The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1862-05-27 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

ALL SAINTS CHURCH. —On Sunday last, the Mayor, (J. (lalpin, Esq.,) Alderman Canoe, and Councillors Hodges, Lock, Bennett, Frond, Minion, Aldridge, and Andrews, and the Town Clerk, preceded by the mace-bearers, attended Divine servic..i at the above church, where an admirable sermon was preached by the Rev. J. P. F. Davidson, vs ho took for his text the 10th Chapter of Romans, verse 4:—'' Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believetli." The rev. gentleman pointed out the intimate relation which existed between the moral law and the spiritual doctrines of Christ. The moral lAM had relation to the duty of man as a social being, and the spiritual law had reference to his duty to Clod. The connection between these hail been sought to be divided. It bad been argued that the foimer might he obeyed without the possession of the latter; that a man might be an excellent moral man without being a religious man ; and that the possession of faith in Christ, or a spiritual life, were not only not necessary but rather opposed to the fulfilment of the moral law. This, however, was an error. Holy Scripture fully proved that the spiritual life and the observance of the duties of morality were no entwined the one with the other, that a man could not love God if he did not love his brother also ; and we had only tn refer to the case of the heathen, and of the state of the world before the coming of our Saviour, to show that ci‘ilization, (of which we had lately heard no much) as the great agent for man's restoration, never has, and never can, preserve mankind in the paths of morality. Of the Corinthians, than whom a more civilized nation did net exist in the times of the Apostle, it is said.—" That they changed the glory of God into an image made like unto corruptible man—that they were murderers, fornicators, and indulged in the most degrading sensuality ;" and the Apostle adds, to show the great agent in their moral restoration, "But years washed, hut ye are eanctitied, but ye are cleansed, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, and by the Spirit of our God." The rev, gentleman then passed on to notice that thoie who hear rule in that ancient borough, by their presence there that morning, showed that they recognised Christianity as the great and holy power by which the world was to lie regenerated, and man raised to a higher and spiritual life. The real improvement in soeiety was effected by the hallowing influences of Christianity, hidden it might he, but still guarding and purifying, and so influencing the whole state of human society. The end of the law, according to the text, is Christ. His humiliation, His life, His sufferings, His death, His resurrection, His ascension, and His intercession on man's behalf, had all this one great object, viz., to restore man to his original state, and make him meet for eternal glory. And here, said the preacher, 1 cannot but call your attention to the manner in which the great offices of Christ on behalf of his people are brought befote us in our National Church. It is not so much the days observed, as the great truths brought before us on those clays, that tends to awaken holy thoughts in our minds, and helps to strengthen our faith. It were greatly to be desired that Ascension-day, as Christmas-day and Good Friday, was set apart in an especial manner for 'retinue contemplation, and that the ordinary business of life wa, laid aside, so that this great truth— the Ascension of Christ—was more deeply impressed on our hearts. But such not being the case, let us all endeavour to spend that holy season in serious and devout meditation, humbly relying on the Divine blessing. The rev. gentleman had previously announced that Divine service would commence at eleven on Thursday (Ascension-day), and that a sermon would be preached in the evening by the Rev. John Partniter, curate of Chilfrome. Service to commence at eight o'clock. In our obituary of to-day we announce the demise of Sir Walter Yea, Bart., of P)raod Hall, Somerset. The deceased baronet's brother, Henry, succeeds to the title.