Year: 1873

you with eternal rejoicing.


LEFPERTS' PARK SERVICES
Sermon by the Rev. Thomas Primrose,


OF Yorkshire, Engla nd-The Worth and


Power OF Divine Grace-Convcrsion to


God the First stepping Stone to Hap
piness.


The cool shade under the trees of Lenerts' PARK,
In Brooklyn, was peopled yesterday afternoon by
quiet but large assembly OF worshippers OF nearly
ali denominations. The services were conducted
as usual by lay brother, who first announced the
titles of several appropriate hymns which were
sung by the whole congregation. Prayer was o.,
Tered by a reverend clergyman, whose name is un-
known, and succeeded by further sing
ing and the passing of the subscrip-
ton plate, to which the contributions were
plentiful The Rev. Thomas Primrose, OF the
town or Redding, Yorkshire, England-a delegate
TO the Evangelical Alliance-was then introduced.
He announced as the text Of the sermon which
he was about to preach Acts XII, ~, 23-"Then
tidings Of these things came unto the ears OF the
Church, which was in Jerusalem; and they sent
forth Barnabas, that he saould go as far as Anti
och; who, when he came, and had seen the grace
of God, was glad, and exhOrted them ali that, with
purpose heart, they would cleave unto the Lord"
to the actual incarnation OF Jesus Christ by ISAIAH
OI the increase OF His government and OF Hts peo-
Ia IN the midst Of them. His government has with
stood antagonsm conspiracy and hatred, but by His
wonderful working, the very efforts made BY the
impiOus and opposing have been the means OF its
further spread its glory and its decisive triumph.
Christianity must reign until all enemies are put
under Its foot. He would not detain his listeners
with Illustrations OF this theme OF the power Of
Christ from scenes in the sold country" from
which he came, but would refer them directly to
the context. He described the depth OF infamy
ana degradation from which these converts whom
Ss 1 was Va sent to ,ss 0ok m hd risen to a
sanctlhcation or faith These examples taught the
value OF


PRESENT SALVATION.


"A bird IN the nand Is worth two In the bush"
was an old saying familiar to many-(hear. hearl-
but 1t was as applicable TO salvation as to the
other affairs Of daily Lie. They were offered free
salvation-ree as the atmospheric air or the rising
OF all our guilt through the shedding OF the blood
OF Jesus on Golgotnas HILL He could wash us and
make us whittier than the snow. He bore all our
sins aWay-a sacrifice OF nObler name and more
precious blood than was ever offered in olden
NEUROLOGICAL worship. II the Gospel had fair
all. (Hear, hear.)


-, When Barnabas came down TO Antioch, he saw
the grace OF God and was glad. The preacher said
that he himself had been made glad by scenes
which he had witnessed during his own labors in
England, Wales and Scotland when men had been
made to realize their unworthiness and from that
state OF humility and penitence had risen to hnd
reconciliation with God. Many OF his listeners had
change that had been wrought in them, and were
lost Tor expression OF tnankfulness and gladness.
Their feeling was best described by line from
familiar hymn,


My heart doth dance at the sound OF His name:
and that was


THE BEST DANCING EVER SEEN


on the face OF this planet (Laughter.) This grace
which had so triumphed at Antioch, was sufficient
to save and convert all. He blessed God that It
had found him out In Yorkshire forty-two years
ago, and had saved in him young. rebel against
heaven. And the grace that could save Thomas
then narrated tale Of John Philips, now preacher
In London, England, who when a boy, inter-
fered mlschieyiously with the primitive worship or
hn
magistrate, and the cry was raised that he should
be punished severely, when single. voice declared
that he should be saved and corrected and made
preacher Of That was the British love OF


'FAIR PLAY.n


Grace could be given to anybody. There were
some who wished It 10 run in very narrow grooves,
but this was not to be allowed. tNo. no.) He
narrated how he preached in q women g workhouse
In yorkshire where the women were used to hav
ing their daily bread dealt out to them by the
pound, and now he gave to them the text, at Is
done as thou hast commanded and assured them
tnat, whereas aloretime they had little pieces or
the bread OF lie dealt out TO them they would now
have great Jumps. And it had pleased the Lord on
that occasion TO or the souls OF these poor
persons. The preacher also condemned the hiding
OF grace by those who had received OF It, Christ
tongues confession. Had they been skulking in
the thlckets, lurking in the bushes,


FEARFUL OF COMPOSING JESuS2


IL was their duty to utter the memory OF His good
ness and make His name glorious The converted
have a right royal and magnlfcent entrance into
the everlasting Kingdom. II they had Gods grace
they had spiritual prosperity; and they who did
not rejoice In the salvation Of soul did not re-
sembe Barnabas. They lived at the North Pole OF
the spiritual world, among icebergs, and had need
TO approach nearer the Torrid Zone. Their hearts
were unlike that OF the old lady who told Wesley
that her heart was in tune, although her voice
was not. He prayed tnat their hearts might
sing for JOY and that God might tune them TO u
grand praiseful pitch.


Conversion to God, he said in conclusion, is tho
first stepping stone to happiness. "The Joy OF the
Lord the strength OF the godly." See to 1t that
you have clean hands and pure hearts and y0n will
grow In the strength OF faith. II you cleave TO the
Lord you will be useful and happy He would
have you be- and will see at last the friendly hand
OF your Elder Brother welcoming you to His king
dom.


The Rev. John Ashworth. OF London, also men,
ber OF the Alliance, delivered O short address and
the SER wees then closed.