The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-07-14

overmuch knowing, which l have treated
as false science, have overlaid the written
word. But if belief in the
Bible means belief in the moral aud spir.
itual truths which it contains, and are
veri6able in experience, as also statements
Of Gods acts, and ways, and purposes, at.
fecting men directly, his history and des-
tiny. which things are the real revela-
ton, and all the Bible stands for, then |
think the discipline OF science is calcuat.
ed to produce such devout belief. For
in the first place the representations of
the divine attributes wisdom, power,
goodness in the Bible, harmonic with
those which thorough study of the ma
terial would attribute to that first cause,
it must in all its investigations assume.
And in the second place, the strict scien-
ti6c habit Of not filling up the chasms Of
it's ignorance with imaginations, but oil
stopping when the evidence stops, and
beyond that neither affirming nor denying
aught, created in the mind conscious
want of some supernatural enlightenment
to answer those questions of the unknow-
able that the advancing knowledge per.
petually coujures up in consciousness, but
can never lay and in case it have evi.
dence that such revelation of the Invisible
has really been vouchsafed to man
should dispose him to sit down to the study
of its pages with the docility of little
child, and to yield implicit faith to its
authoritative declarations.
The truly scientific spirit affiliates with
the religious, and study of Nature creates
sense of the need of, and encourages
faith in a divine revelation.
5. There is one more moral use Of
science that | can only mention it be.
gets charity. If science teaches men
humility and the fear of God, it must also
bear the fruit Of benevolence.
1t is grand perversion OF intellectual
culture when it exats man in the con-
ceit of his own wisdom above his fellows
retircs him from sympathy with the toll
ing, Ignorant masses Of mankind.
Unless learning makes man com
passionate Of the ignorance of others, and
prompt to spread his knowledge aud &C
down into the plain where the toilins
millions are struggling, and teach them
how to live, and help them bear their
burdens, he surely knows nothing as he
ought to know.
pnILADELpnIAN SOCIETY.
On Sunday evening, was held the an
niversary exercises Of the Philadelphia
(Rcligious) Society. After voluntary
by the choir prayer was offered by Rev
S. W. Boardman, ID. d., Of Auburn, n
Y. The choir happily rendered another
anthem, when the President of the Socie
ty. Mr.. G. g. Ryan. introduced Rev. W
Il. Wright, of Bostou, who delivered tn
anniversary address upon The Decline oil
Biblical Piet7.
The speaker said what the world want
to-day is biblical Christianity. What
ever definition We adopt as to the inlplra
ton Of the Scriptures, all must accept tn
truth that the bible is the true rule of Inf
and should be respected accordingly.
He referred to the failure Of Christian
instructors to use the bible as text bool
"a source Of instruction as well as t,
acknowledge it as the rule of life. 1t ha
fallen into neglect in society, in litcrar,
circles and among scientific explorers.
There are three causes for this GROWN,
uubeief. | do not say science, for sci
ence is light and ought to lead to faith
The first cause having tendency It
bring the Scriptures into disrespcct i
tradition. The gravest objections mad
to the bible are not made against the &C
tual teachings Of the scriptures, bu
against the differences Of men as 10 thei
teachings. Illustrated by objections t
observance Of Sabbath and intallibility o
Scripture in respect to immunity iron
errors. The first duty Of every educate,
man is to learn to read the bible as i. is
and not looking through other eyes thai
his own. And in this Interpretation W
may use all the helps of new discoverie
in science, even if it compcls revision o
accepted theories.
The second cause for growing unbelic
is the arrogance of INDECENT Interpreter,
The child by taking his first impression
would be burned in fame, killed by POI
sou, &c. II the bible is given by tn
same author as nature, why shouldn't W
expect to have to study lis meaning ar
to discover new ideas as we study it
What the world is hungry for to-day
God, and what We are giving them
creeds. We want larger charity. A
creeds give something of truth.
The third cause more potent than ethe
Of the othcrs-is hostility of the spirit {
the age to the spirit Of the Scripture
The spirit Of the age is selfish while th
spirit Of the bible is sacrifcial,
His illustrations were forciblc, aud i
the main beautiful. The audience yer
held for an hour and u quarter in the a
titude of eager listeners, and went ava
feeling that they had received rich foot
Consul Mead.
Consular Agent Edward james, OF Sa