The sun., 1897-09-27
AN ANSWER To B.FAY MILLS
DIR. IBB0TT,s FIRST FALL SERMON
IN PLYMOUTH CHURCH

He Controverts the Unitarian EH-EvnnEeist's
Conception or the Goapei--It Is Not = Com.
nand, says Dr. Abbott. but n ReVeIa.
tion. tho Proclamation or n Free Girt.
The Rov. DIR. Lyman Abbott preached his first
fall sermon OF the year yesterday at Plymouth
Church. Brooklyn, and nlarge congregation was
present. II was understood that DIR. Abbott in.
tended to make some reply to the stand taken
by the Rev. u. Fay Mills In his address on Tho
Mission to tho Multitude" at tho Unitarian Com
ference at Saratoga and In this the congrega-
tion was not disappointed. In the opening
prayer DIR. Abbott made hia only mention the
Mayoralty election. lie said:
.At this particular time, at the approach Of
tho election, when all men, even the most fair.
minded, are in perplexity as to tho right course
to pursue may We all be affected with the truo
civic pride. May we never lapse back into tho
state Of old Rome. May this new city be a true
city, and pride to all"
DR.. Abbott took the text OF his sermon from
Romans, l.. 16: For am not ashamed OF the
Gospel" Ho spoke. In part, as follows:
FOR some years tho Rov. d. Fay Mills has
been preaching as an evangelist and in all
probability tons Of thousands Of people date the
beginning of their spiritual life to the time
when they first heard him. Lately. as Uni.
tartan, he has made some romarks on religion,
Now am not going 10 preach sermon about
the Rev. B. Fay Mills, but do want to take up in
this connection some Of his uttornnces. He has
spoken about the meaning Of the Gospel. and
has called II command, rather than revela.
tion; ,,
Gospel messaRc at all. ] do not think that the
Gospel message meant that In any part. II 10
true that men have done wrong very often. and
u is also truo that they ought 10 be told thai
Gospel: that is the law. The Gospel does @ hos lGi
command US 70 do for God Il announces. re-
mind. j. exactly what the dospei means. " my
This wa the real message ,Is have o, sqpeto
come to make you see; you are deaf, and have
come to make you hear; you are poor. and
ihaye come 81 TO make " you @ioie R The King knsdon Sna
9t God is like a seed planted in the ground.
for men But cannot understand how wa man. man.
after preaching many years; can say You
70 me that il ineon @ presenaibie. a'' N0'e letter
1T Is as with Paul when Christianity was
eonfounded with Judaism: He vas ca .er 70
n' saa Rss s up esss 5S
to duty, The Gospel is the revelation OF
but d n nd I'D
Watts did not discover steam. nor did Edison
discover electricity: they discovered the means
"ot course. there is . declaration in the Bible
that all men are sinners. That means that men
refuse 10 accept the true life which Is offered
them. Such men become the swine before
the enchantress Gree When God comes 10
them they prefer TO remain where they are. As
for those who prefer TO read . Sunday news
paper or TO ride a bicycle. instead CT coming
here-weu they must learn better.
But the Gospel never says that you have
done wrong and that il summons you to do
right No more does IL do this than the school
bell which calls the children to school; that bell
does not tell the child that he has done Wro g
and that he must be punished; !, merely Offers
gift OF knowledge TO all those who wish 10
partAke.
This is the true message Of Goa: the gift OF
the Lord Is eternal lie through His Son. Jesus
Christ"