New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-01-15
gte American BuIpft.
I H Z SABBATH SCHOOL
IRE
GREAT BARRIER TO INFIDELITY.
SERMON
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How wonderful an ace j. that IN which We i've
AID how moueuto1s tie change which the last
Century has witnessed ID the lnielec.usi coa1i-
ton Of the word Who can dosbi the fact. that
since the era Of the Ane-ic a. Revolution tic public
mind. whether .or good or Tor evil. las by some
means received new aud powerful impulse
\ hundred years ago. general lsthargy sP-
pesred 70 have seized the public miniot Christen-
dom, scarcely less profound than that which had
benumbed the Intellectual energies OF Europe.
prior 70 the glorious reformation from Popery three
centuries ago. Even the Protestant World. as
though weary with is mighty effort in shaking
Of tie Papal Anti Chrst, appeared % haye lulet
Itself 70 seep in sapine incidence and hereditary
intellectual dependence. The masses apparently
content 70 commit their coBscienoes 70 the keep
Ing OF their fathers very calmly trod IN the foot
steps, followed the occupations, aid adopted the
religion Of their ancestors.
Then the public mind vas asleep, and the pulse
Of the world almost stood still Now, bow vast the
change how striking the contrast Like elsnt
refreshed the heart Of the word has reused itself
from slumber, and. conscious Of strength unknown
. =
Science. Literature. Commerce Invention and the
Spirit Of Freedom, too are a. marching forward
With scceleratinr steps. At 4 pace unknown be
fore in the history 0l the word Mind puts itself
nrth-whether 10 its intellectual or moral exer-
else. with more zeal and determination, or with
more recklessness and hsrdihood- By this swsk.
ened activity Of mind. the good have been made
better tie bad, % 3 O. be feared, have been made
worse. Virtue aud y ice. Religion and lrelgi0n.
| Christian Faith and lni1cIty have al been affect
| ed by this change. and have al received new
| and weirhty impulse. The Christian has become
more jealous n dlflsIIc Christianity throughout
the word-the Iuiidel more te-mined IN oppo-
sing rs extension. and ln substituting for it the
| baneful principles Of Infdety. Inc inventive
faculty has been industriousy occupied, in either
case 10 devsIng modes 70 carry into effect the be-
uevolent or mslev0eut purposes Of the heart 4
Voltsire Paine Taylor and a kneesnd an
nouncing themselves as the apostles Of Iafidehiy
have entered the lists with their wonted hsrfi
hood - battle with the friends o. Christ. and, II
/ possible 20 drive Christianity from the earth and
! Cary. a Morrison. a Wilson J1tsOn, and host
OF kindred spirits. have buckled on their amor,
ready to contend, with more than wonted earnest
ness for the faith delivered % the SAINTS. and
70 extend the boosess triumph Of the Cross to the
most distant regions OF the globe
Amid the din Of this awakened conflict be-
| tween Good aud Evil Light and Darkness Chris
tsnity and lnhdeliiy, the inquiry becomes a. IN
terestiDg one, On which side does Victory FREEDOM
| mate lnhdels have loudly boosted since the
age Of Votsre and Of Paine, Of the rapid progress
OF their principles and Of the speedy triumph OF
their cause. l. this boast 90 the wonderful in
crease Of luiidclty we.l-i0unded Whether vel.
or ill-Ouuded what are the causes which c0utnb.
ute 10 ITS preva eIce, and what IS the most effect
ua barrier 70 rs increase These inquiries We
| In.
/. Let us brcry crdminf, ~ tlf hr1 piaoe, The
altered fact Of ne increase Of ,nffeifV. ! am not
about % occupy the attention 0 the audience by
comparison Of the statistical facts IN order 20
hibit the comparative advancement OF Christianity
and OF lniidety, within the last three uarters Of
a century since the time when Notsre aud his
lnhdel associates, IN France. vowed % eXtermI-
nate Christianity from the earth and 10 crush the
wretch, as, in their Infamous biasphemy, this
proiane band OF couspirstors were accustomed to
denominate Jesus OF Nazareth. our blessed Lord
and Saviour
Were We 10 institute such comparison il
! might soon be made 10 appear that lnhdchty has
but little ground for Boosting. We must, how
ever, cOnhDe ourselves % general statements
bat we challenge the nldel world by the prOduc-
ton Of statistics, 70 dispute the iastness of our
conclusions. The increased activity IN the ranks
! OF luh1es, characteristic Of the times IN which We
live, IS nothing more than was u be expected
from the change before referred 10 in the intelec-
tusl habits OF the people. lnhdeiiiy IS not the
growth Of the Nineteenth nor OF the Eighteenth
Century 10 IS old the depravity Of man aud it,
baneiul principles had CougCulal sol in the cor
ruption OF the unrenewed heart Where mind
lies comparatively dormant the principles which
actuate the heart may be uuavowed or concealed
and from n regard 90 the time hOnOred customs OF
our ancestors, men may observe the OutW ard forms
OF Religion while their minds refuse assent 70 rs
doctrines and their hearts are bitterly opposed 10
Its principles Hence We conclude that even ia
the quietest DAYS OF the Church history infdels
at heart, though less yocerous IA their professions
and less Jealous 10 propagate their sentiments
were not much, II any, inferior ln numbers. IN
proportion 10 the population Of nominal Christen-
dom than at the present time
Admit that Iufdety has moved onward VIII h
accelerated speed during the past fits years-has
not the progress Of genuine Christianity been on
ward. too Admit that the number Of protested
aud active lntidels has increased-haye not the
ranks OF proiessed and active Christians also been
largely swelled Admit that the former achieved
signal victory when, SIXTY years ago thSir cham
plOns 10 France established luhdeAty and ab0
lshed tue sabbath by e gal enactment deiagcd one
OF the airest nations OF the earth with the blood Of
her citizens, and filled the land with mourning.
iamentatou aud wOc-so have the latter obtained
signal victories IN bringing ~hole nations from the
lowest oarbarsm 70 civilization, aud subdung the
ierocous spirits Of tens Of thousands Of pagan say
Gospel The trophies erected by luhleiiy have
indeed passed away, for the Sabbath has long
since been reestabllshed ia France and true Chris
tlanity Is even there upon Tie increase but the
trophies erected by Christianity stlll remain writ
ten with spen Of diamond upon the grateful hears
OF thousands, previously rude, unciyIlized and
vretched, but now humsuized, instructed and
blessed by It's benign and heavenly influence
lnhielity, own, hath It's triumphs Alas
how many young men o.. our own loved country
have been induced 10 enlist under rs banners
perseyered through lie IN their opposition % the
Bible and died oDsiinsteiy rejecting the Gospel
cursIug their Maker with their dying breath
Christianity hath u triumphs. too for OBJ now
many ia this favored land have enlisted under the
banner OF Emsnuel, lived a life Of piety 20 God
and ben violence 70 man, and az Is close trumphed
over death and the grave with their iast breath
prsisins God Tor the consultations Of the Gospel
aud breathing forth their earnest prayers ior It's
universal eXtenslon-then,
Painting for where congeuisl spirits stray
Turned 20 their God snd sished their souls away
The epoch OF the revival OF modern Iuhiei!ty
was bat few years previous 10 the commence
ment OF the modern missionary enterprise IL
would seem as though the great adversary. the
Devil, ioreseeing by bis sagscity the shock which
his kingdom would receive BY the establishment
o. Christian Missions, Bible and Tract Societies,