New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-22
SERMONS WORTH KEEPING.
XVI.
THE CHARACTER OF THE SAVED.

the In which II carried on IL l. refreshing 10
hear an odfashiOned sermonone in which the preacher
takes some things for granted and presents the terms
OF salvation TO his people, leaving the responsibility
upon them Such Il sermon delivered yesterday
morning by DR.. Roderc Terry In the south lRefoi med)
Church in NIadisonave. Those who are Influenced In
selecting their preacher from week TO week by the ad-
vertsed subjects do flock this church, but those
who attend the services regularly find great spiritual
help and profit ther,. Few churches In the city can
boast of better msc better preaching than are beard
in the South Church.
Dr. Tery-s text was: "Thcn one said unto Him
Lord are there few that be sayed.' Luke xiii 30.
The sermon follows:
The DAYS and weeks Fastening on and we are
approaching ANNIVERSARY Of the death and esnrlec-
ton y; Lord. In this chapter we see iiim draw
ing near to Jerusalem enter upon those trying scenes
lie knew that the cmchxion vas before Him. rs We
know that Good Friday IS app Oachlng 50 mat We may
put ourselves In sympathy win III, reH!ss Il we oon
last Journey the Masters to the holy city, among
the incidents mentioned occurring BY the way ~
lie through the cities and villages louiieylhB
toward Jerusalem. l. TINS one.
THE RING OF HUMAN THOUGHT
The place time or accompanying circumstances
no. told U.s. Perhaps il followed the declaration
OF tho wonde fully expansive power In the Church tthc
Kingdom OF Cod, which, said Christ. IS like grain OF
mustard seed now In Its inception. but will IN the
future gow like that same seed. to great proper
lions, this figure giving to Of his hearers the thought
lie asked " gartlng the size OF that Kingdom. Per
haps, Impressed By the words OF instruction ana wer-
ng FALLING constantly fIom the Masters lips the lleS-
TONER HAD his thoughts Of his future made The more
impressive 10 his mlnd and wondering If among the pos
sibe many Of the saved he might be included or among
the possible few he might be omitted The question OF The
text asked by some one unknown to us has IN II the
mug OF human thought, and has been echoed III every
age and from almost every soul duiIng the centuries
which have succeeded, is 1t must have occupied the
minds Of those who ptcceied. the Master.
In all questions dealing with the future world, or
with the relation of man TO God. must be some element
Of personal Interest No one can lie 50 pIosopmc Us
10 argue concerning righteousness and Judgment 10
come, without feeling that he Is arguing concerning his
owp happiness or mlse4y The simple question OF our
teN can only that the asker was anxious In
greater or less degree to find out what were his own
chances Of entering the Kingdom Of Heaven The AR
Is full to-day OF similar Inquiries put forth with more
or less seriousness: the sefelyed advanced thinkers
societies turn and twist the Subject every possible
manner; the uneared and Ignorant yet feel sufficiently
enlightened 10 settle this question to their satisfaction
All these widely different bodies OF men take up this
question Of the text not for its abstract Interest FOR no
other subject interests them all. and no one. be he
learned noant full OF faith utterly agnostic can
loe the feeling that upon the decision Of the question
regarding the number and the character OF those VINO
after this life shall b. IN condition OF happiness ts
his own hope for eternity.
