The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-13
CHURCH OF THE PURITANs.
Materialism Not . Doctrine, but a Ditch
Sermon by Rev. DIR. Checver.

MateriaIism Not q Doctrine, but a Ditch
Sermon by Rev. DIR. Checver.
The Rev. DR.. Cheever preached last evening in
the chapel OF the University In washington square.
He took his text from the Gospel Of st. Matthew,
XIV, 4. He said Science without religion Is like a
dead sea, and such is materialism-Inoder
materiasm. It may be made brilliant and
attractive to the senses for q while, but
its end is DEATH "Let US eat and drink to-day
for tomorrow we must dien is what mate
rialism teaches. The materialism OF ignorance
without the revelation of God. such az that Of the
ancient heathens, might be accepted without the
rejection Of God, OF q Creator; but modern ma
terialism since the revelation insists upon the re-
lection Of the divine Creator. We have no more
to do with God, this doctrine says, than the mon.
key, which we sprang from. 1t denies the fall and
sin Of man, and affirms him to have been evoked
from nature and by nature; 1t denies the need Of
redemption, makes Jesus one Of the greatest Of i'm
posters, denies heaven as kingdom of God, de.
MES hell as a kingdom OF evil This doctrine
taxes all motive from the good, all the
oil conscience. Life Is a taper OF natural enjoy
ment, It says and let US burn It at both ends and
get out Of It as much as we can; Materiasm does
and drink, for tomorrow we shall die. One OF the
most eminent. scientists Of England affrms that
the progress OF science Is dependentOn the ban.
ishnlent Of the entire realm ofsplrt, Of
THE BELIEF IN GOD AND IMMORTALITY.
SM .As DO coS hss wSs s SS s Ss
no God All the facts Of science .'l have e
symbols Of God. Nature always illustrates from
lower to higher. Science without religion brings
without the SOUL the body without the soul. There
70 no translucence In the carbon, but as 1t is
touched by the light IL becomes radiant and gilt.
tering as the soul when touched by the light OF
grace. The soul becomes living crystal. A man
who denies the existence OF God Is as dark az char
s the light and even sD he may ' Se ea yet
with the divine spirit There may be
such carbon Il, souls thrown on the ditch Or
pity Let the scientist tell me how the diamond Is
formed out Of the carbon. You win ind the dia-
ties. Show me here the link Of evolution tell
you, you cannot connect the diamond with any
now YOU will have to contrive theory"sn nm n%
mite series OF creative steps, How can that be when
you deny the possibility Of the first stepa None
grain OF wheat with Its infinite personalities You
THE PROSPERITY OF A KINGDOM
to one grain. Take a grain from an Egyptian
tomb, find out the 'second causes" OF sky and
earth and create harvest Here Is a chance to
prove your doctrine OF evolution. Prove II. A food
mandatory for nations set In one single seed.
Is 1t not miracle9 We cannot conceive OF select
| ing and combining nature without conceiving a
power above nature. Let us take the electric
telegraph, with man as the operator. Consider the
results Of TINS wn as regards Its influences
make this invention possibe-llght. heat, &C., and
| the action Of the human mind. Could they have
| come together without an overscer-a higher
power The electric telegraph would be q
mere result OF natural evolution, IL the
Creator be excluded, and materalism does ex
OF natural forces, OF evolution without creator
and still we see that the first record OF thus being
| Is book ascribing every power In creation TO an
! Almighty God. BY natural evolution there ID no,
only no distinction between the good and the
wicked, but they are BOTH made 10 lie by nature
authors whom we are Invited to sit at the feet Of
| This man speaks the truth because he Ia Ted or
! mutton; the other lies because he Ia fed on bee