The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-24
BROOKLYN CHURCHES.
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

fLxMUUId OaUhOd
Science Against the Biblc-Comte's and
Herbert Speucer's Beliets-Qucstions
and Answers - Miracles, Works Of
Powcr-Thc Belief in God a Peraon--
The Power Of Perfected Faith Ia In.
finite-Sermon by the Rev. Edward
Bcecher.
Notwithstanding the pleasant weather yester-
day Plymouth church was not so well attended as
usual. DIR. Edward Deecher delivered very i'm
pressive sermon upon "Falth." The text selected
was Job xiv, 14-"H a man die, shall he live
again p" An answer to this question is found in
the First Epistle of John ", Q, 12-"f we receive
the witness OF men, the witness Of God is greater
for this is the witness OF God which He hath tes.
titled OF His Son. He that beleyeth in the Son OF
God hath the witness in himself: he that beeveth
not God hath made him liar, because he believeth
not the record that God gave Of His Son. And this
is the record, that God hath given to us eternal
life and this life Is IN His Son. He that hath the
Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God
hath not life." This is the record which God has
given us Of eternal life. There are certain ques-
tions natural to man as thinking and emotional
being. / propose to state them and to consider
and contrast the answers given to them by science
and by the Bible.
Much Is said Of science at the present day, and
In forms 1t is set against the Bible as the suf.
fcient guide. COmte and his followers In France
do this. Herbert Spencer and his followers in Eng
land In effect do the same, though less openly 1t
is well, therefore, to inquire what science can do
before we put out the
LIGHT OF REVELATION.
The questions are of fundamental moment. If
man die shall he liver If he lives. where and in
what system9 Is there system of the universe2
Does 1t embrace all worlds and all Leings9 Are
tnpa f0ra mi nrin ,fo vlof
are they2
In this world there is no apparent system, from
beginning to end. 1t is a world of care and Of
death. Ali plans are broken up; all ties are SUM-
dered. What becomes of our loved ones Shall we
ever see them again. Sucn are the great ques-
tons. What then, is the reply of science ? The
science OF COmte, that denies God, answers
them oil in the negative. If there is no God of
ton, but simply material evolution.
But all science does not deny God; what does
such science answers 1t gives no answer, and
can give none. Science cannot bridge the Chasm
between US and the nearest world. And now,
what answer does the Bible give 1t gives q clear
and definite answer. Man shall live again. There
Is system OF the universe, al-embraclng
and eternal. The Bible answers these questions
for two rea50ns:-l. 1t has access 10 God, who
knows and on whom all depends and brings Him
In as q witness. 2. 1t makes the system, though
invisible TO the senses real to tue mind. ON these
points the texts quoted insist. Science cannot go
beyond the testimony OF man. The Bible has &C.
cess to the testimony OF God. Besides this 1t gives
communion with Him, sympathy with Him, and
participation in His certainty anu emotions This
Is done by miracles.
A miracle Is a work OF power OF which none but
God be tae author and ITS grand popularity is
that waen God is appealed to 1t brings Him in as
witness. This IS the grand peculiarly OF the Bible,
which bridges the chasm that no science can
cross. Based upon these two great positions, the
Bible answers all questions which we ought to
know. sec IN what manner the two elements com.
bined make faith Faith is the link between God
and man, and the channel oil HIS power. Faith Is
the great working power OF the system Of God.
GOD AS A WITNESS,
or as Offering rewards or threatening punishments.
Tie faith OF the Bible Is belief IN God O person
who mas moral character and administers q
moral government. SO the Bible presents the
case. God, by Miracles works OF power, which
lie only can perform, comes into this world as q
witness. We see now why 1t has q moral charac
ter. Theobligation OF veracty in testimony is felt
most deeply by man. There can be no greater dis
honor than to be stigmatized as a liar. The same.
feeling exists with God. He has testified on mat
believed. IT, therefore, he testifes and His word
is discarded lie iees that He is treated as o liar
II we receive the testimony OF man the testimony
OF God Is greater He that belicveth not God hath
made Him liar, because he belicveth not the
record that God gave OF His Son. 1t is not only
belief but sympathetic belief, based on the love
OF God, which makes communion possible. God Is
love, and to know Him truly we must know Him BY
sympathetic love.
This opens the way for that element Of the high.
est and most perfect faith-vix., tue
sELf-REvELiTIoN OF GOD,
truth as he sees 1t, and to feel 1t as he iees IT,
Look at the sublime power OF faith: It's power Is
Illustrated by the greatest natural changesEtne
resurrection of Christ from the dead, and His ex-
altation to the right hand OF God 80 BY ialtn men
rise with Him, sit down with Him at tue right
hand of God, come to the company OF angels, anu
of the spirits oil just men made perfect.
This is a sublime description OF the experience
that naturally results from the action OF the Divine
mind in producing faith. The animating spirit OF
this world Is selnshness and not love. This makes
God unreal and the spiritual world so that practi-
caly men are without God. To them this world Is
the great reality, in its varied forms OF pleasure,
wealth and power These take the place OF God,
and the spirit OF the whole system Is
ESMITY TO GOD.
To live for God and for eternity implies an en-
counter with the full power Of the god OF this
world. All of pleasure, profit or power that
this world can give lasts but for a lie short and
uncertain. God and the spirit world are eternal.
God ID truly great and glorious. In His kingdom
is all that man can desire of greatness and glory.
When brought into direct comparison with each
other the infinite must, OF course, outweigh the
finite. Hence the power OF perfected faith is
infinite and utterly annihates the power OF the
world, and IN times OF trial God pcrfects 10. In
every age 1t has wrought wonders and gained vic
tories Nor 10 Its power exhausted. For Colds