The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-15
FIFTH AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The Light OF Day, OF Truth, of Morality,
OF Religion and of science-Sermon by
Professor Greene, Of Princeton College.
The Fifth Avenue Presbyterian church was very
poorly attended yesterday. This Is to be attributed
TO two causes-frsty, the absence Of the pastor DR.
John Hail. and secondly, TO the heat OF the weather
Services began at hafpast ten O'Clock, and after
the usual singing OF psalms, reading OF the Bible
and praying Professor Greene, Of Princeton College,
delivered the sermon, which WAS formed on the
words of the 10th Psan l3Oth verse-"The entrance
OF Thy words giveth hfe.n He traced the truth Of
these words In many ways, stating that
1t was the Word of God that created
and gave to us the light, the medium through
which we see; that His Word gave another kind Of
light to the soul, and, in fact, that the Word Of
God was the light and being Of all things, scientific
and religious. The gst OF his
szRAos,
was as follows:-when we read these words
we are transported In mind back to that
period when tho earth was chaos, emptiness
and full Of nothing; when the Spirit Of God
moved over the waters, and He said "Let
there he light" and light was. Light was the
first thing that Cod In His wisdom ordained to ex-
ist 1t Is one of the most wonderful pieces OF all
His handiwork and also one OF the most
essential; for what would we be without light ?
We KOulu De uuADle W rec ana Vutp1ic
the beauties of nature and art around; and yet we
must believe that without light nature would have
no beauties as light Ia the life OF nature; ard then
n there were no beauties In nature, 1t is safe 10
conclude II would have no art, for there would be
nature to copy nom. The light OF day is not the
only light whcf God has given us-all the artificial
lights which make the night toerable, together
With the light OF the Intellect This material View
is not the only one which we should take of the
question, for Is literally true OF the light ofChris
tianlty, and the light which cheered The original
chaos was but hguIe OF the light which the son
OF God was to bring to tho darkened souls OF man
| kind In alter years.
" is true that there were good and bad souls
wnen christ came upon earth; but t Is TO the light
OF the son OF God That dispeng OF darkness is due.
The light which We have of late years received from
! the world received eighteen Hundred years ago
| nom the lips OF Christ and His Apostles am not
| one to depreciate the human Intellect. No; on
the contrary feel proud Of living IN an age Ike
THIS when such progress has been made; but SIN
cannot attribute 1t to the human Intellect of ITSELF
than a little TO do with It, Notwithstanding
that man has mado much progress lately, it
must be said that, as regards many things he
is still In the dark. Many OF our most
elevated and erudite philosophers and scientists
lack that light to which every thing else should be
subeervient-the light OF God, His teachings and
His Church. It IL greatly TO be regretted that so
many OF our giant minds discard The Idea OF any
region, but still when you speak to them on Ger:
the Hereafter, and when you ask them what be-
comes Of the soul after death they are unable 10
| answer you. Christianity aud religion are to-day
| more pronounced and more easily understood than
they Mere In times gone past, Many OF the Old fsia
! cies have been contradicted. aud 10 the men Of