The New York herald., 1845-10-27


they proclaim their intention OF delivering lectures
This was an Introductory lecture TO the one which
the reverend gentleman will deliver at the same
place and on the same subject next Sabbath even
ing
He lectured on the text contained IN the 4th, 9th,
and 10th verses of the Epste of ST. Paul TO the
Corinthians, first chapter.
The lecturer after reading the above verses, con-
tinued-If such, then, was the language of ST Paul,
the dlvlney inspired Apostle, what should be my
language on the present occasion And yet, with
ST PAUL. too, feel confident In my cause-or rather,
not in my cause but in the OF TRUTH for pro-
fess, not doctrine founded on human wisdom, but
in the language OF the inspired Apostle, profess the
mind of Christ profess aith and faith is the mind
the exemphcaton of the will of Chris-the re velaon
made by Christ to his Church. Faith coming from God
reveals the stence and the manner of existence Of
God and the will of God and teaches the will OF God
Faith and faith alone give us the true idea of God
and faith and faith alone, give sppreca-
ton and knowledge Of heavenly things. Human
can the sublime and awful heights Deity
it may ascend from nature to natures God it may and
teach the OF man OF the excellence Of the Su
preme Dety yet faith alone and not reason teach
mankind the manner and mode Of the existence Of that Su
preme Being Fsh the cardinal doctrine Of the church.
which every church bounu TO admit depends not
human reason upon human motives but upon divine
revelation and which in the sublime language of the
apostle of the nations, the word OF God In explaining
ysef in this manner select the language of the holy
father and in especial manner St Hillary In his rea
tse the TriAity in the fourth book In the Of
lectures last winter QWelt upon some CHhdc
teristcs Of christian doctrine and trust succeeded in
proving that the invocation Of saints the veneraon Of
sacred images and of the and the doctrine Of pur
gaory, founded upon high authority. now enlarge
upon the foundation of all these distinct doctrines
enter upon the great and all important topic Of faith
topic deeply interesting to every church, putting aside
all feelings of prejudice trampng TO the earth every
sentiment Of sehshness every want of christian charity
standing in fair and candid position before the commu
nity fer the purpose OF explaining what the Catholic
Church believes this great doctrine Of faith and to
whether her doctrine comports with the teach
man Catholics, enlightened Christians, or whe-
ther to be called benghted this
We are on almost every subject belonging to re-
alton of what we obliged to believe and what is of
equal importance to enlightened Chrstians-for the Ca
tholcs must claim their position among enlightened
Christians-why we believe. In the discussion OF my
subject the first thing that will be taken into consider
aton will be the real deaiion of the subject we are
discoursing upon recollect to have read in the
writings Of famous philosopher axiom which con-
sisted Of the highest Importance contained in word
served that long discussion will be cut short by
lucid exposition Of the subject are debating Now
ii ask what faith is if put the question to an ndiy
religion, and after giving prejudced definition
belief he attacks t. and is prejudiced against it, and
definition which be Catholic church teaches then he is
quite astonished at his prejudice against that doctrine
The question then to be is this and put the
question in the spirit Of the Catholic churchwhat then
tahl define faith follows faith is gift Of God
In the first place it is gift OF God that must be proved
", j a
minating the human mind by which it perceives and
fully to all the revelations Of God; third which
the Church proposes to be believed and fourth whether
written unwritten and these divisions becomes me
this evening to lecture upon, elucdate, and prove.
The first point is this and proceed it will be made
manifest whether not the Roman Catholic is benign.
ted in his views Of religion whether he POUNDS all his
opinions, rather his convictions hi doctrines
the Sacred Scriptures and therefore cannot be accused
of not consulting the Scriptures. Faith is gift OF God
prove this from the 9Th chapter Of St. john Sth and
aSh versesand therefore, the Catholic is perfectly
crtptn nr0I in dn6n Ittnnn nj
the st Episte Of Paul to the Corinthians 18th chapter
and sth verse and from the Acts of the Apostles 10th
chapter, l4,h verse Faith being the gift of God
called in question early period the history of the
lhurch, by individuals who raised their voice against
this doctrine and declared faith not 10 be the gift OF
God, but that man of his understanding would
either embrace reject faith The first upon record to
disseminate this error was monk Brton by birth.
