The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-21
WHY AN A CHRISTIAN; OR, AN ANSWER TO AMERICAN
p0STIVlSM.

Sermon by Rev. DR.. Scott at the Forty.second
Street Presbyterian Church.
There was a very respectable and deeply attentive
congregation last evening at the Forty street
Presbyterian church, near Eighth avenue, to hear
discourse by the PASTOR Rev. Dr. Scott, upon the
subject, "Why am a Christian; Or An Answer to
American Positivsmn
The reverend speaker took as the basis or his
sermon the text l. Peter, ill., 15-"But sanctify the
Lord God in your hearts and be ready always give
an answer TO every man that asketh you
= reason Of the hope that is in you
with meekness ana fear.n His attention ;.
he stated as Introductory to his DISCOURSE had been
called to q confession OF faith occupying ten close
columns in q daily newspaper OF sect calling itself
American Positlvists In proceeding to show by the
faslty Of this sect claiming to be the advance
Agous sect OF tne Sineteenth century, ne would
catechisms and creeds Of Evangelical Churches
they go on to announce d0gmas OF their own. In
the second place. this sect new religious body
of Christians as it claimed to be. The same faith
'could be traced back to six hundred years
Of the dark and middle ages, though the atheism
the tune OF voltare so prevalent in France, through
spread in this Country He next took I'D the leading
articles OF laith OF the POstivsts are and showed how
aeligious they are and how utterly opposed to the
the basis Of their creed; they would do away with
all the present systems Of theology and churches and
ike that OF the saints OF Salt Lake. While he did not
believe that this sect would obtain very strong
foothod in this country, he still felt it to be their
duty TO show the OF the faith that 10 In them.
True Christians, he claimed, could always give this
reason and through the strength OF this they
would not be led away by any such teachers OF false
doctrines. The proper name that Positivsts should
have taken would be Apologsts ior not being Chris
tians According 10 the text 1t was evident that the
Christian religion was founded on reason. Pursuing
the argument on this point he then urged thai every
Christian had need OF the hope that is IN him. There
was no hope IN the religion OF the PositlvIsts--no
hope OF the glorious immortality that supports the
Christian through his troubles IN this world, and
the close OF his earthly career taxes from death its
sting and from the grave its victory. These scen-
ciss could trace the pathway OF the stars and comets
but they could not trace out the future pathway OF
the immortal soul. He asked his audience 10 go with
him into some splendid abode, where every appliance
Of luxury could be Iound and where there was The
highest culture in science and arts and literature;
bur there, in place OF the Bible and morning and
evening prayer and faith in Christ lived deyotees 10
the fatn OF postivsts. Let death enter that abode
and The religion OF science would not be found the
religion 10 die by. Here was the strongest
answer agains, Positivism-the strongest that
need be given for being Christian. Next in order
he entered into an elaborate defence Of the divine
inspiration OF the sacred Scriptures. He cited refer
by the Oldest writer's 10 the existence or the
books contained in the Old Testament, and showed
how in prolane history was established the exist
Of the leading Characters OF this portion OF the
Bible. More positive evidence he adduced with re-
ference 10 the New Testament. In this connection
he also gave Gn able exposition OF the miracles set
forth IN the Scriptures. Lastly he referred TO
human reasons which could be brought forth
as answers TO the question why am !
Christlany' TO the abundant evidences OF Chris
tanity not only deeply seated IN the s0us Conscious
ness ana intellect, but everywhere manifest IN all
the beautiful harmonies OF Gods creation. Personal
consciousness Of the immortality OF the soul was
reason that could always be gwen. The Gospel tells
the human soul whence IL came, what II was and
whence 4 was bound. No other re lglon did this.
IL satisfied the SOUL N gave satisfaction IN the last
hour IL eaped the barriers OF the grave into a
glorious ana blessed Immortality.