The New York herald., 1844-12-09
6R. POTTS IN THE FIELD.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF FAITH.
A BRoADSIDE AT ROME,
V0ltaire, Hume, and Baxter.
PROTESTANTISM As OPPOSED TO INFIDELITY
AND CATHOLICITY.
Lecture delivered In the Chapel OF the
university, New York, sunday Morning,
Dees 9, le44, by the Rev. John Potts, DID,.

university, New York, sunday Morning,
Dce' 9, ls44, by the Rev. John Potts, DID.
WHAT think you Of CAra l-Mat c. ~, IA.
on entering on the examination Of which the
Scriptures teach respecting him, of which it is
written that no other name mas been given under
heaven, or on earth, whereby men can be saved,
it is necessary to pre- mise that my argument will
be addressed to those who admit the plenary in
spiration Of the sacred writings. l am thus expli
cit, because to prove to those who reject the
Scriptures, that il contained such and such a
doctrine, would be merely wasting time. The
doctrines revealed in the Scripture, we receive
by an act Of faith that is, we believe them to be
proved. Yet we are very far from wishing to be
understood in these remarks, as precluding the
presenting of the various paris of our subject to
those whose present state OF mind may be- scep-
tica'. Even 10 that class OF objecOrs who refuss
'helr assent TO these doctrines, because, as they
allege, they 10 the nature OF things impossible
do not despair Of furnishing such answers as may
sience, and still better, satisfy the objectors TIM
leads nae to me second general remark, In WHICH
vii occupy the remainder ofyour time this morning
II IS ths-that while do not disguise the fact that
difficulty, and difficulty altogether nsupersbIe lc
our reason, ID to be found connected, not acciden
truths OF scripture. And yet we do not call for the
exercise OF implicit faith With respect to every
article Of our belief, desire to be able to give
Icd5OH IoI nope tndt IL In Us. however II may
answer that system Of error, which sits on the city
of the seven hills" and stretches forth its gigan
TIC arms 10 crush In every quarter OF the earth the
spirit OF tree inquiry, to rest the claims OF religion
on an unqncstlOnng faith, 1t does not suit the
genius OF christianity to resort to any such mon-
strous fiction security against the pride and Gu
rlosty OF the human mind, even though that curl
osaiy has often proved itself to be exceedingly rash
and hurttnl from want of right principle and gui-
dance. If tenes like of the celebrated doctrine Of
not merely difficulty butt
were not only above our powers q Conception, hut con-
trary to our very sensesif such tenets adopted
wonder that some such principle OF belief a. that de-
scr6ed in the nde aneer should have been represented
q proper and more impossible the thing
deed that in the recognition Of such tenes pTetext
should have been found BY the nadel volare to alsfy
Of christian such words as believe % By faith
not by our reason which take good never to lis
must say word ~ And another as bitter and unre
lenting an antagonist votaire-Hume-with similar
b S hs s all
Our most holy region"-he speaks Of our most holy
religion founded on faith not reason. and mere
whatever absurdities superstition may have sought
to impose upon the credulhy Of men in the name Of
cere friend Of scripture may have employed at times
10 combating with licentous, rash and petulent scof
reason. sii1i the most intelligent advocates of wha,
are called the mysteries Of religion" hold that do
susn has sy II The brief but
reason" Faith them in it's primary IL the
the mir to any statement of fact not matter OF
maca science Of demonstration but declared on
what conceive to be sufficient testimony We believe
n where satisfied that the testimony is suf
dcient, overbalancng any thing to the opposite. The
act Of the mind by which such statement received az
laid up ,s the % our
properly called faith in the primary Of thu
yord Now by this definition, it is apparent to child
TNNt
of reason for, the other hand fine bt
that faculty rather that combination Of mental fscul
iecide evidence and against any proposition
This is the proper sense Of thasmuch abused word
explaining and confirming truth It asks for argument
other words evidences and evidence forms the data
on which builds its conclusions You come to me-
tight snew and perhaps contradicts my previous
ions ask for proof and when the proofs given, m,
IL employ edfn examining III and unlesa ofep
ne case rome existing prejudice inereres with the pro
;e decision according the weight
the evidence The process is called reasoning, and
less close end active accordng edscpns
which the mind has previously undergone If the proof
lies Of the thing and tho Of men u
must be put on side and the crediby Of the crcum
tances on the other am satisfied Of the latter must
accept the satemeDt There ia wide distinction between
what is ADORE and what is contrary reason This l.
aabiiuay dsregarded by the opponents Of christianity
nto which the relations between faith and reason
ave been thrown. ] answer that they are two
tnems0veG
md kept in view. Thus. for instance, faith has
been employed In sense Of blind assent Of the mind
statements Of whose truth sufficient evidence has
'een advanced On the hand the enemies OF religion
save very generally imposed this meanng the world
md ON the other fanatics and enthusiasts have sought
their extravagant statements by decryng
on and calling for unqualified submission what they
hocse to call faith. but which credulity. Again
IN equally false sense has been given to the
Chat is often confounded with what called "reason.
ngs Many truth Is rejected ns contrary to reason,
and fan vyh hava boon
zed as ncontestibe first principles, whereas they may
all utterly erroneous We know this to be the fact
very daythe notions OF yesterday to
I'd to the winds ahsurdties To make this distinction
palmer is simply the mind what the s the
uch evi'ence must first be submitted and rccognizedr
But the second Of the confusion OF relation
common forgetiulnsss Of the proper limits, both 81
'ur knowledge, and our own powers to acquire
o Gnsf hs hsps S s
which we have no conception. because of It ne
vsrihsard This applies to ou knowledge Of science
religious truths there much that is entirely above
our reasonit cannot be described in human language
The very nature Of God his essencehis mode of
sencehs attrbutesthe relations Of his attributes
created thngson athese subjects there insuper
euse TO know any thing because we cannot know every
'hing3 shsll deny the existence Of God because we
cannot comprehend him Az God alone can comprehend
God Those who deny religious truth because they
cannot comprehend it, though all their lives give pract
cal denial oftheir principles for they believe every day
uOOve tne reBCn o. tnelr
son. How they explain the connexou Of the soul
and the body or the mysterious Of light r There
Ia no hating place between rejection Of faith in doc
rnes beyond the reach Of finite reason and universal
scepticism We do not dethrone reason Bnt what our
reason cannot fully comprehend faith Is to receive and
thus, hand in hand they will ore the wonders Of al
vine grace in the harmony they lore the won
ders OF his works; often with bafed curiosity ;msrvepg
at most that see but cannot comprehend-waitir
pasnyunt greater light gwen, additional data given
-glorying God that he has shown us much that is
radiant and beautiful to the eye, useful for all the i'm
n r pruQ
salvation, which is made to depend not power
comprehendipg all mysteries and all knowledge but
readiness to receive what have to believe
God has declared truth Thus we propose 10 nvesti
gate divine truth. We propose in other words keep