The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-04-16
NEW NJ. E. PASTORS
Rev. E. C. butcher Discourses
on Faith, Hope and
Charity.
REV. c. F. HULL AT LINDEN M, E.
Both Ministers Fayorably Impress
Their Respective congre-
cations.
REV. c. F. HULL AT LINDEN NJ. E.

The Rev. z. @. butcher, the new pastor OF
the Centenary M. &. Church, occupied the
pulpit yesterday morning for the first time
since his appointment. He preached an able
sermon from the text LIST Corinthians, 1913,
'And now abideth faith, hope and charity,
these three. and the greatest OF these
is charity This text, he said, constitutes
q gem of a picture even in this superb Cor
inthian gallery. Faith with uplifted be-
seeching eyes; hope with countenance suf-
fused with beaming expectancy; love with
gracious mien and kindly pose. A trinity
of graces, than which there were none more
excellent. Well chosen, rightly selected TO
embellish the canvas and carve the marble.
Not only is this passage notorious for its
beauty, elegance and s-uggestiyeness. 1t also
forms a striking and noble climax. These
three-pasative faith, comparative hope,
superlative charity. Faith always goes
before, hope follows after, faith IS OF
things both good and bad, hope OF
good things only. One may believe there is
a hell as truly as he believes there is heaven.
He feares the one and hopes for the other.
Faith has for its object things past, present
and future. Hope deals only with the
future. Faith grasps the tomorrow, the
succeeding days, months and years. As the
eagle spreads her wings, rising from yon
lQIh, l6d f6o Uub RldlA pSAiAAot EhCnA16 NfU6
and mountain brow. directs its flight to-
wards the SUI and stays not the sweep OF
great things until above the clouds: it battles
itself in the warm, mellow light of the sun,
andreturning feels prouder and nobler for its
fight, so faith on buoyant wings rises
above the known, ever pressing on until she
grasps God and dwells in the soft and shining
light of the sun of Righteousness, and hope
following close her sister faith becomes q re-
cipient OF her trophies, and then both faith
and hope returning bring to us the assurance
of a GOd of love, mercy and Kindness, a
Saviour of sweetness, compassion tender
ness and a home as brilliant and glorious as
the skilful hand of the blessed OF love and
wisdom could construct.
FAITH AT THE CROSS.
Faith was at the cross, stood before the
sepulcher, beheld the stone rolled away, and
a divine Saviour rising from the dead, and
hope extending her arms receives the token
of a Saviour's love and the consummation Of
his visit to this would, even the pledge OF
the resurrection. Faith brings to the dis
consulate and the sad that sweetness, assur-
ance and coincidence which she bears. With
out faith it is impossible to please God. All
things tina men know of Heaven, eternity
and God, are based upon faith; faith in
consciousness which informs and declares
for God.
Hope is a wonderful inspiration, 1t puts
feetness into the foot of the lanquid, strength
into the arm Of the weak. Men imperil their
lives to gain that for which they hope. Faith
is great; hope is greater; but charity is
greatest. Hope is a superstructure charity
contamination. Love is transferable; faith
cannot b. given, it may be inspired; hope
cannot be imported; love can be bestowed,
but herein charity surpasses.
Love is not that insipid characteristic that
some nave thought it, baskiEg on damask
sofa and divan, ~iistless, languid, useless. 1t
| has sinews of steel and muscles of brass, it
is strong timber; it is that which causes the
| patriot to suffer, bleed and die on the bloody
field for his country. 1t is that which the
missionary has in his heart when he leaves
| home, friends and native al to cross the
| high sea and labor, die and make a grave in
a foreign land-monumental OF his unswerv-
ing love toward man and toward God. Love
is that which caused the mighty God to send
His only Son that all the race who would be-
| lieve in Him might have joyful life beyond,
OF faith, hope and love, love is the greatest
because it is the whole duty OF man toward
| God and toward his fellow-man, because it is
| eternal, it binds heaven together when faith
| and hope may have passed away. v will
| stand a polished monument to God when this
world shall nave grown old and gray; love
| will still be young. This life is unsatisfactory
and fragmentary, but the life hereafter is
round, full, complete, lovely.
But the greatest of all is charity; the roll
| ling clouds of eternity have inscribed upon
them the letters of living light Charity
never faileth."
WILL BURN THE MORTGAGE.
On next Tuesday evening a special service
will be held in the church when the $4,000
mortgage which was on the church, but hay
ing been paid off, leaves it free from debt, will
be burned. A number of the former pastors
Of the church will be present and as many Of
the older members as can possibly attend.
/ 0baz.o will ho oddpoccnc hu the DaofnTS a
special musical programme and a season of
| great ioyfulneSs.