The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-09
MADISON AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
The Progress of christianity


The Rev. Dr. william Adams preached in his
church. corner OF Madison avenue and Twenty.
fourth street, yesterday morning, to a large and
fashionabIy dressed congregation. Yesterday be.
ing the occasion OF the annual collection for foreign
missions the sermon was made appropriate. The
text was chosen from Psalms lxXxv., u--"Truth
shall spring out OF the earth, and righteousness
shall look down from heaven" The Doctor said
that he should cOnfine his remarks TO the discus
sion Of the future Of the human race under the
auspices OF Christianity. There many theories
concerning the condition and prospects Of society,
and the mind was constantly assaiied by sceptical
objections the most prominent OF which was the
alleged slow progress of Christianity. But the same
objection could be urged against any system the
object of which was the benehting or the human
race and the amelioration OF its condition. Take,
for instance, vaccination. 1t is wonderful pre-
ventive against that terrible scourge, smallpox
yet it is comparatively o recent discovery. The
Kingdom oil heaven was like the leavening of mass
ofmeal; it Is to be accomplished slowly and surely
not like fash OF lightning. Men were not willing
to accept divine revelation, consequently there
was nothing LETT but to work out the end by
series OF experiments Christian civilization was
not by any means an extemporaneous affair, but
there was one thing that was beyond all condi-
tons and conjecture, and that was the ultimate
condition OF humanity. Not on any hopeluness
III our udIuTe UT any theory Ol human pe(Iecta-
bllty as elaborated by Condorcet does this con-
dllon rest, out solely on the promises OF the Most
Hl9h and bus purposes In redemption. While
one end OF the golden chain Is fastened to the
throne OF God the other Is not lett to bangle
IN vacant space, out Is caught up, and,
ENCIRCLING THE WORLD IN IT'S MERCIFUL FOLD,
Is fastened securely at the ieet OF the Creator.
Science tells us the real uses Of the vast African
deserts and the large mountains OF Alpine snow.
Tney are necessary Tor the process OF evaporation
SO those arid wastes OF history, which appear a
mystery and excited apprehensions for the Chris
tan religion, Will appear 10 be necessary for the
accomplishment OF some great, good and all-wse
purpose. 1t necessary Tor us to see the pill
lars upon which our religion rests. Our aith does
not rest on any theories nor on any general
events; but on the pI omlses oi the Almighty. This
does not mean that the future Will be Tree from
reverses and disasters. They always have &C.
CURED and they always Will. But the advance OF
the CHRISTIAN religion is Irresistible. National
relormatlons are almost invariably accompanied
by conyuIsive demonstrations.
THE BIRTH OF GREAT EVENTS
is with pangs and throes which excite apprehen-
sion. Death only supreme quiet. Society is
composed OF individuals, and the main point now
Is the regulation of individual men, The world Is
nayed 10y the reign OF lalsehOOd, but Imagine If
you can the era when universal truth snail pre-
vail; wlen Justice, righteousness and charity snal
abound; when The golden rule shall he the inter-
national well as the individual code. The most
expensive thing on the face OF the globe Is SIN.
Calculate II you can the cost OF armies, navies,
prisons, police systems and other necessary APP
purtenances of an Imperfect civilization and see
what an immense amount oil good could be accom-
pIlshed II the same were thrown into the treasury
OF Christian CHARITIES. The Christian religion Is
the only one which gives signs growth. All the
others wear the aspect OF senlity and decay. Inc
number OF versions OF tue Bule printed IN ciffer-
ent languages Is 252, and all but 1orty-seven of
them nave been made in the present century, or
since 1904. the Koran rests in It's native tongue,
with the exception of a few TRANSACTIONS made by
scholars Tor their own ends and not lor pr0paga-
ton.
The suppression of the slave trade in Western
Africa Is not Que so much to the navles OF England
and America, but TO the settlements all along the
line OF 1,500 miles OIL coast, and penetrating into
the neart OF Africa, where the English language is
spoken and where twenty-five native dialects nave
been reduced to written form. They gather the
people and the children, II not into the Chrlstlan
1old, at least under Outstanding influences. The
great Arab race is taking into Its masculine ma
ture the great IDEAS Of CHRISTIANITY and when
they wnoly converted l20, 000 900 OF people Will
be added to the CHRISTIAN leglons. Already
300, 00O,O0J OF the population Of the earth have
braced Christianity; ana this Is proof that 1t is
destined. sooner OF later, to unite under Its ban
ner all the Inhabitants OF the earth.