USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > Jersey City > History of the First Presbyterian Church of Jersey City, New Jersey : in four discourses preached in the month of July, 1876; also, the discourse preached at the close of services in the church building, Sunday morning, April 29, 1888 > Part 8
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" Time, like an ever-rolling stream, Bears all its sons away ; They fly, forgotten, as a dream Dies at the opening day.
" O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Be Thou our guard while troubles last, And our eternal home !"
The singing, throughout the service, in choir and congre- gation, was most impressive. All were furnished with books, and all appeared to join in swelling the volume of praise that was offered. The passage of Scripture then read was taken from the First Epistle of Peter, iv. 7-19, with chapter v. I-II. The following hymn was then sung :
" Saviour ! I follow on Guided by Thee, Seeing not yet the hand That leadeth me; Hushed be my heart and still, Fear I no further ill, Only to meet Thy will My will shall be.
" Riven the rock for me Thirst to relieve, Manna from heaven falls Fresh 'every eve ; Never a want severe Causeth my eye a tear, But Thou dost whisper near, ' Only believe !'
" Often to Marah's brink Have I been brought ;
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Shrinking the cup to drink, Help I have sought ; And with the prayer's ascent, Jesus the branch hath rent, Quickly relief hath sent, Sweetening the draught.
" Saviour ! I long to walk Closer with Thee ; Led by Thy guiding hand, Ever to be ; Constantly near Thy side, Quickened and purified, Living for Him who died Freely for me !"
The sermon which follows was then delivered.
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SERMON V.
" Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness ; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace ; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God : praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints ; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the Gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds : that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things : whom I have sent unto you for the same pur- pose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts. Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen." -EPHESIANS Vi. 10-24.
So the apostle Paul closes his epistle to that noble church of Ephesus. It was a church which had been founded mainly by his own labors. He had seen there strange occurrences- like that wild mob which had gathered in the theatre crying out against Paul and the Gospel of Christ because by the influence of these their idolatrous trade was undermining. " A great and effectual door was there opened to him, but there were many adversaries " (1 Cor. xvi. 9). He had met with unscrupulous men there with whom he had to contend, and at whom he may possibly have glanced, when he says, " I have fought with wild beasts at Ephesus." But, on the other hand, he had met with great successes; as you see shining out, for example, in that blazing fire, which burns up in the streets of Ephesus those books of magic of great value, kindled by converts to the truth. It was a church of
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high spiritual gifts, as the tenor of this very Epistle testi- fies ; and of great graces, too, as you see by our Lord's own commendation of the church in the book of Revelation.
The apostle had long before (for this Epistle was most probably written from Rome) met with the Elders of that church at Miletus (as you find in the 20th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles), and, in taking farewell of them, had given vent to that earnest and devout review and appeal to them which is there recorded. The words of our text seem al- most an echo of that same fervent appeal. How he even then remembered his long and arduous labors among them ! How well he knew their great gifts! But he sees also their dangers. He foresaw they would be assailed, through the craft of men, even from among themselves, who would de- part from the faith. And so in one breath he warns them, he exhorts them, and he consoles them. And then he kneels down and prays with them, commending them and their fu- ture to God. In the midst of all his fears and hopes, he sees two great sources of protection and guidance and com- fort to them-God and His word of grace : "I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you inheritance among them that are sanctified." He points them to these as their strongholds, and then he warns them to be faithful.
So you see here, also, in the closing words of this letter, how he takes his farewell of them,-this letter, written most probably long, long afterward ; written in Rome's prison- house, and when Paul was an "ambassador of Christ in chains " (vi. 20). You see here how his heart is full of the same thoughts. He warns them earnestly of their foes and their dangers and their helps. He warns them that in this present world there is conflict to the end ; and that, too, not with merely human enemies, such as might and would in- deed bind or slay or otherwise trouble them; but that be- hind all these and other hindrances, there is a domain of wicked and mighty spirits-"spiritual wickedness in high places "-who in all ways are seeking to devour God's flock.
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And then, as if still echoing his words at Miletus, he points them to their Helpers. First, and highest of all, Jesus, the Lord himself; "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." "He is with you and is mightier than all that are against you." And then, secondly, His everlasting Word -" the sword of the Spirit," which is the word of God. This word of truth-believed in, obeyed, followed ; this it is, that, received in faith, clothes God's children from head to foot in the whole armor of God, and they become able to stand in the evil day. Take to you the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Be girded about the loins, and thus braced for the contest by His everlasting truth. Take for a breastplate that spotless righteousness which that Word alone reveals, and which is of God alone, and in which not one jot of human merit appears ; as a firm casing for the
· feet, so that they may stand steady without slipping in the hour of sore battle, take the firm belief in that Word's good news of perfect peace from God reconciled to the soul by the blood of the cross and freely given of God to the sinner in Christ Jesus ; as a shield to beat off all the fiery darts of the enemy, take that firm faith in the mighty Lord of grace and glory, who is proclaimed in the Word as with us and for us ; and as a helmet to protect the head from every blow of the enemy, take that perfected salvation,-which needs no human addition, which meets every spiritual necessity of the soul, provides for every defect, assures a perfect triumph to the believer, glorifies God, exalts both His justice and His mer- cy together, exhibits all His infinite attributes in harmony, and bestows on the redeemed soul a glory that is unspeak- able and forever. So he bids them stand strong in the Lord Christ and strong in His word-to stand day by day in communion with their eternal Lord in " all prayer and sup- plication." This ensures peace, progress, protection, and victory.
