The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-22
VALE BACCALAUREATE SERMON.
the Attitude or Christtanity-ItsC Comics a
and Victories In the Past-Addresse <1o
the Graduating Class.

the Graduating Class.
NEW HAVEN, Conn., June a, ls7s
the annual Baccaaureate sermon OF Yale Col
lege was preached in the college chapel tins
morning, by the President, Dr. f.oah Porter.
The reverend gentleman selected ais text from
John WI lT-If any man win DO ais will he shall
know OF the doctrine, whether IT be OF God.u He /
said :-Christianity as we ind Is IN the New Tesla
ment, assumes Two attitudes, which az first
thought seem to be incony stent ana antagonls-
tic IL submits itself TO bs tried ana Judged and
by simple evidence; asking no confidence which it
does not Justify Again,It assumes 60 try anc Judge
every nying man 90 whom 1t comes, commanding
hun, on his allegiance, TO accept the messages and
10 follow Lord ESQ far as it appeals TO the rear
son, IL asks no iavOrs So far as 10 appeals
to tue conscience, 1t supreme
authority over every man Who hears It's voice. 1t
would seem atzirst sight that here IL q contr adic-
ton. Many expo0nders of Christianity have
sought to tnrnsiiy this difficulty by emphasizing
what they chaose 10 call the necessary
ANTAGONIST sRTwEgN REASON AND FAITH.
But this seeming disappears when we reflect
that the reason which listens TO evidence aud
waits fer verdict Is but another name for the
conscience when II demands instant ana unques-
uonirg obedience when 1t admits no excuses and
perfGts no delay. We notice also that Christianity
has irom the very nrst assumed both these att
to the critteai judgment or man and com,
manding them, on the other, to believe
ana obey. The modern assaianLs OF Christianity
fall into All oversight wnen they assume that 1t
came into the world without being challenged.
They forget that IL was confronted at the very be-
ginning vita sharp-sighted critics They overlook
that the New Testament distinctly records that its
CLAIMS were disputed by almost every concelvable
description OF antagonists; that its facts de-
MED, It's principles questioned. Its miracles were
referred to causes generally accredited as
OF its Founder TO be divtnely commissioned
we're aside as offensive by great
rtafxr or mr. rlar zee NAV
ants would read its old history with more criti-
Cal spirit they would ind 1t hghting It's way, step
by step, with the weapons OF simple truth II they
would study more closely the
GROUNDS ON WHICH IT WAS REJECTED
IN the frst century they would discover that they
are similar in principle TO those on which 1t was
rejected in The nineteenth that II Is only in form
that these difficulties nave changed, while their
substance remains. The Greeks adored culture
grace and beauty IN art, comprehensiveness and
insight IN science, skill ana forecast in commerce,
sagaclty and conquest in craftsmanship. They
were so occupied and delighted with this life that
they did not concern themselves greatly with an
other They iahed TO find out the iaet and evil OF
SIN, and hence they could lind no rea-
son Tor Christianity. and consequently
The Jews were so occupied with the power ana
isolation OF the Most High and HIS majestic incom-
prehensveness aud distance, they were ele-
waited with their own position the select nation
who alone understand God, that CHRIST VINO
condescending and pitiu and self-sacrfcing, q
Christ who cared for dishonest pubcans and vul-
gar hariots and the accused common people, and
cared for them so much as expend upon them
His life and death that He might bring them into
the kingdom, and, more than all, Christ whose
EMPHASIZED HUMAN GUILT
and weakness, was to their ways OF thinking
these rejectors and antagonists Christianity Oh
Tered reasons Tor being believed as the wisdom
and power OF God. 1t quietly and earnestly asked
men TO think OF the occasion for its revelations and
the evidence by which 1t was supported. it stood
quietly before the bar of its judge, declaring In the
I might bear witness OF the TRUTH" while yet
IN the same breath it rose into the ma
voice. First, what is the conditions Each
duty; second, BE must do this with respect to
everything which he owns to be his duty; third,
supreme conservation to duty the only efectual
way to know that Cnrist and Chrlsts teachings
are from God. There Is natural connection be-
tweel the TWO. Duty holds the attention to the
evidence that Christ is from God. 1t trains man
to vlydly apprehend tue significance TO which he
Sp IL
understand his lailings and his guilt and thus pre-
pares MIN TO believe IN christ; 1t enables him to
appreciate the testimony OF those who have made
personal trial OF iaitb IN Christ
ADDRESS THE GRADUATING CLASS.
The President then added Young men of the
graduating class, you are going forth into life as
men OF education and culture. IL is no secret TO
you that not few OF this class at the present
time are III doubt whether the doctrine and the
person Of Christ are In any special sense from God
Let me remind you that the peculiar opinions OF
men OF culture at present do not form any new
phases oil science or new revelations OF history or
new nsghts Of criticism. Let the moral light
which is IN any man become darkness by wiiiui
neglect 1t becomes dishonor, and his con-
clsons concerning any SUBJECT III which these
conclusions are concerned must be detective and
misleading Just Ia proportion TO the mental force
by winch they are derived or the brllancy by
which they are enforced. But you more than
men OF letters and science, and your manhood Is
more 10 you than your intellectual accusations or
your aesthetic culture IL Is well that you are to
20 forth 10 try the tree and braclng air OF public
HE some oi you have stood upon mountain
and looked over extended landscape which
was enveloped IN mists ana oyerhung by gloomy
clouds; here aud there narrow path OF light
g.
Terminating ID some gided summit IN the distant
horizon which was lost LII the traEshgured clouds.
Such a pain symbolizes the course OF that man
VINO seeks Tor a confirmed iaith IN Christ ana may
such be yours.
PROGRAMME.
The anniversary exercises OF the medical school
occur tomorrow night.
Tuesday Is class day.
On Wednesday occurs the law school semicen-
tennial and Thursday is commencement.
The Rev. Mark Hopkins, d. D.. L. d. late Pres-
dent OF Williams College, Will deliver course Of
lectures the coming year IN the divinity school