The Portland daily press., 1869-06-29

Ana'1oi Witn tuc StIOAS uduu Vi cdusIic re-
puke. al .LlsA.l III vi'asasssfi .asasli
sermon Delivered BY Rev. HIr. HALEY OF
Chestnut 81. Church, June ~, 1860.
I, xt: First Timothy, first chapter, nineteenth
verse Holding faith and good conscience; which
some having put away, concerning faith, have made
"a Mr.. Bailey remarked, that among scriptur-
al figures scarce any Is more vivid than the
one employed in the text, Illustrating the Ter
rible disaster OF the loss Of Christianity. ic
1t suggests the favorable departure of a
well equipped vessel from port, attended by
prospering gales and every prospect of sue
cessful voyage; while it also hints at the
many dangers which are so well known to all
experienced mariners, the storms and rocks
and shoals, the ignorance or thoughtlessness
of officers, which may toss her for days and at
the mercy of wind and waves and finally sink
her in mid ocean or may wreck her even al
most in sight of her destination; only when
the voyage is safely ended can security be
fully known.
Strikingly similar is the course of the
Christian, entering upon his Christian expe-
rience with happy consciousness of sins for
given through faith in Christ. We are apt,
when entering upon this voyage, to forget the
dangers which beset it, but they cluster
thtShi4 dDOob cfCll Ouilotldu tOJdStIs UtSlQ6
storms and shoals and rocks, wreckers may
exhibit false lights to lure his bark to de-
structlon. 'ai'l +ei3t 'i@t
History records many such wrecks from
that OF our first parents, through all succeed
ing ages. Prominent among them we notice
that Of Solomon who though endowed with
surprising wisdom, stranded upon the rock
OF sensual pleasure, Judas Iscariot though un-
der the very teaching OF Christ himself, De-
mas and others. s4tls ss4i s. ,siiI
We do well to consider how those once en-
lightened, can be drawn away from the truth.
The apostle says all shipwreck comes through
loss OF faith, which we can readily under
stand how essential is faith to the life Of the
Christian.
What is this faith? 1t must be prominent,
definite, decisive. Itmust be based upon intel-
lectual grounds, for the heart can scarcely be
affected till the mind is convinced. Our
Christian faith, and denominational even,
must be firmly grounded upon intellectual
foundations and not wholly on our emotional
sentiments, as some charge they are. This
should be fully and deeply impressed upon
our minds lest otherwise we be easily drawn
away. 5 s st ses8f I4Air s
This faith first brings into acceptance with
God and centers primarily upon Christ, the
only aname under heaven given among men,
whereby we must be saved" and recognizes
him not only as the Son Of God, but as an
atoning sacrifice, which alone promises re-
demption; no righteous works, only the
mercy Of God through Christ can save. a
The Jewish sacrifices foreshadow it all
why else the morning sacrifice OF the lamb?
why did the High Priest carry blood into the
Holy of Holes and sprinkle the altar with h
but as a type of the blood of Christ? 1t is
also a matter of experience. Who finds a
knowledge OF forgiven sin except through
this faith What story do all converts tell
but that of sin forgiven thu ough the blood of
Christ? Being matter of experience, it be-
comes also matter of intelligent survey.
In the history of the church, whence did
the light come which illumined the dark ages?
What light did Luther point out except "Jus-
tifcation by faith" through the blood of
Christ?
This faith is the joy of the Christian in
life and his hope in death, and ever must be.
Unto him that loved us and washed us
from our sins in his own blood, and hath
made us kings and priests unto God and bis
Father. to him be glory and dominion forever
The Revelator saw it 50 when he received
the answer-"These are they which came
out OF great tribulation and have washed
their robes and made themwhite in the blood
of the Lamb ssesi ss.ii las
We may exultw with the apostle, .Thanks be
to God ior his unspeakable gift" Put away"
this faith and we find no other refuge or shell
ter from all the storms which shall assail us.
Another doctrine is suggested by the text,
the resurrection, since Hymeneas shipwreck-
ed upon that very point and his wreck is re-
corded in the very next verse. This faith is
one of the very pillars OF our faith. The
proof of the resurrection of Christ is so strong
that one who can deny it is prepared to deny
all evidence and all divine teaching.
Connected with the resurrection Of Christ
is also proof of the resurrection Of the dead
generally. His resurrection cannot be the on
ly one, Tor says Paul, 81 would not have you
to be ignorant, brethren, concerning Them
which are asleep, that We sorrow not, even as
others which have no hope, for If we believe
that Jesus died and rose again. even SO them
also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with
him." +@ s~hr 'isS ~,5- H-Aty1
He who denies this and wanders into error
can have no foundation upon which to rest
his faith, having denied the word of God, .s
+ The speaker did not allude further to spe-
cial doctrines, but referred in general way
to the general doctrine Of the apostles creed,
Trinity, Judgment, &c. e 22sisi lit1 tiAs'a,'
He then continued: 81 x .BseI Ia asai
Some doctrines must be essential, which,
denied, must lead to abjuring the Christian
faith. Where is the danger and what the
causes of such shipwreck? Faith and geod
conscience" are suggested as those things
which must be "held fast" TO ensure security.
By conscience is here meant not merely
the conscience, metaphysically speaking, but
a Christian, enlightened, consecrated con-
science, implying beyond morality, full sub
mission to God and selErenunciation. Does
Christian experience find any satisfaction or
assurance OF safety otherwise?
The loss of good conscience is often
the first error and an indulgence in selfish
ness, SO that self-banishing Christ makes
room for all evil spirits. Love of money
wrecked Demas. love OF qualification wrecked
Soloman and selfin some form wrecks nearly
all who are wrecked.
Few or none fall completely, at once, but
by neglect OF some simple duty gradually de-
part aud fall From God. An imperceptible
angle at great distance from the center sub
tends an immense arc, SO our departures
from God, though apparently small, if contin-
ued through eternity separate us Infinitely
from God. +'
Speculative or conjectural theology is Sec
ond source of danger no iii7' 5.l5
Reason and faith point to the existence of
Cod bllf Reason Is finite and cannot nana-