New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-28

IN W.
THE REV. DIR. EDWARD C. RAY.
Is daughter of Henry W. Prescott OF this city. and
was member Of DR.. John Halls church. she Is
worthy companion of busy pastor in the homes OF his
people and in the work of the women in his church
As in the case of Dr. Howard Crosby Greek was the
favOrite college study OF DR.. Ray, and, Ike the New"
York preacher he believes in the thorough teachings OF
the Bible as the great hope Of the Church Theolocay
he might be termed "a progressive conservative Ho
was not born in the last century, nor is he WORKING LOT
an ideal impossibllty lie is popular but not sensa
tional earnest but not fanatical His sermons arc
scrptural suggestive, practical and helpful IheS
abound in Illustrations drawn from daily he SoIie
one has characterized his preaching as having VIC
force and clearness which convince ana the "drlh'"
and fervor which PERSUADE City mission work mas
deep hold on his heart his present church has uec
missions. Perhaps his greatest power. however, -
building up a church and keeping it fu organizing &c
members for practical work and increasing spHlt VI
benevolence among them. The following is an Outline
Of Dr. Rays sermon last evening:
| Three hundred and eighty years ago a MONK r III
marble steps were said 10 be from Pilates fIaelou
Give ncace to sch climbers This monk needed peace
profound scholar, an eloquent preacher Oh P9
he was Yet unspeahaby miepe brongbt no peace
AS he climbed along, verse %nlGh lie HIu re"u ind
The lust shall live BY faith" lie lcaped and stood
erect. He comprchended salvation by grace Thus nus
Martin Luther found peace. Thus was born me tE si
then salvation by grace IS mi3uhder lGou anu a
plain The word which translated gift chailslaI
means as the revision has 1t, fTee gt uc4ihN'
unmerlted, given by grace alone
LAW HIGHER THAN THAT OF JUSTICE.
low b h.6r than an the law Of justice Justice is
rreat law There is so much lntolerabe suffering from
ncsSI6Ie law We think of God as the embodiment OF
| that which we 50 long for, justice God Is !us1,
two Questions Can God be just and save me ~ or
Can God be just and not save me - But ~ l a.
eternal life depends not upon Justice put upon ie
higher law Of grace. Justice cannot give eternal ne
Justice pays what one earns and az earn Ie d de-
sin death: and dying bodies, falling minds ana ue
prTved natures show the wages already PAID III every
ease. We sinners condemned BY lnsuce may nave
eternal life as Gods free gift b. grace. o.-.
God shows this truth in all his provisions 9uP pPpOe
had today only what W.. we ns% to be born Is
not free gift to us Did we earn TIE mother ,n love
AMI father care ayshed upon eduoofo5 eTare
inventions and discoveries, at once the rrut OF
ton and the seed Of its greater erd grS5H ea d we earn
ali these they not free glftI from the nai G
Teaven Salvation did we earn il Was it not free
ritt of grace divine through generations Of holy ylpg
hi World giving ms only what earned no higher
law Of grace giving what we cannot earn Nodu "0
| oIC COD shows this truth In human parenthood DO we
| give our children only what they earn If we, being
1 evil. I
Good gifts to our children, shall not our HeaVenS
| Father mncb more do sol That is Chrsts argument
In the sermon on the Mount in the parable OF the prO
dl ' IN iii lis dealings with sinners Eternal life like
earibly Hfc Is not ncrited from justice but freely
II Eternal life, The free gift Of God is secured by
faith "Tle Just live by faith was tle verse IilaC
feIeyet6 hath everlasting Ife' Two objections 10 this
| statement deserve frank answer, ior botn splin5
i Cpeed besiHs Whoever would he saved must first
of all take that he hold the catholic fath, wMch
x-hD AN
! without doubt perish eternally.' Why should COD
award acceptance Of certain creed win eteai III me
the Bible saws nothing of the sort for Bible iath never
aecepate OF any bc c I ss g not S scaRs
the Bible doctrine but against MISUNDERSTANDING Oh
it, 1t Is objected again that aith Is not 50 h deus
without saving faith; another ends an evil ne WIN
and reward the second Can his faith placed In one
side Of the balances Of justice outweigh MS evil
Is mo great merit in faith it is not legal tender for
| dues In The Divine Kingdom; 1t cannot earn or merit
Then how does faith. secure eternal llfei BY its
nature, by what IT !; and what It Ia
says believing therefore, that eternal life cannot be
earned but Is freely given by grace. 2 Faith is trust
6denCe in e' bridge wkch never cross-yentuTng upon
it. trust IT, 81 Faith accepts and appropriaes Gods
free gift Of eternal life. man gives me money II
does good unless accept and use It, Ny taking
it does not earn il it uses and profits by H. Faith
heart conessng and fOrsang sin, living daily by the
Inward strength OF the Holy Spirit following christ as
| Lord and Master
THE LAW OF GRACE HIGHER THAN THAT OF
| JUSTICE.
| III. The law Of grace is higher than the law OF
Justice. a. YOu know It; your actions prove 1t.
You deal with your children in grace, not in justice
. o. The law Of grace is higher, because
kinder than the law Of justice. Thank God,
His ways are higher than Justice ways, His
thoughts than our selfish thoughts. lie saves the
Magdaene, the dying thief, the prodga If they accept
and use His gift. Take with your justice scheme
II is low selfish ungOdly. Grace is infinitely higher.
90 The law OF grace Is higher Than the law OF jus
lice because il develOpes nOblest natures You
do not particularly love the who you what
he you love your mother freely giving you her
tain king made annual great feast 70 which all his
subjects Invited, the beggar In his rags sitting
by the prince in his splcndOr Just before the 1east
q nObleman found his court suit ruined. " AaSl ne
said for cannot gO.' ON reflection II occurred 10
him that he could 90 Just he was and he began 10
realize the great kindness Of his sovereign. If your
robe Of righteousness is dciled. or If you have none
Won NAV come 10 the feast Of eternal love How you
Will love such a gracious King! How Infinitely hgh
Ills throne OF grace developing within Us that divine
love which is eternal life! 80. ,., -,
Of grace The Holy spirit says TO those VINO sees
eternal life from Justice Christ Is become OF none
effect unto you We fallen from grace, fallen RON
the higher law OF grace into the lower seess law
of Justice God freely gives Us life air sunshine ,
tefusng 10 use them except we could earn tem we
| would perish. Col freely gives Us spiritual lie ana
light: refusing 10 use the l1it, We perish.
! We are like men IN an English coal H niue:
There was straight shaft, leading right up mo HsHt
1 ~. haft in