The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-05-07
AMONG THE CITY CHURCHES.
Rev. A. s. Clark breaches an
Eloquent Sermon.
DR.. Hutchins Alludes to the Ferment
in the Country.
Unusually Interesting Services Else.
whero-Rev. II. M. Webster Dis
courses Upon Law From n Uni-
tartan Standpoint.

The sermons preached in the Epieco-
pal churches at this time OF the year
are doctrinal in character. Yesterday
was the first Sunday after the ascension
and the various discourses generally
treated of this subject. Rev. A. S.
Clark preached his first sermon in
Christ Episcopal church since his return
from attending the Episcopal confer
ence in San Francisco. Last Sunday he
preached in Trinity church before q
large congregation.
Yesterday Mr.. Clark took his text
from the gospel OF ST. John 1928, II
came forth from the Father and am
come into the world. Again leave the
world and go to the Father"
Doctrinal sermons are not to the
liking Of this generation, and yet
we have struck the doctrinal Sundays OF
the Christian year. II doctrine did not
touch human life and influence it for the
best it would exiet in the realm OF spec
ulatiOn and should be considered a
pleasure of the brain. Christianity.
however, is nothing il not practical to
show how tho ascension OF our Lord is
identified with our hopes; the character
and the dsatiny of humanity will be the
trend OF this Discourse.
The ceming from the Father and the
return to the Father of Christ Jesus
means something for him and for US.
The opening heavens testify to the
Fathers ratification Of His Sonship in
heaven. He had done 80 before men.
BY the waters OF Jordan when the
Christ came dripping from the bsptis.
malrite. in the Mount Of TRANSPORTATION,
when divine glory shone from His sacred
body and illumined His vestments
there had been the Fathers solemn testi-
mony to the work of His dear Son. Now
it needs special ratification, for the
Christ which enters into the glory above
enters differently and otherwise than He
left. When He emptied himself OF
divine glory for human salvation, He
went out Gods only begotten son now
that He returns from earth He goes in
as the God man, son of the Virgin and
mans elder brother. The nativity has
intervened with Calvary and the resur-
rection, the human body and soul OF
Christ, formerly unknown in heaven, IA
now welcomed by the fiat of the Father
to the throne of glory. There is a local
transference of the human nature to
the heaven from whence the Son of Cod
came. How does this touch hu-
man life? 1t gives grand
outlook to the possibilities OF human
hood and dignifes the very nature of
man. which the Lord assumed. 1t is man
rs we'll az Gods son who has mounted
on high, the heavens have opened for
one OF our flesh. The reconciliation be-
tween the Father and His creatures is
made perfect by the ascension we
see the nobleness, the dignity and the
ultimate destiny of Christianized hui
manity.
Christ's ascension was the Offering of
the oblation in the immediate presence
of God for US. Ho had offered himself
g willing sacrifice on Good Friday. 1t
was a true atonement, full, perfect and
Sufficient; nothing could be added, moth
ing taken from it. The sacrifice, how
ever, needed transference to obtain the
wondrous application OF the death
on Calvary for the sins OF
the whole world; the Great Atoner's
blood bad to pass within the veil, and
there he appeared in the immediate
presence of God. The prefgurative
service OF the Jews was ON those lines.
Sacrifice on the altar prepared. Then
LILO ulku pIiobb VIII u Dhblu Oh DlOOu
passing into the holy of holes and be-
hind the heavy curtains in secret
making the oblation. The true offering
was on ascension day. in which the
atonement finds it's coronation. And it
continues till the final Offering, which
precedes the entrance of the redeemed
into heaven. BY this offering life-giv-
ing power is impaired to the death
doomed children of men. All the gifts
of life and salvation would have been
valuelsss and rendered nugatory if this
priestly intercession was not continued
for human benefit. Mans prayers are
heard in heaven, for humani ty
itself appears IN the presence of God.
The incarnate Lord has taken it into the
utmost recesses OF the divine glery,
eeated it on the throne of universal do
minion and consecrAted it to a royal
priesthood.
Man made little lower than the
angels has advanced beyond those great
intelligences, and in the potentialities OF
his existence as they were revealed in
the life OF Jesus Christ, finds the hope,
the encouragement, the strength to
erect a noble and sacred manhood which
is his own possession. Manager, cross,
grave and sky How marvellous the
changes and the stages of that wondrous
life which wins higher place for hu-
mainly From the Father to the