New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-07

prophecy has been vouchsaed upon highly excep1Una'
occasions when the Importance OF the matter ooh u,
Gated was in harmony with the exceptional character OIL
the means employed 49,. ..a .r,arNc,ol
,nfdeiitv witch seeks 10 commend itself 70 popuuh,
favor in the present day fs mgny resnits
OF an uncertain criticism II is never safe to trust our
selves TO the narrow issue when one ,nas ~ wiz ,6a
anu sono 20 ria trnth upon undeniabo facts and the
Wide current OF history, be mas written upon notus
Ths B3ls as 70 itself because the Bible cannot
VI limits but is dependent upon other au-
thorieS tot T eiently distinguished for the definition
Of ia limits all other productions and to the sub
testimouY borne by history such as is borne by 10
20 Nothing else We must decide in tho face Of this class
The snbsanta truth Of the Bible record and message
a whole ia uneeservlng Of credit. There is a mass OF
Old Testament history such does not exist in support
OF the narrative OF Tcius or Thucyddes, and the mass
Of this evidence is continually becoming greater and
continually receiving fresh calculation.
STRENGTH oP UNBELEF.
The strength Of unbelieving criticism consists In tho
pertnacity with which certain points Of detail
dwe upon but tho strength OF that which opposed
to It consists in the breadth OF the issue which is based
upon the broad and general principles and facts which
are untouched by criticism The mass Of evidence for
the feet OF special and unique revelation being CON
tanned Gin the Scriptures OF the Old and New Tesla
ments is so great that It is impossible for rightly
instructed and unbiased mind to reject the former
For example the relation between the Old Testament
and the New Is OF such KIND as TO DC enurey Wlchout
book Of highly composite nature which was yet re-
garded as one being the origin ana tne literary IeIG
Of another book also composite in It's nature, ana that
after an interval OF 400 years as IN inc case OF te 0o
natural descendant Of the other and yet no one could
have anticipated such development as hkely or posi-
which the theory OF an actual GOdgiven and authOrta
tive revelation rests. They at once broad deep ana
solid in their character. They inyunera6e 60 the
of criticism. and they lnoNpLcdDo on any
merely natural principles They point clearly DaIudS
and o0neusvey 10 one explanation and only and
though they do not mathematcaly demonstrate IT. they
offer moral proof which is much more nearly compete
tban ny dsproof that can be set against it, Not only
Is revelation in its subject matter witness to ITS own
origin, but so also is the record III which the revelation
s set forth in its generic and unalterable features
witness 10 the fact that similar combination OF phe
nOmena equally significant and various could not nave
been produced by chance And from the nature OF the
case there is alternative between denial That these
phenomena have any meaning az all ana an admission
that the meaning they have 10 the one alleged
In attempting them to stem the tide OF unbelief which
rises in all directions around US, essential 10 pant
our feet firm upon the rock whose foundation
hid far beneath its deepest channels, the summit
thereof rises far above its roaring waves and f0ang
blows Unless we stand upon the rock that is higher
than we are it is Impossible be borne away by
them 1t not In ourselves or III our arguments our
logic and eoquence that our hope lies. but in the reye
does not manifest himself in 49,, his r reveal,
is thing of tho spirit and the heart and art Of reason
ing When God has revealed himself to the conscience
aud the heart the reason brings her Offering 10 ATTEST
deaf TO the voice OF God tue also blind TO the
mes age of his truth The dsuncveness OF skepucal
criticism be met by constructive association Of
facts that independent of it, This and that DENIAL
may, occasion serves, be met ana answered III detail
but special controversy OF this KIND IS WITHIN inc reaGh
only few and that which Is TO operate on the pub
lie at large is the exhibition OF the broad
front of truth in its many and manifold
bearings and whenever this 10 given In falthand sincere
dependence God it brings forth It's fruit Ia gooi soa-
son. The word OF truth spoken irOm believing heaTt
i'm the spirit earnest love Will not dle for II IS The
word OF the living God and ne hath saq IL Sali MOI
please anu shall prosper in the thing whoreto sent
It,"
The next paper upon the same subject was read by
Prof Theodore Christleb d. d., of the University OF
Bonn, Prussia Prof Christlieb's address seemed to
strongly attract the attention OF the audience despite
ifs length and was greeted with frequent applause HIS
delivery and gesture easy and forcbe though he
abored under the disadvantage OF being obliged to read
directly from notes. without trusting to his memory
He made very many happy word-connections, full of
implied meaning Want of space forbids the publication
Of this interesting paper in the present issue OF TIE
TRIBUNE.
The paper OF Prof Chrstlleb was followed by singing,
without organ accompaniment led by the strong.
hearty voice OF the Rev. Dr. Rogers Of the South Re
formed Church Of this CITY, The third and fourth
OF the eighth hymn sung, beginning Fer since,
by faith saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply"
The President announced that it the close
of the it would be hardly expedient to the
question for remarks He would, therefore, ask them
10 pass on while he said word in regard 70 the paper
prepared by the Rev. John Cairns, d. D. OF Berwick
England on the Z" Best Methods of COunteractug
Modern Indelity" He regretted that it would not be
read by the reverend gentleman who prepared it, hut il
would be published in the morning TRIBUNE. Tie paper
is follows;