The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-10
roMPK1Ns AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN cHuRoH.

A Sermon by DIR. Clarke on Paul's Visit
to Athens-Christianity and Culture
Shy at the Beccher "Manh0od"
.Controversy-NIor Hope of Conventions
I'm Five Points than on Firth Avenue.
DR.. Clarke preached yesterday morning to q
large and appreciative congregation at the above
church. The text selected was the sixteenth verse
ofthe seventeenth chapter of the Acts OF the Apos
tles:-"NOw while Paul waited for them at Athens
his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city
wholly given up to idolatry." The circumstances
Of the visit OF Paul to Athens, and his probable
reflections whilst there with short description
Of the then city, formed the Introduction to the
discourse. Then the practical end sought by
the preacher In the sermon he was about to de-
liver, was announced, namey:-The proof that
belief in Christianity and culture do not always go
together. This position was varously illustrated
all the way through. II there was any city In which
Paul might, with more confident expectation believe
that his Gospel message would be received with IA
yor, it was, certainly, in Athens by the cultured
that chapter. showed with what almost scorn that
message had been received. 1t mad been always so.
jews Ws on h S@e us s
half-barbarOus people, that the greatest moral tr
umphs had been achieved by the great teacher
HUMAN NATURE,
when 1t was cultured, when it had encrusted Itself
around with the refnements the learning and
the teachings OF men, rejected the humility that
was needul to the acceptance of the simple Gospel
truth. There was more hope of the conversion OF
sinners by the preaching OF the Gospel in Five
Points than there was in Fifth avenue. ''The car
nal nina is at enmity against God" The Athenians
had erected affairs to all the virtues and to
all the vices-nay, further, they had erected
ss c to nscTos II the
to them. Yet the Athenians were Greeks dstin-
guished by many virtues, by the development oil
o culture that Is the admiration of the world Was
not this 1.-THE manhood" that was now so loudly
praised, and which 1t was said religion came into
the world to Develop Paul did not like some
modern ministers, drop the Christian in the tourist
or the missionary In the -wanderer. There was
aside to the neglect Of his great work of preach
ing the truth His historical associations received
on all sides abundant Illustrations, and he might,
perhaps, have been pardOned had he gratifed lila
cultured taste. Paul took
THE LAMP OF HIS FAITH
with him. The history was sublime instance oil
the integrity Of the faith OF Paul in the truth that
was In him. Paul's spirit was needed to-day. Our
culture would not avail US in seeking Jesus The
simple faith that receives and accepts Jesus and
His work was all that would truly avail US. Nc
matter what our culture was IL we failed to give
our heart to God; our amiability, our refinement
our accomplishments, our virtues went for nothing
and we cruced Jesus airesh, IL we did not give up
to Him and the prompttngs OF the grace OF God IN
our hearts that which was felt and knew should
be sacrificed in His cause. There was Q danger
times-that worldliness and religion could 20 along
the broad way together. Day by day it was made
more evident that the separation must be distinct
and the oldfashiOned truth was just as patent now
as it ever was that the broad way leadeth unto
destruction and the narrow way unto eternal iite