Morning journal and courier., 1891-02-16
REV. DIR. ENSIGN mcoHEsNE1

i
The Distinguished Preacher Occu-
pied the Pulpit or Trinity M. e.
church Yesterday morning-Epochs
In the Growth and vitality of
Christianity Contrasted.
Following is an abstract of the sermon |
preached at Trinity M. E. church yester-
day morning before large congregation
BY the Rev. DR.. Ensign McChesney, pastor
of Madison avenue NJ. e. church, New
York:
Text: 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand;"
Matt. 417
This was the key note of Christ's minis
try, the central thought of his preaching.
At many other points it is not easy to dis
tinguish his preaching from that of others
who had come before him. 1t may be
said in general terms that his theology was
that of the old testament. There was
fullness of development, refinement of
statement that made it appear unique, but
at bottom it was essentially the same. This
may also be said of his moral teachings.
But in announcing the Kingdom Of heaven as
hand hs sd ne
old Jewish idea. It may be said this was q
worldwide idea. In various ways the world has
been grouping after the Kingdom of heaven.
What wonder that Christ aroused men in saying
the Kingdom OF heaven wa, nears He SPOKE, ! OF
it at times as future. But this was no contradic-
be bee, only gradually realized.
St W wasn at hand The found in the
events Of the period in which Christ spoke
1. The kingdom was at hand in the person of
the king.
The coming of Christ, great event for which
| the preceding centuries were preparing
Christ appeared as an 1lustratlon OF tne au-
| thority and power and grace of the kingdom.
He was also perfect embodiment ct the oper,
aaas1 done OF on ea4s6 as it IS in heaven
| g. There were also facts about to OCCUR; some
| were even then occurring that we're not only
favorable, but also decisive as to the future OF
I Christ was living his victorious life-was about
In these things we see the strength Of the di:
vine purpose; the pledge of the completion of
| g. Also range of spiritual influences and &C.
tivities was about to be inaugurated which would
work efficiently toward bringing the completed
The New Testament was soon to come into ex-
| istence.
| The materials of the church were being gath
| cred.
The baptism of the holy ghost was soon to
| Also for the first time in human history the
| conversion of the world was to become the dis
tinct aim and purpose of the spiritual part OF
Do we question the growth of the kingdom? -.
Let us ask, then, this question: For the Christi
anity Of what preceding era would we be willing
to exchange that of the present day?
For that of the day when Christ ascended'
What was joyous Christianity But all Christen
dom was then gathered in an upper chamber ir
Jerusalem.
For that of the apostolic days? 1t was heroic
Christianity. But the heroes were hunted like
criminals.
For that of the days of Constantine, wher
Christianity became the religion of the Roman
empire? Its very elevation contained the seed
of its disgrace.
For that Of the middle agess Then all Europ.
professed Christian faith but it was supersti
tious faith.
For that of the days of Luther? Again Their
was much that was noble and heroic. But tn
J reformation was entangled with political ALI
| ances.
For that Of the days of Wesley? We have onl.
to remember in what great darkness this grea
evangelist carried forward his work.
The world is not yet won for Christ. But tn
kingdom has never been nearer, near, it
, completion than at the present moment.