And then, just as if they heard again the affectionate tones uttered at Miletus, and which open his very heart to them, you see how he reckons upon their continued sym- 7
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pathy for him and his work for Christ, although they are to see him no more : "Pray for me also, that utterance may be · given unto me that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the Gospel, for which I am an am- bassador in bonds, that therein I may speak boldly as I ought to speak." See how he recognizes the bond of union between them, though far separated from each other-he in Rome's prison-house, they in Ephesus,-sure of their abiding interest in all that affects him, as he is full of inter- est in all that affects them whom he has so long known in the Gospel : "That ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things: whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts." And then, at last, just as he had knelt down on the sandy beach, among those affectionate, weeping souls at Miletus, and prayed for them, so he prays for them now, commending them and theirs to God. "Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ ": Until his yearning heart reaches out, in its un- bounded love to the whole company there and everywhere of those who love the Lord Jesus ; and his expanding soul prays for them all: "Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen."
It is with this same tender remembrance of his congrega- tion in the Lord, and of his protracted labors among them, that any long-settled pastor must part from the people fed by him in the name of the Chief Shepherd, the Lord Christ. He will rejoice over the fruits among them in the converts brought to Christ, and in the souls nourished by the word of God ; " his hope, his joy, his crown of glorying in the day of the Lord Jesus." He will give thanks for all the graces exhibited by them, " knowing no greater joy than to see his children walking in the truth." He will look for- ward to the blessedness of the meeting in that day when all that believe shall be gathered into the Lord's presence. He
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will fervently and believingly plead in their behalf with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, that the abiding peace and faith and love which are from God may rest in their souls and in his own, as the common heritage and bond which binds them and him first to God and His Christ, and then to each other; that holy bond which is never broken by any distance or any earthly changes however sudden or sad. And he will, as a closing word of exhortation (for he cannot help doing it, nor fail to teach them to do it), look out with smiles of joyful recognition, beyond their own cir- cle, to the great company where are seen " all who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity," and who, in their different assemblies, and lands and nations, are walking together, as one people separated from the world, toward the same heavenly rest-toward the bridal-day of the Lord Christ (Rev. xix. 7).
Yet, at the same time, he will not be insensible to the dangers which lurk by the way for his flock in this present evil world ; nor will he fail to stir them up, in his parting words to " hold fast the beginning of their confidence in Christ firm unto the end," " to keep firmly that which they have received, that none whatever-the world, the flesh, or the devil-none in earth or hell-that none take their crown."
And as his consolation in the view of their perils, what can he do but point them-as the apostle does his Christian flock at Ephesus-to their great strongholds: the arm of the Lord Jesus as their strength, and the Lord's ever-living word as their abiding light. Yes! my people, to the LORD CHRIST will he point them ; for He is able and He alone is " able to keep us from falling, yea, and to present every one of us, at length, before the presence of His glory with ex- ceeding joy." Blessed ! blessed ! thrice blessed are they whom HE keeps. Blessed ! blessed ! thrice blessed are they : for He that has begun a good work in them will pre- serve it, and crown it in the day of His glory. So may He · sanctify you "wholly in body, soul, and spirit, and preserve you blameless unto the day of His coming."
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And to His word of truth, too, will he point them-so able, as it is, to save the soul; through the power of the Holy Ghost :
Ist. Because it so clearly reveals, in all His beauty and glory and grace, the Lord himself, "whom to know is life eternal "; whom to look at in the word, as in a glass, is to have one's own face and whole person changed into the same " image from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of our God."
2d. Next, because that Word portrays so completely our own poor selves; so weak, so helpless, so sinful, so justly condemned, so easily carried away by temptation; in a word, so destitute in ourselves of all that is good before God; and yet, when in Him, delivered, accepted, renewed -the habitation of God's Spirit -- strong to live for Him who died for us, able "to do all things through the in- dwelling Christ who strengthens us." That Word of God. which flatters no one-that searching Word of God which abases every man's pride. It never beguiles us. It exalts the Lord alone, and gives glory to Him, and brings glory to us only through Him and our union to Him by faith.
