The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-02-20

House Of Representatives. was very we'll filed, but
not so overfowingly as upon the occasion when
Bishop Hughes spoke, and still less crowded
than 1t was when Henry Clay addressed meet
ing there week or two ago.
Among the attentive congregation assembled
to hear DIR. Mathews, noticed His Excelency
the President aud his lady, Senators Benton.
Calhoun, Sewer, Yulee, and others, many Of the
judges of the Supreme Court, and members Of
the lower house.
At half-past eleven o'clock DIR. Mathews as
cended to the clerks desk, and quoted as his
text the following verse, from the LIST Epistle OF
ST Paul to the Corinthians, chapter /, verse 70.
Where is the wise wAsrsi tho scribe where 10 s
dispufer Of This World Hath not Ged made (sotsh
tbs Wisdom Of this World
Dr. Matthews sitter abiding to the Importance of the
the subject his leotre-the evidences OF Christian
y-and commenting upon the Necessity Of the esta-
blshment OF the truth OF the great principles and found
alton OF Christian faith turned 70 the considerations OF
the progress and sect OF nndelty He alluded briefly
to the several when inhdsy the ascendant
and to the time when its most distinguished and popu
lar sdvocstes and proselytes the great truths
OF revelation. 40 mentioned the names Of thoss who.
in the earlier ages OF Chrisia struggled against the
by the Saviour and the apostles. H. them came down
to the dark aud argued that tbs why inf
deity Was not open, wild nd loud in those ages,
from the fact that the church s, had into dark
ness and quiet and the arch Asnd kuss hat his policy
was to be silent and not wake from Its P the heaven
revealed truths Christian faith But TITS long peace
between Christianity and infdsity broken by the
thuuders Of the reformation Then &c Luchgr, and
Calvin, and Knox and their eoaborers ~ he great
OF truth, wake up the long silent faith which
Is so well calculated TO inspire mankind with all
those hopes and delightful snticlpstous. which
want Of faith in Christianity cannot afford. Dr.
NJ. poured forth = brilliant and glowing stream Of
sulogy upon the great characters who produced and
carried the great work Of tue reformation and the
resouing the Bible disuss thus opposing BY the
only weapon tho Christian the frightfu ravagss
aud progress which the wolf Of in6dety had made up
the Christian fold He tsen alluded to the dssoute
reign Charles IT. when practical ipad.ty again got
mr.
practically the creed Of ths monarch and his court
and by the force OF their Example to great extent the
doctrines Of the people But these parsed away, and
the pure doctrines of Christian faith more found
protection and from the rulers OF the
land. The next point In the DR. argument Bit
ter and severe comment upon Edward 0ibbou and his
history of the rise and fall OF the Roman Empire This
book styled by the lecturer Of the greatest
literary achievements of that age but from that
very the most work that could fall into
couched the most pleasing fascinating lsu
guage; s clothed in the most fervid tonss
every fragment stone Of broken pillar Of the Ro
man empire, adorned in the most glowing oolors;
and, In short, could read IL without being
almost charmed with the delicious atmosphere which
he had thrown around the Pagan institutions 1t was
an able but hidden, and therefore dangerous, attack
upon the Bible: 1t was rs serpent, armed with the
most deadly poison hidden beneath the beautfu drape
ry thrown over aud around it by master hand This
was In short Gbbon the spostater attack Chris
tanity. But when that writer to speak Of Chris-
tanitywheu he to sude to its great, and holy,
and sanctifyins influence upon tbs world, and upon
man. in his social and political existencehow cold how
particular No praise for it, virtues song for its
bright lights and pleasing hopes; not one word said Of
those who offered themselves martyrs in Its CAUSE
His only comments upon Christianity, though he pro
fesssd the utmost impartiaty, upon the abuses
which had been practised under its name.
DR.. Matthews then turned into lengthy and glowing
description Of the nestimsbe blessings bequeathed to
mankind in the Bible aud urged that it, aud alone,
the weapon, we'll the shield Of the Christian
1t was immaculate authority, which the disciple
Of Christianity could rely and which nothing earthly
or heavenly could overturn. Astronomy, mineralogv
and chemistry the greatest sciences kno thewo
had exhausted themselves and had not yet discovered
single truth inconsistent with the doctrines Of the
Bible He then exhorted his hearers to study to trea
sure and to follow the precepts Of that Bible No
could be happy expect to be saved unless through
tho promises held out to him. by the Saviour In that
book.
Dr. Matthews then said that his subsequent lectures
would be upon the connection of science with the truth
Of Christianity and the bible,
After appropriate prayer, Dr.. Matthews said that
his next lecture would be delivered ON this day two
weeks either in this hail. In the forenoon in
Of the churches Of this city In the latter the day
This latter had bsea suggested by some Of the
clergymen Of the city, and he (Dr would leave the
matter witn those gentlemen who had been 90 kind
to invite him to deliver these lectures.
Benedicon then asked, aud the crowd dispersed,
to dine, and others to walk, and ALL We sincerely
hope to weigh we'll the Reverend gentemAn's DISCOURSE
and regulate their lives and actions, social and political
according to the doctrines laid down In the good book
we'll and appropriately referred to by Dr. Matthews