The New York herald., 1874-09-14
CHRIST CHURCH,

Sermon by the Rev. DIR. Hugh Miller
Thompson Fixed Gospel-Loose
Morals the Consequence OF Variable
Creeds.
During the morning services yesterday in
ChrIsts Church, corner ofFifth avenue and Thirty
nfth street, an eloquent discourse was preached
by the Rev. DR.. Hugh Miller Thompson, rector of
the church. The elite and intelligent community
Of the fashionable locality filed to partial degree
the pews OF the church, and seemed to enjoy the
devotions after their long weeks OF and recre
alton in the country. the rector read his text
from ST. Paul's Epistle to the Galatians, l., g. ''But
though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any
other gospel unto you than that which we had
preached unto you, let him be accursed;, ana IN
troduced his subject by stating that he was about
to commence new year of teaching, and that be
would endeavor 10 continue the same round Of
worship Tor the spiritual advantage and satsfac-
ton OF his hearers, and what he meant to teacn
was nothing less important than
FIXED GOSPEL,
fixed rule Of life by which alone the character OF
the Christian man and the life OF the soul can be
moulded, shaped, developed and controlled ac-
cording TO the obedience which the omnIpresence
and righteousness of Christ our Lord, demands.
IL is the old story which repeats itself when we
return to God and devote 10 Him the homage ana
tender love Of our hearts. There can be but one
Gospel, one fixed creed, and hence the words OF
ST. Paul, Though an angel came from heaven TO
preach another, let HIM be accursed." The Church
oil Christ Is trustee OF this one Gospel and when
its ministers and apostles speak In Gods name
they are bound TO speak the truth, for they carry
1t In trust and nave no right TO change 1t. No
matter now wise the administration may be, he
trustee is ialSe TO bis charge when he changes the
terms Of the trust; but Cnrlst's church is
intrusted to the hands of its pastors and the
one Interchangeable truth-the Gospel, fixed and In
variable variable as ever, they are bound to preserve IN
Never was there an age. perhaps, when things
seemed so unsettled as now. Principles In political
eocia, economical and even IN domestic lie seem
to be set aside and totally dlsregaTded, while the
largeness Of the Gospel in reference to individual
wants is made pretext to cover the basest trans
gressions OF the law. The philosophy Of the past,
we are told, must pass away, and tnat
ALL BOOKS AND THEORIES SHALL DIE,
because until the last TACT is discovered the theory
Is liable TO be corrected. Such are the notions we
often hear but there Is no mistake made in throw
ing away theories II we continue to adhere TO aCts
shere Is one incontrovertDle fact, however,
namely. If truth be doubtful right is also
Is also variable. AL that is latent
In this proposition can be discovered by lnvestga-
wrong notion or looks upon truth as either doubt
ful variable, loose morais as consequence pre-
VAIL Truth IN itself IS not changeable. but that
truth which a man often accepts IS chsngeaDle.
Gods trutn-that Is, objective truth-ls not, while
subjective truth may be, changeable; After all,
the Gospel teaches not for knowledge sake, but
for lie. 1t was preached the same to the Jew and
polished Athenian as TO the savage Indian. 1t Is
not the Gospel nor Gods truth, then, which
changes, but the men. 10 one age or one nation
of one man one side OF the Gospel may be the
brightest out the unchang1ng truth comes by the
voice 10 every man. This liked Gospel is preached
10 educate human nature. IL Is something 10 1--we
Dy. lts principles are imposed upon men 10 build
up tner moral Characters, and the reverentia, un-
cnangeahe law which 1t inculcates is mainly law
ol me- Men tell us that lt IS not right TO cramp
ana restrict mans ree thought by any law or rule,
WHAT IS REVELATION WORTH
ana Wnat are the Ten Commandments wOrth2
Wnat shaH become VI principles and dutiesi Wnat
OF conscience itsel2 All old-iashioned moralities
are u1ntlng away, ana IL Is obvious TACT that
loose DeLevlBg reads and has led many to loose
nWng Inc man who holds that there Is no fixed
GOd's truth has 40 command, no principle to live
10y. without settled PRINCIPLES there can be no
settled results. Right and wrong are as truth and
untrutn ana dXed believing Ia essential TO axed
nvlng. But there are those VINO mock az their
own creed and the way their good old parents Kept
Sunday but they cannot deny tnat Gods word mas
a sovereign command over conscience and over
thought. Men read the commandments and
actually change them IN their practical daily
life. man may he high up In religion today
and tomorrow the ground may give way from
under him. mis- moral condition be Changed and MS
moral nature be broken into by
some SHAMELESS AND DIs0RACEPCI WOMAN
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