Year: 1873

A Bible Lesson In the Clinton Congrega-


tionaI Church "A True Female


Preacher.


Miss Smiley, who has been preaching every day
since last Sunday in DR.. Buddington's or DR..
Cuylers church in Brooklyn, gave yesterday after.
noon Bible lesson in the lecture room OF the
Clinton avenue Congregational church. About 100
ladies were present, very large congregation,
considering the pouring rain. Miss Smiley is
small in stature, OF delicate form, with pleasant
but rather pale face, expressive OF thought ana
study and short black hair which is half hidden
under plain white coffure Yesterday she wore
O simple brown dress which, added to her modest,
humble attitude, gave her the appearance OF
true preacher OF the Gospel. She said she in
tended to explain the first eight chapters
OF the episte to the Romans. She
would leave out the ninth chapter which
was not SO practical, but the epstle seemed to
find climax in the eighth chapter. 1t was won
derful to see this apostle, after having arisen to
such grand spiritual height descend to give such
lowly, homely practical advice The first episte
foreshadowed the depths into which man could
fall despite his civilization. There was a wonder
ful deception in superficial knowledge of the Cos
pei, and in the third chapter the apostle arragned
both the Jews and the Genties before the Judgment
throne, and showed that they were equally smut.
Miss smiley related an incident which had
CURED In England. Two men VINO had been play
mates in school met each other after all these many
years, one as criminal and the other as judge.
The Judge sternly imposed the utmost sentence or
the law upon him. but afterwards told MIN
tenderly that he (the Judge) would pay the entire
fine, which saved the cuprit from perpetual i'm
prlsonment IL was thus with Jesus, who imposed
the sternest sentence and heaviest fine upon the
sinner and paid 1t all Himself She thought 1t was
the province OF Christ to cleanse and to crown
them and not only TO cover them with His white
robe In order to hide their sins. There was an I'M
preston that sins against the law Of God were not
severely punished as the sins against human
laws This was decided error, II those who
broke the commands OF Moses had to perish, how
much greater would be the punishment OF those
who sinned against the laws OF Jesus IL was
cessary die unto the world in order to live with
Jesus. Death was always the way to life. As far
as she knew, there was nothing in ner heart
that she would not give up to jesus. All that they
required was to .'reckon themselves to be aliven
God would make this reckoning true. Surely the
promises OF Christ were as good as the realities
themselves. Miss Smiley related, In fecltous
manner, her experiences with a converted Jew
who could not understand that 'promses could be
"a good as the things themselves 1t was neces
sary for them TO understand ana believe this and
to "reckon themselves to be alive" There had
been considerable debate as 10 whether the
seventh chapter referred TO converted or uncon
verted people, and she gave her views at length on
this question.


The audience listened with attention TO Miss
Smiley's remarks and seemed greatly pleased.