Year: 1872

Sermon by Rev. John p. Newman, Chap


lain to tho United States Senate-NO


Politics Introduced.


The Rev. John P. Newman, the Presidential
saver Of souls, preached yesterday in the Bedford
street Methodist Episcopal church. So rare an oc-
jcasion drew out multitude Of people The church
edifce (Which Is quite spacious one) was crowded
in every part-noor, galleries and choir. The repu.
tation OF the clergyman had drawn together the
main part Of this large concourse, and it seemed
to be expected that he would speak or at least
touch upon the m0mentous issues of the canvass
As In the last sermon he preached in New York he
had made bold to pray to the Almighty that He
would grant success to the administration ticket in
the coming election. Mr.. Newman, however, alb
stained from all reference to politics in any shape
and dwelt solely on eternal issues. He seemed for
the occasion to have forgotten both Grant and
Greeley and devoted his energies solely towards
the more profitable fields OF everlasting life. Mr..
Newman is a very eloquent man, one Of the most
eloquent indeed among the Methodists He bears
Bomewhat Of q likeness to Mr.. Beecher-has the
same manner and the same address, indeed almost
the same voice. His gestures have evidently been
studied in the same school of vehemence and his
most remarkable points seem to have been taken
from that celebrated divine. His periods are
drawn up suddenly in the same way, though his
originality Of thought, of course, is not striking,
not so intense. Still Mr.. Newman is one of the
most remarkable clergymen Of the country, and is
tSe ss seron On the he s
are the pure In heart, for they shall see
God" He opened with terse description
OF the difference between devotion and piety, and
portrayed his voyage IRON Suez to the Holy Land,
where the Mohammedan guide daily performed
his ablutlons and Frustrated himself with his
face towards the East, and constantly described
the beauties OF the Heaven he was about to see,
and yet the next day he would cut throat





olic," said Mr.. Newman ''who would enter his
church. PROSTATE himself go to confession, pray to
the Blessed Virgin, and show the utmost contriton
for his sins; and yet the moment OF leaving the
church he would forget all about his previous
sanctity and rush into some brawl This was devo-
tion without piety:" The preacher dwelt on the
necessity OF being everywhere pious. TO
soever a man doeth eatetn and drink;
eth, let 1t be to the glory of God.' A man should
be a walking embodiment Of the millennium. He
should not certainly be man whose purity sits in
Judgment on other men. There were many re-
lgious people who went about censorlous III spirit
Shouting the loudest, making the most profession,
and then 60 to work to run down their neighbors.
This was spurious purity. 1t was monopoly OF
men by its standard. Every one had not the
same manner Of showing plety and it was wrong
to set a standard for every one to keep up to.
There was great difference between justification
and sanctihcation. Many imagined themselves
sancti6ed, whereas Others more wise only cared
to be justified 10y their works The reverend gentle
man then went on to say he thanked God he was
Methodist There was gooas o,a ana
snecdote OF two Jews who stopped in
front OF Methodist church, and one
asked, ''what is a Methodist ~ and the other
answered, '.lt's man who believes he is going to
heaven alive" And SO we do, said the preacher.
obey the Lord thy God.' The New Testament
says:-'Without holiness no man shall see God"
The impartiality of God is shown in history. He
spared not the first angel who fell from heaven to
hell He spared not the first woman. He spared
not David, the man after His own heart. He spared
not Judas the arch betrayer. 1t is fearful thing
to measure the acquisitions OF the Divine law.
When he, the preacher, stood at heavens gate and
wanted to go in he would call Christ out and ask
Him to let him in, and He would do IL, because
without Christ there is no salvation. There is
manifest fitness in all things. There is a fitness in
soldier being brave, there is fitness in friend
being true, and there IL q fitness in q man
being pure. The eye OF the owl was for the night,
the eye OF the fish was for the water the eye OF the
eagle was for the mountain. SO man made for
GOd-not for one another, not for this world, but
for lofty ana infinite companlonship with Cod Il
love them that love me,n said Christ, II call
you not my servants, but call you friends" We
were stined for a complete unity and companion
ship and similarity OF purpose with God. HIS
presence Is everywhere-in heaven and earth and
hell, and everywhere He Is happy. God IL at
present. Invisible to us, but His invsibiity is the
result or sim There is nothing more clearly de-
monstrated in the Testaments. In the days OF
man's infancy he had a divine presence. "He
walked III the Garden OF Eden in the cool OF the
day." But we need not despair, for 'Bessed are
the pure In heart. for they shall God.D