The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1869-08-20
~ SERMON OF ~
Rev. T. M. EDDY, ID.
Delivered at the Deti ication of the NJ. l..
Church, i'm FindIay. o., Aug. IS, 1862
OF BALTIMORE, MD.

should become engrafted in our hearts an
consciences. 1t is one OF those sayings whic
both astonish and confound US Our MaSte
furnished the evidence, in this statement, tina
He was not an impostor; that He was sen
rom heaven with ii commission of love TO
sinful world. He revealed ,d-ss evidently bt
.ond the comprehension of human reason d
{ was in his own day. Things Tar down !
ong ages vet to come; developments whic
Dnly time unroll. In previous chapters, ii
Hearty intimateS, that the wondrous work
, he performed were not of. or through Him
self but of the Father. Upon His words an
works rested His claim TO divinity. In thl
that He SAYS, that after His ascension, tlIer
shall be seen men, coming from the humbl
walks of life, who shall have, and eXercis
ihe same power that He Himself possessed
This statement, in itself, would nave bee
fatal 70 any impostor. For though ne coul
succeed in deceiving, he could not carry out a
elaborate plan of deception through the ager
CIV of men who would be picked up at hap-hal
ard. Though many OF HIS WORKS were m M
racuIous they Were in accordance with Iii
character. Theologians have considered tina
miracles are contrary 70 Natures laws. d
not believe this. We know really ilttle c
the laws of nature. Miracles may be, in fac
no violation of natural laws-merely thei
revelations. Natures laws are complicated
We see only the outer forms OF nature: tina
which is within is shrouded IN a pale mis-
through which mortal eyes can not pierce.
is because we understand II not-c:sn not sc
its inner workings, its higher development.
that We think miracles VlolatiSns oil nature
W.
of moral transformation Here We find great
er works than can be found on earth. W
come TO Soul-power. All force IS one. Fore
pushes up the plant TO its pertection-chain
tiie planets in their orbits. When You com
to the real element of God, you rise abov
force, and approach power, winch Is aooy
force. Power sways the soul, force govern
matter. / am here TO tell you OF the Chris
tian'S work, which il greater than the mate
rial miracles. We rise from the elements c
the material to that of the mental Christiani
"C,brisfianity Is a disturbing element in socie
ty Il came not TO send peace into TN
world" says Jesus, but sword" l an
here to speak to you to-day OF the works o
Christiaiity These are, in themselves, great
ar than the material miracles of Jesus w
rise from the material 20 the immaterial.-
Jesus work, his miraeles-were performed OF
matter Our work is ON miId-on SOUL Our
is a battle of intellect, and the triumph Is 4
be one of mentality am here IN tell yol
things which even the Master himself coul'
not tell. This may startle you, YET ~ Is true
The ingenuity OF man finds path acros
the mountains-chains the oceans and link
them together with butting-bars of steel
grasps a pencil from the sun, painting picture
riyalins the rainbow's hue-measures the dis
tance of the planets, and analyzes them a
they go sweeping their journey round the sun
and accomplishes feats, in comparison witt
which, the material miracles OF Jesus SINK II
utter gloom. Does this startle YOU?
aAlI power in heaven and earth IS glYel
unto me; go We, therefore, aud preach" Thi
he said to the seventy" All! / can tell yol
something the seventy could not
Christianity develops and perfects the mind
which is the man. There was Dr: watts,
little, dwarfed specimen OF humanlty-weal
in body, strong in the man-the mind. III
could grasp the pen and send the thought cir
cling around
sSThe minds the standard of the man."
Christianity fr es and ennobieS the mind
No narrow bigotrieS and prosecutions hay
ever been a part of Christianity. The thumb
screw never was, nor indeed can ever be al
element of moral power Moral force alon
controls it. Though you snap the tendons
not reach the mind. Christianity goreTn
thought. She gathers her hosts and marches on
to rule this element Napoleon's though
chained Europe in suspense, and held the ma
tiOns of the earth in silence.
1t Is thought that induces Russia's autocra
to construct Railroads, in comparison viii
which even our mighty roads, binding tn
oceans are small enterprises Chrlstianlt.
governs thought but not by force. Christian
ity saws, II march out TO rule this might.
power bring it under subsection. direc
il for good"
than this. She reaches far down through tn
intellect-through the senSibilities. and grasp
the great soui-Inarsli6l, the master-general o
the Soul-the Val, and with giant hand ol
reefs and controls IL.
