80 long ago. . ~
Dr. Herg has done much 10 Increase the efficiency
OF this congregation since his installation In February,
1899. lie is an eloquent preacher and practical
well Ills CONGREGATIONS are steadily growing and the
influence CT the church widening. Beside, MS heaVy
pastoral work. Mr.. Berg has many calls upon his time
ior sermons, lectures and addresses in other heds
lie was born on october B. 1915. in Philadelphia, and
i int son and Of s Sc bsy P bc *
y. }. The son graduated at Rutgers College in
1896 and at the Theological seminary Of New Bruins
wick three year, later. .Nier receiving license TO
preach he went to Germany and spent three years as
student Of philosophy. In l572 he returned To this
country and entered the pastomtc. serving for
years at Rocky Ill., y. j., and ten years at College
Point, =. Y
A SPECIAL REVELATION TO PAUL.
DR.. Berg preached yesterday morning from this
..f.L
shall set on thee 10 hurt thee In his sermon he said:
These words are not much the assurance Of q
special Divine presence with IauI the special revel
ton To him OF a Divine presence yOucnsaied to all
creatiOn-nO, Of all to man, and the highest
TO the Christian man. The revelation comes 10 Pad
At time when he needed specal help. II comes with
the assurance Of the precise kind of help needed
surrounded by the enemies OF the Gospel ne was there
70 preach exposed to rene~e@ DANCER rom . , te
before suffered, Paul needed the assurance OF 90
Aver'nce from tae violence OF inc wicked as the
ycaI and six months. This particular need God
and shall set thee to hur thee and adds.
For have much people N ms ms city g.. ... .,,..r
the reason OF this special adaptation Of sufficient
9 BE We nave me tfth o. od,s Providence set forth
and defined a. a particular providence that insures
the preservation OF Goa- servants In accomplishing
the work God sets them to 90. IL reveals the fact
Of the Divine presence wiki tic creature a. tie
power and finess 10 human weakness and emptiness.
rs text bears thus the revelation OF Divine truth 10
Paul rot only. bat 10 each of it comes win ~,
blessed message Of Divine presence and help o9i
eternal counsel, Of a holy VIII To see lum IN li'
works IN one place Is 10 see HIM In iii' Work. every
self study OF the growth Of plant the develop
mcEt Of Dline idea, in it, and function. and ds
growth, teaches us truths of Gods lie a. II was Dei0re
Time began or creature was.
GOD CANNOT CONTRADICT HIMSELF
There /. no reason within Himself why he should
IA Himself. In fIlls
truth Of the Divine ngelessness Of power and being
We sec what lack most in this hfe-a resting place
upon which stop, recover strength. mature plans
enjoy the fruits OF lie before pressing on IN this cease
less motion OF humanys life, in this intending cAaase
mSscrioas hns. dcattniHs all sound IN its hush su
Ing all motion in its quiet.
II Is the repO,c 0f lie replcte with the strength ana
ta' S1n O cope enow whont safety ali
that inc our happiness. such power l. DIVINE
and hsepafaoie from tod; can ~ ue saarea " se
uess OF the Divine Being makes the heavens above you
brass. the earth beneath you the pathway Of tate;
cry unto God buy IN VAN FRAY Ior uel.N V!'',S
II Is folly for from eternity, back 70 eternity tho
DO you expect infinite wisdom To- alter IL course on
account oil the and tear, Of the foolish Thus
are errat enough 10 supply the wants OF th, human
ufe become the argument against the possibility OF
>uch saarnse N the Divine life AZ the doctrine oil
Here God Himself takes up the argument, and says
that Il father TO child The question Of the sharing IN
the Dlyno lie, wisdom pow eg rest, j. no longer How
j. II possible ~ but How can II BE- otherwl~e" Inc
very attributes OF tod that considered apart from His
fatacrIood separate the human and Divine life BY an
iLlncasurlble distance become IN the hsht 81 THIS
relation OF Heavenly Father the assurance certain
the Divine life itself OF just that adaptation # Himself
to myself. His power to my weakness. HIS wisdom 10
my ignorance. Ills benefits TO my needs; IN a word.
III, grace Ia my salvation
Wnat. /, the Heavenly Father omuipotcnt and
shall lie not be ablc>to accomplish the prayers Of III,
child i He omnscicnt aud shall lie not lnsiiuct
it, mouth i lie less than earthly parents who
know 10 give good gifts - their children In
the Divine Life a II was before creature had been
created has the Father no thought Of the children
Of men, OF whom the Only Le.ott'n a. the
" so2 o. Man" was TO be the first born OF many
! brcthrenl
THE FATHERS LOVE FOR HIS CHILD.
Creating the earth a. His habtation 1t be tia,
the Great Father determining all things as II pleased
Him. left no place for that 50 dear 20 the parent
heart the childs society and pettionsi VIII Ho
voluntarily excladc Himself from the possibility u
hearing inc cry Ills Child. of granting II all that
A father can do for his son The wonder is not that
| hy mighty signs and wonders God makes the pathway
/ ~ Ills proyideniiai care IN both Oh ana New Ieeta
! n emit bat tlat men should be found q deny tae
Ard Wien tiat father Is Almighty, what nro>'ihei
The very wotd providence b." iorercelus ny H.. :
! lad truth OF tod Wlth us! fhc possession Of /.
| Universal plan do, lorbd pa.tculsr workings oi
/ DNnc poweg-much more. 1T ~ provided i'r ll'i'
certainty and MAKE, this very forc,,' Us. th> pro'
/ dcnc, Inc name that snail describe est The every
where present ard powerful vorNr, 81 CD, VIA ,IS
adaptation creation not only, but fr'lAlN Ia al
Tie want tor Mh2,S ,tPlA inca pix ,. ,d!'by
/ -. a pardcuar PROV .dcn,c. Thus. lor eAampie'
drouh Is occasoatd ~ the 'omlncl N1rhins, 90
laws known az least 80 Jar a. human experience sDc,'
10 ie immutaie ana inevitable n WORKING aiu clect
/ These laws AZ Gods laws How = u possible 20
expect their repeal for yoGr accommodation or hlhe
/ IN answer 20 our prayers t..,.
Do YOU complain. chd Of God, that - You j gwen
M snc,ial revelation of GOd's determination 10 ANt
Won lie precise help you need /, II not enc ieh nav
! ihc unch1uscallc God tell, you what he has d'ns
| I'm The pa.t DO need a special messenger rom
cod To- assure that lie viii be- tlc 10 ltme IL ana
| Ills nwn promisrs N the testimony 81 the HpTlt
fhnt evidence, with the human heart that n j. cui
of God /, gyea that .pccia revelation whi'h the soiI
Graves once assured ~ this-that God = my Faihcr
| for Chrst's s9kc. and hi, he soul knows on mo
autorty ol God, woU-'hc moment that II accepts
Ch,i.t a. is saviour all that the Father promise, hs
| chla becomes the personal properly ~ tint soul
INC prcscrcc Of the Father Is the all shihcl-ht lar
Nv o. IL. rhll |. .fn a