3d. Next, because that Word is itself divine; " the word of the living God, which endureth forever." Its promises are divine. The way from sin and hell to glory, which it alone, of the religions in the world, reveals, is divine. Its assurances are God's assurances. Its warnings and its hopes are of God. The weapons which it supplies are from God's own armory ; swords that never break-simple slings, that will smite to the dust even the proud, mighty giants of de- fying error and corruption-shields that cannot be pierced. And when we receive it truly, we receive it, as the apostle says, "not as the word of man, but as it is in truth, the word of the living God, which effectually worketh in you that be- lieve " (I Thess. ii. 13).
4th. And lastly, because that Word is therefore invested with the power of God. The Lord, the Holy Ghost, speaks in it and through it. His power animates the word of His grace, hence it is called the life-giving word. It has power
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to slay. . As Luther says : "The Gospel which the Lord has put into the mouth of His apostles is His sword wherewith He smites as with thunder and lightning." And so it has power to revive to a new life. It has power to pierce to the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart ; and so it has power to build up unto life eternal, for it holds up a crucified Christ which is "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, to the Jew first and also to the Greek" (Rom. i. 16).
These two, the mighty Lord Christ and His eternal Word of truth! They stand like the two pillars before the tem- ple of Solomon-Jachin, "he will establish "; Boaz, "in strength." They stand as the instruction, the joy, the help, the eternal hope of all who, with opened spiritual eyes, enter the church of the living God. Bind these two, oh ! my be- loved people, to your hearts as your strong, unfailing de- fence, as with hooks of steel-God and His word of grace.
Thirty-six years ago last December 14th, I stood for the first time in this pulpit, after receiving the call of this people to be their pastor. At your call I left the First Presbyterian Church of Rahway, New Jersey, where for eleven years I had served as pastor to a most affectionate and beloved peo- ple, and was installed over you as pastor by the Presbytery of New York, thirty-six years ago, on the 11th of last Febru- ary. In that service the Rev. Edward E. Rankin presided ; prayer was offered by the Rev. Lewis H. Lee, formerly as- sociate pastor with Rev. Mr. Johnstone, and by Rev. Ravaud K. Rodgers, of Bound Brook; the charge to the pastor was given by the Rev. Wm. Bannard, of New York, and the charge to the people by the Rev. Frederick G. Clark, of · Astoria, N. Y. All these, with the exception of Dr. Ban- nard and Dr. Rankin, are now gone home, most of them long since gone home. How vividly that scene is before me now. I undertook this charge, I must confess, with some hesitancy, and for a few years these doubts continued for reasons upon which I need not now dwell. But upon reflec-
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tion I decided to remain at all events for five years. When that time had elapsed, all was clear, and instead of staying five years, I am, after thirty-six years, still here to-day. Yes, I am still here to-day, having thought it best, after much consideration, as they severally occurred, to decline three different offers for my removal elsewhere, among which were two calls to churches in other cities, urged upon me with much importunity. I mention all this to show how greatly I esteemed the people of this charge.
I have so fully, on another occasion, entered into the his- tory of this church, that I will say but little of it now. A very few facts must suffice. This building stood in Wall Street, New York, for thirty-three years ; to see, in that time, a change from being in a locality with a large surrounding population, to a place filled up with the appliances of busi- ness. It has now stood forty-three years in Jersey City, and has witnessed the same change over again. When I came among you the population of Jersey City was considerably under thirteen thousand, and the population was almost all within this vicinity and that of Ahasimus. Grand Street was still unpaved, and was even in hillocks on the sidewalk. Very few houses were beyond the east side of Warren Street until you came to Grove Street. Besides this church there was St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, with its first rector, Rev. Dr. Barry, still living, though very near his decease, which occurred within a few weeks. The Rev. Jas. Bowden was the rector in charge. There was also the First Reformed (Dutch) Church in Grand Street with its former pastor, the Rev. Matthias Lusk, then recently dismissed. It was still mourning the sudden decease of his successor, the Rev. Jno. A. Yates, D.D., who had been called but not yet installed, and who had been followed by the short pastorate of the . Rev. David Lord. And the pulpit was then vacant, the Rev. Alexander W. McClure entering on his pastorate a few weeks later. The Rev. P. D. Van Cleef had been pastor for two years in the Second Reformed Church in Wayne Street, in a building which was burned that winter, and replaced by
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the present structure. The First Baptist Church (or Union Baptist Church) was in Grove Street, with the Rev. William Verrinder (afterward, for so many years, our admirable city missionary), as its pastor. Trinity Methodist Church was in York Street, and St. Paul's M. E. Church in Third Street had just begun its history, and the building was standing almost alone, with the ground about it still unlevelled. The Roman Catholics occupied, as their church, the building opposite the First Reformed Church, now known as St. Aloysius' Academy. The Second Presbyterian and the Park Reformed Churches were in their earliest incipiency, and were organized some time afterward. On the Heights (then Bergen), the old Reformed Dutch Church, with its pastor, Rev. Benjamin C. Taylor, D.D., and its new stone building recently completed, stood alone. All the churches, of every name, which have appeared in that region, have come into existence long since. Lafayette was then, and for years afterward, a salt meadow. Of the settled pastors at that time, none but the Rev. P. D. Van Cleef, D.D., and the Rev. Will- iam Verrinder, now survive.
