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

which we shall never DO able to gain their cVhndonOo
nor IN lead them TO nnermost causes OF nef un-
belief in certain moral feelipss II not for notalpg
that Lord classes Dsbeet WIN a haronss' In
tS Sr' arst ard asi resort al unbehef spnpgs-
IRON tss for Sn the nSSerssnISg but
from he hardDess and OF the natural heart
OF man, T DIVING Revelation This perverseness is
strange mixture. the one hand of eowardce, when
man has aot tO let his inner failngs be I'M
covered all their nakedness dares to enlarge his
ow views according 20 the great ways and deeds
his own small ideas; and thus, the other hand OF
overweenng sef-cOnhdence. when the same man thinks
nleuts. and little Of Gods mighty and holy gov
when be would attain to everything by means
of has own knowledge and power; in word when man
wOnd far rather help himself than let himself be helped
by God, and thankfully accept the redemption brought
by Jesus Christ In truth, this is the material principle
when divides all unbeef aud false belief toto e0to from
true belief On the enc hand there is sefhep; on the
other Gods help. The pride OF the philosophical critic
just much that of the natural scientist IA always
STRIVING TO substitute human activity and spontaneity
for human rooeptveness before God. Instead OF sos
DeO It's motto is SOi Hopi, Gloria Last but not least
positively earty iucllnauons Of the human heart It's
prOneness TO satisfaction Ia THIS world tendenoy whon
rs seducvey encouraged by the present mateIlansuo
DENIAL another life; or, put 1t plainly. in word
she power OF the dollar. This Is lar greater nlnuer-
s1s to true Se a1 al Tb hs Wdrs of G
that causes deep and widespread dlsancIon aganss
OF the moral Judgment, against which all mere logical
reasoning is OF no avail. The causes OF unbeief really
lie IN the heart and will However strong outward In
uences may be- In Divine things no one errs entirely
without his fault If such be the case, then the most
efecual method OF opposing unDeef In Individuals IL
that which may term the ethfco-psyohoiog'cdt or
so0ogo method. that s the method which leads inward
TO Inc heart and conscience of those addressed Let
explain myself First OF ALL we should endeavor 10 LEAD
ward causes and the effects Of his unDelief In his own
moral developments this, however, not as inqulsitOrs
but with hearty and humble sympathy. Reflect let
Us say 10 bin, on the first beginning OF your doubts
From what region did they comet Is not, perhaps;
your present creed merely the theology OF the natural
heart and can you say this unbeef has been real
blessing inner lief Does its increase denote
and support In mlsfortunef on give a true and up
right OF all this not to me- but to Yourself ana
GOdw Later should show IN how false manner
dOubter usually examines the Divine origin ana me
truth of the Christian faith As rule he makes the
convenient demand first 10 DO convinced by scientifically
arguments OF the truth OF Christian revelation De-
fore he VIII accept IT, lie VIII nrst Know ana tnen
We show tho fundamental error Of this demand,
which consists in confusion between the region OF
morals religion and that of mathematical science
Spiritual truths should not and can not be mathenati
calIy demonstrated. First they must be apprehended
by the heart and conscience. and they will then prove
themselves TO the understanding as dlynely true ana
necessary. We're faith matter OF demonstration
IL would be faith, moral act consisting in
trus yielding up OF sell 10 That whlcn as YET We see
not. (Heb. XII, ~ . -.
Further, we should 90 to show that faith and
knowledge. far from being opposed. naturally supple
each other and that faith is the of the
deepest highest knowledge All learning is neces-
sary preceded by submission TO the authority OF tue
teacher. aud TINS preliminary submission Oh the lnte
lectu and critical faculties 10 the truth OF revelation
brings light the soul and lays the foundation for
healthy SOBER and clear views as TO God, our own
being and condition. sin and Its cure, and our hna des
/ L. e.,
light divine revelation leads the know ledge of the
exalted truth; indeed, IL is tho beginning OF It,
this way to knowledge seem hard to you ask your
self whether the faith does correspond to
supply the deepest needs OF the human heart AND
believers The question upon the recognition Of
evil ourselves; for the whole struggle between belief
and unbee has truly been said, Is but the conflict
between those who treat sin as light matter and those
VINO heavily oppressed By 1t until they come to Him.