II has been said that no enemies are so bitter TO-
ward one another members OF the same family
who have once fallen into enmity because their
feelings being more deeply stirred Mt thoughts OF
each other. whether they be feelings OF love or hate
their whole soul goes into the conflict Even as civil
sHfc /, the most bitter, and attacks upon character
the most hard to bear, 50 upon questions OF the
future and of salvation the heart Is stirred rs can
be upon no others, and we must see In the numerous
discussions OF free thinkers and long conferences o
Christians the many doubts of the Individual mind
upon the subject Of salvation The evidence, how
ever rppant In tone. however slghtngly the matter
Is referred to, down in the heart Of every one is
deep anxiety, and no human being can hilk OF
this subject without feeling interested as one whose
life hang; upon the decision 30, ..,s = 30 ,ro,v
to great proportions. You depise It now; but SIM
ilaEly do YOU despiss little grain Of mustard seed
yet the fully grown mustard tree is not beneath your
Church q G9d built gpoa t5Is snail toHpda,i9n =,
element OF UniverSalsm and asked himself whether In
this fully developed Church It might not be easy TO
In perhaps he doubted whether, according to his
standard d size, the Kingdom would be larse and
and preferred that there should not be too great q
f In t1e question we cannot doubt and the
OF The Lord while turning the thought away from mat
asker asker, ans answered the hearts thoughts fully AID
| satisfactorily.
TWO OBJECTIONS AGAINST CHRISTIANITY.
Two prominent objections are in these days raised
| against ChrstiUity:
| l. That the number Of the men and the women TO
obecor, point the words Many shall seek to enter
In and shall not be able" Many there be that go IN
narrow and true way to life eternal But these ha'e
no reference the ultimate number OF the saved had
question Of our text would certainly have called It
forth. Upon the other occasion when lie spoke oil e
| few who found the nl.row way In contrast 10 the
multitude who travelled that which Is broad lie spohc
| NOT Of the final goal, but Of the present NUMBER Oh
/ he
~ Nnotier objection raised against Christianity 1t
is per iuent here 10 consider which Is TIE claim that
dom Of God according TO the Chnrch's teachings, Is
conditioned upon the acceptance OF echhiSal penes
md the objection finds its force in the necessity taught
| i'm the Bible ot faith In and love for the Loru Jesus
G1n OMIT he not that "a w tRe G Gn BEEN initiated b is
human rulers the initiation into II requiring knowl
| earthly Kingdom Of God. aud only tile lover Of H.d
can enter Ills Church his Kingdom: Men may l,S'
conduct they stand before God measured accorps 10
| their acceptance Of Ills words. We would open our
conditions imposed by the Master And for salvation 1t
has been required by Him that man peieNe Sp1
who imagine that morality goodness IS the condition
Of entrance into the Church or into Heaven ne llat
he that becveth not Is condemned. In grleving over
the few whom TO be upon the narrow read com,
one Imagine that the church of CHRIST the teachers
az His Word TO blame. God mas male inc cous NY,
seen OPENLY npon Ills side because will not accept
the LORDS terms. That mutldes Will accept those
terms before they die, and countless Ul'iluoes oeo'c
| the end OF the world we cannot doubt.
We can imagine far more pertinent ana important
question which might have been put 10 whrh We pS
we'll consider. namely What Is US- chirac'vr. no. .ne
number OF the saved In what esgec6 40 teS no a
| To such Il question tie Lord would certainly rave
given plain answer as lie di at oyher t'e s VIZ
believe TO call attention, rot TO lis slze SIMPLY Dut
more TO the characteristics which caused II 10 grow
rom henr The smallest seed to be the greatest
herbs Ire Inherent qualities Of tie Church. the
character of members. these give - 1t Its force and
| make II TO be noted among angels and men.
| Reviewing the history OF the Church or Christ we
soc no marked difference In Intellectual or political
movers between members aud others. Its marvel
ions rise from the smallest beginnings 10 become the
foremost among organizations can BIO explained by no
! characteristics recognized among men. There has
! been a subtle power at work forwarding It's influence
| and mower in addition to that evident to the world.
what flint powcr Is no reader OF The Bible can doubt.
# alone OF all ORGANIZATIONS IN the world IS not OF
men 1t alone has its basl, and strength deep down
! in Tho heart and will OF Him who rules this and all
! "orJs. and as with the Church In general with
lis members, Lord would answer the question re.
| Nv noint,ng IN no superiority Of strength or MUD.
but to the inward power of dependcnce upon God.
| You see about you men who are not Christians. You
~" =. tJ,ree ,ronder wherein consists the difference