This church had enjoyed the services of three pastors -- the Rev. John Johnstone, and the Rev. Lewis H. Lee as associate pastor, and after these the Rev. David King. These are all long since gone to rest. And so, too, is the Rev. James Vernon Henry (father of our Deacon Jas. R. Henry), who ministered at times to this people as stated supply. And so, too (I may here add), are many of those who were especially active in securing the organization of this church, and the removal of this building from its old site in New York to its present position. In particular, I must not fail to mention three of these-the late David Henderson, whose tablet is on the wall, and who died, as you know, by accident very soon after this building was dedicated in 1845, and Dudley S. Gregory, who was re- moved by death more than ten years ago. It was chiefly by the energy and liberality of these two gentlemen that the purchase and transfer of this building was effected.
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The third was the late Andrew Clerk, Esq., the skilful and liberal architect, to whose supervision the transportation and erection of the building was entrusted, and who left us, as you remember, after long residence here, a little more than a year ago, to enter that heavenly mansion not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Besides the departed ministers of Christ already named, this church had been served by the Rev. Wilson Phraner, long afterward pastor in Sing Sing, N. Y., and now honorably retired from the pastorate, and the Rev. William W. Eddy, since then mis- sionary in Syria. These were at that time young men just closing their studies at the Theological Seminary, and preached here for a time as stated supplies. These both still live.
Of the Ruling Elders, among those who were chosen at the church organization, Luther T. Stowell, L. D. Hardenburgh, and Ellis F. Ayers, the last of whom had also been elected Deacon, had all removed. The four Elders whom I found here, Oliver S. Strong (elected at the organization), Justus Slater, Thomas H. Shafer, and James S. Davenport, are all gone to their reward. And so also are Wm. R. Janeway, Wm. H. Talcott, H. S. Allen, and Nathaniel C. Jaquith, who followed them. Elders Edwin Wygant, Titus B. Meigs, D. M. Stiger, Henry W. Buxton, and Wm. Ewan, still live,* but have removed to other places. Bennington F. Randolph and Flavel McGee alone yet remain with us. The first elected deacon, Ellis F. Ayers, had gone from the city, and two others associated with him, Joseph Bonnell and Ab. Hoagland, soon followed him. The only remaining deacon whom I found here was Edwin Wygant. Following him were Nathaniel C. Jaquith, Erwin R. Crane, Henry W. Buxton, Jas. R. Henry, Chas. H. Jaquith, and Joseph F. Randolph, Jr., several of whom afterward became Elders. These all, with the exception of N. C. Jaquith, still live, but have all
* Mr. Wygant deceased a few months later-an Elder at the time in Spring Street Presbyterian Church, New York.
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removed to other cities, except James R. Henry, who, as our Deacon, still remains with us.
Time will not allow me to mention even by name the long array of Trustees,* who, before and during these thirty-six years and down to the present time, have administered the temporal affairs of this church so wisely and efficiently, and by whose energy the finances have been kept in a sound con- dition ; by whose wise zeal on several occasions, particularly during the last twenty-five years, the heavy debt, which en- cumbered the church when I came here, was entirely removed ; the liability to a ground-rent, which had long continued, was cancelled ; the reversionary clauses of the original deed with- drawn by the liberality of the heirs of Messrs. Henderson and Gregory, and the whole church property brought entirely into the possession of the congregation ; and lastly (though not least), by whose fidelity and perseverance, during the last six or eight years of pressure, the liabilities of the church have always been promptly met, and the congregation continued from year to year entirely free from all debt. They who build the house of God, and they who keep and cleanse the sanc- tuary, are not forgotten of the Lord any more than they who minister within at its holy services.
Nor can I stop either to set before you the well-remem- bered and beloved faces of the many Sabbath-school super- intendents, and teachers and officers too, who have trained in Christian truth the children of the congregation, and these children's children after them, down to the present faithful band of helpers who still so successfully prosecute the work.t Nor can I speak by name of the noble women, who, in the Mite Society and in the Missionary Society, have for so many years steadily and most efficiently done their part in enabling this church of Christ fully to perform its work. And as I look at that place of the choir yonder,
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