The New York herald., 1845-01-06
Revelation and scisnce-The Rev. DIR. MAJ
thew's Lecture Last Evening In the Dutch
Reformed Church, Bro0me street.


This venerable reverend gentleman, has been in-
duced by some of the most respectable of our ci,i-
zens. to resume his course of lectures for the sea-
son, on the correspondence of science with re-
veaed truth and last evening the first of the series
| was delivered. There was a numerous and highly
respectable congregation present on the occasion.
The reverend gentleman took for his text, the
words:-
lam the light Of the world "--JoHr VIZ. Il.
We have these words from our Lord Jesus
Chri.t. :" am the light of the world" This is
language at once simple and graphic, and abounds
with the beauty Of many of his expressions, which
in number, but havs stem when at the be.
ginning Of the world the Lord said let there be light aud
was also the light OF the world when by our fransgres
sons had alan for he brought the light Of the di
gosrel and for this first light Indicted
to the Son Of God But we have higher claim for him;
declare him to be the author Of all that il good and
great for it is from him they derived The large
domain which the seraphs Of heaven enjoy he gave
them It is by his power that man is brought from the
Of Satan to the Son Of God and this will under
Christianity onehand and upbelief the other On
previous occasion took review of learned unbeliev.
possessed and showed that their ignorance ana evils
did not arise from science. then took the learned be.
Levers and showed them to be the greatest ornaments
ence that was between them, for it 10 only by their
fruits Judge them" will now proceed to show
what the heather has done need only look days
Of Greece and Rome We Of the great arm
ing Of the people these two countries but tfer ALL
closely looked into, it will be found
That distance lends enchantment to the view"
The Romans with all their learning. compared with
the good great times were yros in the
science Of physc they knewlncthing and equally igno
rant They only are known as historians and
poes and what are their historical productons7 Merely
details Of battles n;urrections encroachments and
sood:hsa in polished language True and valuable his
causes This is not to be found in Lvy or any other
wrerof Rome In rhetoric and poetry the greatest ad.
made but very little progress The may be said Of
their masters the Greeks It is true they did much in
algebra; and that in architecture and sculpture they
anly excelled But in these it must be they only
SKINNED the surfa,e; they knew nothing Of the nature
they might be turnsd for tho greater benefit Of
their fellow Now let us look to whom the Greeks
for the they In al
Gsd not until after the chosen people Of God pos.
sessed Judea the beauties Of How
Of until after Moses sang in the land of Canaan
How was It that they were never heard Of until
this their learning or wisdom was found out until
aer the days Of David and Solomon Such was the wis
the earth to hear him and they might have Cleaned
their knowledge from him. If we look to the history Of
all nations from the fall Of man. we shall find them sink
ing deeper and deeper into ignorance until he raised his
chosen people, to whom he made himself known. From
what did this spring It throughout afellowshp of
has been long entertained that the knowledge Of the
Greeks obtained from the banks Of Ne-that is
the that they got their knowledge from the
sacred writings and ths holy men Of Zon end the NEST
knowledge and this the oracleof God Now let
look the effect this had the world. Where have
Christian lands and ss know ledge received s greatest
impulse by the Of Christianity winch gave
70 m ,mSras enc Ss es%e .nose
grace the world, but from Chrisanty7 Let look
from the days Of Charlemagne to tines and
,IoI 18Th
infies II we look TO the history Of country
find the founders OF nobest institutions
the lives for Christian truth Now look what
hdeis have done Where the colleges and univers
po out 10 the shame Of the country and it was not
until stream Of divine light thrown into it that it
ever prospsred and i y now one OF the most useful and
been aemptedto be established and the founder OF took
orphan children to ncucate their minds with nhiey.
which dishonored both God and man. This was estab
lishsd in sister city which dsgraced itself by lending
be feared from it, Although have passed since is
establishment the supporters Of have been unable to
IF the man who founded this college had only looked to
the history of his native land he might have the
Chrsisnitya science neglected and the streets
flowing with blood He ought 10 have known that this
from thorns or gs from thistes ndelity can never do
has done good for here hereafter Let
US look to the isivng Spirit Of Chrstianiiy and
It may be covered over for time, but remove the
covering aud what heahful shoots will forth. Such
is the influence Of the Gospel Carry the Bible abroad
and il will enven the hearts Of men, and they will
prosper 1t is the word of God. when he said let there
be light and there was light" and then said It was
goef" Shame on the small takers that call the Bible
secsarisM book 1t the response Of the soulthe glass
in which man truly sees himself it 10 the power
Of Gsd the effects of which might be seen in both
old and young hook at the effects Of 1t in the world.
in own day, for these are truly Bible times. See
what II has done Tor the last forty years There
never such good results known. Let only take
review Of the arts and sciences and how much II has
promoted them Not only is it doing all this for the
suent but is enabling the blind to ard read the
deaf to hear and may not be long makes the
dumb to sing What 10 the state Of those countries where
the Bible is not known The greatest enlightenment
prevails where the Bible s found. We have il in
houses schools houses Of prayer and in in
sttutions and Science and art 60 hand in hand with it.
There knowing what this most holy hook may yet
ead to- We only at the threshold Of facts for the
happiness Of mankind The Bible enghtens the whole
human yet many have long neglected It's TRUTH bat
wherever II Is carried II works every good every nation
becomes regenerated obtains the sacred volume. II
becomes world when taught by this heavenly in
strument. For the divine word said Let there be
light, and there light" may II shine all the
earth, to the glory Of God and peace to men.
Divine Service Mt st. Paups on Yesterday.
The interior of the church was most tastefuIly
decorated on yesterday with rich festooning Of