of natural talent but Of little energy, named Pela
gius but in all where there arises nnovator
there is always raised up by Providence vindicator
the truth So St Augustine raised his powerful voice
Church with regard to faith being gift OF God. The
doctrine of Pesgius was contained in book composed
reign Pontif, Innocent who occupied the Pspsl chair.
and returned to those who sent it to him with this
find is repete win errors and bssphemy, SC. Accord
ingy, council was convened in Asia by the Church
and the true doctrine was vindicated and tina, doc
trne which was vindicated, is the doctrine the Church
teaches at the present day but from the Council
in Asia the followers of Pelagius appealed, ald St
Augustine when applied to- answered canonically, il
is useless, Rome has spoken. the is finished,
and from this / derive q powerful argument that St
Augustine was in the confidence Of the See of Rome
was not elegant therefore, in the Council Of Trent
in assembling the holy fathers OF the church to vindcae
the faith Was not elegant in the representatives
against all who presumed to follow the heresy of Pea
gus Faith therefore, is the gift Of Godit is the light
by which the human mind regulated, and in order to
believe this We have to the text of the sacred
scriptures In the sacred Epstle Of Paul to the Corn
thans first chapter 4th 9th and 9th verses the Apostle
emphatically declared that faith was the light and
glory OF the Saviour, who the image of (iOdr Ia
appeared from these texts that Paul taught that faith
supernatural light illumining the darkness of human
nature, ennobling 1t, and such had God left in his
church Faith, thirdly, is that implicit belief by
which the mind firmly to the doctrine contained
important point in our argument where faith exists,
there is no hesitation where faith exists there is
no doubt-where faith exists there is vague
opinion-where faith exists there is eeng imagina.
tion-but there must be frmness without waverng OF
hesitation of any kind We depend upon God the in-
allible foundation of aithwe depend upon God and
there can be no doubt wavering and we rely upon
the certainty and inallibity of faith This is the doc.
trne oi 81 Basil in relation to faith when he says faith
essential 10 salvation and this is in perfect accordance
with the doctrine taught by the sacred scriptures We
also find that Ut Paul has styled the Church he pillar
and the ground Of TRUTH and it has gone forth from God
himself that he would remain with the Church for
even unto the end of time and that the gates of hell
should not prevail against it." There, then, can be
waverng asto fah-it is ubstance-infallib
i'y The opinion which is prevalent the present
day, that faith Is matter of opinion regard to
the Individual not Of recent date This theory also
promulgated by the renowned Abeard who knew not
only how to disturb the deep soudes and awful cells
but the calm spirit of the Catholic Church AS ST. Az.
gustine had risen against Peagius and defended the
Church from the hereses which he preached SO also
St Bernard wrote and defended the Church against the
vain opinions Of the romancer Abelard These are the
very words Of st. Bernard, when writing directly
against Abeard himself. Language which has been
transmitted to us under these have
force and pungency and will be found vigoroua God
forbid that we should believe he (Abelard) fancies
that there is any thing in faith, hanging upon
doubtful opinion or anything and every thing not
tam and established upon solid truth upon the divine
oracles and miracles. These testimonies are exceed.
ingy to be believed How can any one dare assert tina,
faith is an opinion unless he either be ignorant Of the
gospel, or else regards il fable know when |
believe and am certain, exclaims the Apostle and will
then then Abelard presume to say faith is opinion -
Thou holdest as doubtful, that which nothing
can be more certain, than Saint Augustine
thought differently. Faith, he writes, is cher.
ished in the heart, not by conjecture, opinions
but by an infable CONSEQUENCES Of its truth God for
bid them that faith should be circumscrbed by such H.
mits These are the theories Of academicians who
doubt OF every thing and know nothing But rest on
the declaration OF the teacher Of nations and know
snaii not be confounded am pleased with his defn.
uon o iath the substance Of things to be hoped
evidence OF things that appear not The substance he