who lays His hight yoke upon them. DO you glory In
your upright moral Light Have you, then ever turned
the whole energy OF your moral consciousness inward
n a lf-eX
Kant thoughtfuy paused before the universal and
no upright help doing the same. But the depth
tins conviction depends upon the standard which
man applies 10 himself, upon the idea when ne mas
formed OF his aim and destiny Are you not perchance
in the habit of comparing yourselves with other men
grade your dignity created In the image OF
Cod Your destiny Is the highest Imaginable, higher
We holy, for l also holy" Be ye perfect.
even az your Father IN heaven 1.-Two n n Tnp
soul toO7 And have not the irrepressble feeling
Him You must be free from ali SIM Now we have seen
the srctest moralsts, such as Kant confess that
greatest moral energy in wrestling with evil your
morality remains full of defects and therefore your own
exertons satisfy the wants Of your heart And,
the other hand, in the person of Christ you see
moral grandeur, in which healthy eyes, at least have
been able discover blemish ideal OF perfection
respecting which even ratonaistc critics have con-
fessed thai all human standards vanish before IT, nat
of this, Is reasonable than TO conclude that
you poor ietered but STRUGGLING spirit unable 10 iree
tain your destiny, enter into personal and living com
munon with the only perfect One who has appeared IN
God and man, the Sn-destroyer and Redeemer OF the
And this is the and substance OF our Chris
faith and Christian life. We believe that the free
grace and mercy of God has to the help OF poor
man, vainly struggling tree himself from sin and evil
and this great and asuicient divine Delp Is christ
THE SCIENTIFIC SYSTEMS OF UNBELIEF.
H. These nowadays conduct themselves than |
ever as If they represented science par excellence They
will hear of none scientific arguments and against
them none but strictly scientific procedure avail.
FROM the very beginning the Church did not shrink |
from this struggle, and by means OF II she constantly
attained clearer consciousness of the substantial ee
ments OF her own belief. Apology was the mother OF |
dogmatcal science. However great the harm may be |
Tnbeiief, Yet it should be borne in mind that every
earnest honorable contest with scientific opponents
has IN the end always enriched the churcs store OF
TRUTH brought to light weapons from her inexhaust
ble arsenal and demonstrated anew the seadfastness
OF the foundations OF our faith Forward" then,
must be motto against modern unbeleving |
science, too The hotter the battle the more ganful
its The first question is, How far does the ground
exend which must, under oil circumstances, be de-
OF our Protestant Christian faith This brings us to
point that most important for our subject and which
Il SHOULD be the chief business OF our dogmatc theology
10 settle the clear definition and Limitation OF
the essential and FUNDAMENTAL articles OF ouraith in
contradistinct0n TO those which are less important,
and may be left TO the free judgment OF each |
Individual Christian In order to carry out its task
science defense must learn TO treat minor points
such He who defends too much and represents doubt
fu things absolutely necessary to be believed WIN
no succeed than he who defends too little, T. e.,
mere rational truths instead Of the heart OF Christian
belief What is then the chief object Of defense as
distinguished from others Let me explain myself by
OF Illustration In every considerable fortress
there is a central bulwark or citadel, with various |
bastions trenches &C. the close connection OF which
forms the strength OF this center Further out there
the enoene inclOsng and fortress with its moat,
but the largest circle OF all is formed by the outside
forts, which hinder the enemy from approaching too |
near the walls Our Christian faith Is fortress strong
as rock with Just such defenses The central position
or citadel is, all believing theoogans have long
agreed redemption and atonement accomplished by
Jesus Christ. Union OF man with God through this |
mediator the end and aim OF all revelation. This
aOffb no nro-
suppostOns and certain consequences in respect both
OF God and man. which absolutely indispensable II
IL a 10 stand firm The pre-suppOsitiOns these Our
Naturally lostcOndOn by OF sin, n0twithstand-