Year: 1870

The Ascension Of Christ-sermon by the Rev.


j. L. McNair.


At the corner OF Fulton and William streets stands
tho ancient ana venerable edlnce known as the old
North Dutch church. Built In 1869 II still rears its
proud but weather.beaten form, and affords the
same conveniences and comforts to It's wOrshippers
as 1t did to our foreathers century ago, This
edidce, like few Others is one that has wtnsto0d
and triumpned over the encroachments of business
and commerce, and when the historical associations
connected with the history Of the church are taken
into consideration, there few who would not re-
gret its removal or extinction.


The church yesterday morning was filed with
respectable and devout auditory, and though it
might be taken for grained that the worshppers Of
yesterday slightly dIered from those century ago


GENERAL AppBAnANcE AND DRESS, .t-
ascended ou high as in i7so The Rev. ]. McNair
preached the sermon and selected as his text the
words, cater the Lord had spoken to them He was
received up into Heaven and sat on the right hand
OF God" The preacher alluded to the action or the
last general Synod Of the Reformed Church which
reafrmed the custom Of the Church and ordered the
III DOCTRINAL TRUTHS OF THE LIFE OF CHRIST
to be preached every four years. It was their prtvi
leRe to treat OF the ascension Of Christ Christ at
that time prayed not for His disciples but confirmed
them in the faith, and having completed His work
on earth had now departed to complete His work IN
Heaven and stand as the advocate on high Of HIS





went as far as Bethany with His disciples asceu-
sion day, and as he blessed them He was parted
from them. Though no doubt existed that HIS as
censlon took place forty days after His resurrection,
yet there was doubt that Christ went as far as
Bethany. They told that 1t took place at Mount
Olvet and were repeatedly Told that II was Sab
bath days journey from the starting point, and we
to believe that His ascension took place In the
vicinity OF Bethany and not In the crowded village.
OUR LORD WOULD DESIRE SOLITUDE


where He could enectually give His parting advice
TO His disciples. No doubt existed that lie had as
cended. The angels testified Of Him as He ascended
and stephen affirmed that lie saw the glory OF the
Lord ana His Redeemer on the right hand
OF Cod. ST. Paul and st. John also bear
witness Of the truth. Christ assembled into
heaven with His body thus declaring to us that our
bodies and souls shall be reunited II we obtain re-
demption by faith In the human and divine person
I'll heaven. The words OF Cleopas-"We trusted that
1t had been He which should have redeemed lsrael,
found an echo IN many dOubter's heart when the
cruclf xion Of Christ took place. but these doubts
were dispelled when Christ again appeared To the
people ana afterwards


AsCENDED INTO HEAVEN.


Christ has accomplished His work and has departed
to prepare home for our immortal souls. The souls
OF those in heaven are expanding in truth, knOwl-
edge, power and glory, while the bodies are lymg
cold in the earth. But time will come when the
Lord Will descend, when body and soul shall be
united and We shall then worship for ever the King
Of Kings and the Deliverer Of Israel