New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-12
COLLEGE COMMANDMENTS
,BtSl Viii .TLGYOE
WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY.
DACCALAUREATE SERMON BY THE REV. DIR. CUM.
MINGS


Mi9DLETowN, Conn, .JuIy 1.-THE Rev
Vo'epns cummings, President Of the UnyEy delivered
cue twelfth Of his annual baccalaureates this forenoon
The sermon, which, like all similar ones in Sue yart
GUS colleges was addressed to the graduating class and
mao ior us subject Freedom as Resulting from the Word
OIL GOO PRESIDENT Cummings selected for his text the
% nu ga verses OF the eighth OF John. He spoke Of
e and Character OF those immediately ad-
dressed their misunderstanding OF Chrisps words their
hopes ana JOY, that we're followed Ivy impot'nce and
strange then, Jews should declare they were never
III Dohuage TO any man, in view OF the weu-known
power at the time they uttered the vain boast After
a statement Of the meaning Of trust and freedom
freedom with Gods Word and the Indebtedness OF
TO the Bible Men have been free only sacred truth has
prevailed The Church may count up the notions OF the
past or point out those Of today and il will be evident
10 even him that liberty and prosperity have prevailed
just as Gods Word has been respected He then dis
cussed the doctrine Of necessity I'm tseation 20 ndi
Vldual action, as with various notifications has pre-
cessary this limit character SO FAR angel
sttutionay differs from man he cannot be an angel
from cause not Of the being controlled When he acts
and ~ nm ne si ~ ga re s w a ne judrI
ence OF other appettes Then the disorder Of the
nature of man and the eternal world that involved all
men In bondage Man IS now born into a state Of sub
gracious ability is given TO endure freedom but various
give struggle between the good and the
cease He may become quiet but it is the Guetness OF
moral death. Better any condition OF anguish and
vulsion than tins The utter and hopeless subsection Of
man TO sin and its consequences considered rs re-
sung upon philosophical principles and not inyOly-
ing any arbitrary exercise OF power by
Cod. The highest freedom was announced as
involved in the srctest necessity Here character perfect
and knowledge complete there could be but line OF
action. part OF seeming freedom results from gnO
rance. Different men have various ideas OF the great
est good they determine 70 pursue God represented
free necessitated TO he does. This
cessity arises from His nature that leads Him always
do that which is best He cannot do otherwise He can
not lie and He cannot do otherwise respect from
the necessity that always leads to truth The high
est ambition OF every good man should be 10 be under
Cessify He should strive 10 become incapable OF evil
There is a nominal freedom that implies that with
all his faculties IN normal condition can cut on his
right hand, loving mother take the life Of her only
child, a righteous man, fearing God, may bias
pheme; but there Is no real freedom OF this kind.
good should seek to be permeated by
firm influence complete I'm good character, that all
OF sin shall DO dstasetul and abhOrrent 10 him
profanity, theft, uncleanliness and murder 20
holy man. Then will he be free truly and completely.
lie then discussed the question how Gods word leads
evil influence Of were urged. Different luleI'
lectual make the difference between spain, In
gland and country. The Reformation was based on
opnou Religious prosecution has resulted from inteec
ual errors The same Is true Of our recent war Al aloh
must be founded knowledge. Gods word is
the complete sy stem OF truth needed Tor man. By
10 correct opinions may be formed from "hleh
would result correct action. by ~ true perfect h
character such God originally gave may DC
formed In conformity to the truth, man arrives at orig
nal freedom The nature OF this state was luIuI us
cussed and illustration drawn from Nero the Lupe
ror and Epcteus the slayewhOse real condoh was Tue
reverse OF that which appeared After noticing several
forms OF false freedom and OF real bondage now pteYa
lent the speaker closed by earnest appeal TO the Grad
uatug realize that what they now most heeueu
was the really free man.