/ am not Theologian nor n quibbler-
judge of things as see them, and take result
under my own observation and draw my con
cover through the workings of my own mind
regarding this Will-power, and its abillt,
to choose in matters of faith- l know that
can accept or reect-do or not d3 as " please
soul. Men have tried TO control the WILL
They have tried the rack, and human being
writhed and groaned, and yet the VIII Dende'
not. They put ON the notorious thumD-screv
ard gave it one turn, and the will was still
strong; then another, and another, dowi
through nail. through muscle and tendon. int
the quivering flesh 1t went, yet the will yield
ed not
They put John Bunyan in a dungeon low
No ray of light; no ripple of brook nor son!
of bird; no shout of joy; no gleam OF nope
All damp and chill. And, yet, on wings ,l.s,f,
Faith, far away, he SCARED, untli tne pearl
gates of the Celestial City broke in upon hi
ue7u LazaruS resilni
that bade him cDllc forth, but the HUfng LaZa
rus could have curieI Him TO His teeth
There is sontotfing ia me that can reject good
or accept evil There Is something in me tina
lc;HS. And this power, this mighty element o
the soul, il is the province of Christianity Il
sqbdue.
Again: Who can read man? Who cal
trace his evil, malignant passions? Who car
become master of the heart? Now, it Is gentl,
as infancy; now, il is as remorseless as a Mo
hawk At times calm as the evening breeze
again, il is "Old ocean" In a tempest.
Can we control this element-the heart
which natures greatest forces, aided by all tn,
ingenuity of man, failed to accomplish i
so, We can do greater works than did Jesus
during his incarnation, in performing Hi.
most wonderful miracles.
We do this. We do it though the power HI
gives US; and We know that Christianity doe.
tame the widest men, making them patient
gentle and forbearing-
Wrong resolves itself into institutions
When Jesus was on earth, He found Folyga
my, with its baseness; Slavery, with its abom
inations; Idolatry, a worship polluted with
useless forms and empty ceremonies; IgnO
rance, hate. malice, and envy stared Him in
the face. Yet, He did not Immediately de.
nounce them; He did not at once proceed tC
gather His hosts aud spread His Banners fol
war: but, by His precepts, by His teachings
by the silent and almost imperceptibie instil-
lation of lofty principles in the minds of His
He laid a train of battle more than
ten million miles long, that now blazes witt
and flame, shaking these ancient in
stitutions to their centre and laundering then
to the ground.
He could not better them by operations or
the material universe-these were incompati
BILE: but, He did a greater work than this:
"AIl power is given me in heaven and earth
go We, therefore, and preach" He began the
work. We, his followers, must complete it
He giving US the power. This power is fully
adequate to the task.
We come, now, to the agencies of Christian.
When we look over the field of Christian
how broad IL is! How much
seems to be yet undone! How full the har-
vestsi How few the labOrersi Great strong
goes crashing on; funeral pyres blaze upon
the hills, and the flowing Ganges Is red with
blood. Now, what are the means by which,
Dr. through which, We are to operate?
Men depend great deal on world-power,
Indeed ] am afraid too much stress is lain
upon outside assistance. / believe in taking
Ill things pleasant and beautiful, for Christian
purposes. / believe in erecting splendid
churches. I believe in decking, and making
hem attractive to the eye. Bpt, if you have
,nly glaring and glittering temples, you can
not conquer the world. Something more is
We may bring song: the world can
keel, or at least equal us, there. ElOquence
hey point us to those renowned for oratory.
We may have music, deep culture and refine
ar exceeding the outside world, yet. We can
lot conquer with these. We may control
nations. The sword and cannon, backed by
loble men, may be ours. All these things
nay be useful, and at times essential
Yet, with all these We need more. With
,eauty, and wealth, and learning, and social
,ositiOn, infidelity enthrallS Harvard and
ripples Yale We must have thst higher
,ower which true Christianity gives. Use ali
hese things to aid you In the great work you
lave TO do. They belong to your Father and
our Christ, and were by Him placed here for
Tour benefit The world has not as good n
light to them-nay, has no right at all, as you
lave. Assert, then, your right. March up
md take possession of the land, in the name
If ISrael's God.
This you have nobly done, and | am here to
eioice with you in your triumphant compile
ion of this beautiful edifice. Yours is a mag
temple; one that does hon or TO you
md yours; one that shall stand as a monu-
nent to your generosity when you have with
he boatman pale, crossed over the River to
the other shore" You commenced this work
because you felt il was needed; you relied up
III yourselves, and have succeeded, though
Tou have been assisted literally and gener-
)usly by others outside of your church. You
lad faith in your ultimate success. Wherey-
er l see the word Ought written in golden
etters, or, may be, iii smallest Plea, right be-
ow, also, in the margin, clouded, perhaps, by
mist, vel visible by the eye of Faith, l see the
lone, that can do. He says, go forth and
preach" go; although 1 know nothing of
he obstacles to be met, or the means of over
coming them; for He says, "all power is given
INTO me; go ye, therefore, and preach" /
Know that He viii prepare and open up the
way.
1t may astonlsh you little, but am here
o-day to say what Christ, himself, could not
'ay, when here on earth. Arguments have /