The New York herald., 1873-10-06
FRENCH EVANGELICAL CHURCH.


Alliance.
FRENCH EVANGELICAL CHURCH
An Eloquent Sermon by the Rev DR.
COulin, OF Geneva-No Necessity for Mir
acles and Apparttions-Thc Safety OF
All Lies In the Bible-The Danger oi
Indifference and the Curse Of Doubt.
The Rev. Frank Coulin, D. D., Of Geneva, Swltzer
land, preached yesterday morning, and quite cleo
trifed his congregation He is most eloquent
man, and surprised his hearers by an erudition
and thoughtfuness, allied to pleasing and mag
netic manner. Mr.. Coulin possesses one OF the
largest congregations In Switzerland, and came
here a delegate to the Evangelical Alliance Con-
ference.
He began by saying that, after all, it was not sur
prising in some aspects that so much indinerence
existed in the world regarding religion. On the
one hand, we were asked to believe in and sacri-
fee our comforts TO something which we could not
see or hear-to something impslpable, while, on
the other hand, we had all the joys OF lie allurtng
us on from religion. He confessed IL was hard
thing to put simple faith beside actual fact and
give up the latter the former. But this was pre-
cisely where God expected US to show our devo-
tion to Him. "Ah,n would say one, III could
only know what passes IN the world II could only
hold q conversation OF ten minutes with some
one OF
THE DEAD WHOM I HAVE KNOWN IN LIFE
how speedily should give up all thoughts OF the
world and work for the future salvation. II any
down and instruct me in what was useful how
quickly my indifference would change to devo-
ton.n But this does not occur. We must believe
from the evidences We have or not believe at all.
The manifestations Of Gods presence are numer-
GUS enough Tor those who wish 10 be saved with
out any more being added. And then again,
in these days be gwen the real manifestations
which were common OF old. The ancient lsraehtes
were brought constantly In immediate contact
with God. Did that keep them without sina Thou
sands listened in the plains and on the
they heard his words, they saw his
miracles. and yet were not convinced. II
they would come to US in one OF two ways, either
collectively or singy. Either we should all be con-
stantly brought IN contact with the presence OF
God and His miracles or we should be specially and
singly favored with apparitions and ocular
EVIDENCES OF ANOTHER LIFE.
grow VIC ndarant nv asa yarv cnnStancv ~ snner
natural revelations Like the so.dier on the battle
field, who, BY constant familiarity with death,
frequency, We should grow cold and indifferent
to that which was so common, Ike those who
ties who saw God and were not improved; like
those who witnessed the miracles and yet did not
change. The frequency of supernatural reye-
latlons would in end work nothing but indifier
ence. Now, ii these supernatural events happened
single to one at tme there can be little DOUBT that
they would fill US with awe and make US run to-
wards better life. The real fact OF that when is
only now belief would so impressi0nate those
who saw 1t that the result would be like clap OF
thunaer and would leave the recipient under It's
terrible influence But would 1t be lasting Would
not the first strong impression gradually fade un-
shadow OF a dream Like the drunkard who sees
his companion die OF delirium tremens, the sight
ects what acues he has left and peudera
his own situation Then, spurred on by the terrible
example. he vows that he VIII go no further, but
impression is immense and it would seem
as If the terrible example would forever
cure him, and yet at the first temptation he ialls
and pursues his course as if he had never made
VOWS and thought over his own wretched exist
ence You see with our weak natures the
strongest Impressions are but shadows, which fade
away the further we 60 from them. 1t Is then doubt
fu whether real Manifestations would be of any
believe and ponder what God has given US in the
teachings OF Moses and the prophets-and, better
still, the teachings OF the New Testament-then no
other means would do any more good. 1t is
THE INDIFFERENCE OF THE WORLD
which Is its worst sin. You find respectable men
and women moving in Christian society and going
under that name VINO are as benighted but more
responsible than those who know nothing The av
erage man and woman who does not practise the
laws set down by the Almighty believe the
general truths OF the Bible; believe in an
alter life, believe in Christ believe His teaching,
and yet, when told that God reserves ineffebe
bliss for those who love and serve Him, answer
they have not the time or the Will to do what God
but this is what all their answers END in. And then
when told that God, while He has Infinite mercy
and goodness and offers everlasting bliss to those
who serve Him, Is equally severe upon those who
do not, and reserves for them everlasting punish
menL they shrug their shoulders and answer,
Time enough yet.n But death comes on them
when least prepared and their Indifference Is their
ruin. Doubt Is better than indifference. respect
honest doubt. But wnat is honest doubts There
are people who say they are doubters who only
ments which can be picked up at
any street corner, and which have been a thousand
times reiuted over and over again. These not
doubters. To be an honest doubter requires at
least as much study and thought as 10 be be-
lever. One must have gwen days ana weeks and
years TO the sole study OF religion before he can
pretend TO argue and doubt those points upon
which others nave taken al equal time to study
and believe. Such people are the worst class, be.
cause, besides being stupid and wicked, they
make other fools like themselves. 1t is sale, then,
on general principles and without going into any
OF the obscure passages which the Bible possesses,
heart. The command to love God above all things
and your neighbor as yourself cannot be wrong,
and If this is observed 1t is
ALL THAT IS NECESSARY
to salvation. You need go no further. II is un-
necessary TO go into any questions OF doctrine.
Only observe that one principle and you are safe.
Let US, then, believe and practise. 1t can do no.
body harm: 1t VIII certainly DO US all good, and
rest confident that the good God Will pardon our
errors; VIII look upon US kindly, and, remembering
that while we have been sinful we nave tried TO
love Him above all things and our neighbor as our
selves. He will take US into His bosom and to ever
lasting lie.
In the prayer which followed the Rev. DR.. Coulin
asked Gods blessing upon the asscmDlage OF tae
Evangelical Alliance and that harmony might
reign IN its councils
.