The New York herald., 1874-10-19
ST. JOHNS METHODIST CHURCH.
Science and Religion-Prayer VS.. Natu.
raj Law-Sermon by Rev. II. w. War.


raj Law-sermon by Rev. H. w. War
rem, ID. ID.
At the conclusion OF series OF able discourses
which Rev. DR.. Warren has been delivering IN ST.
JOINS Methodist church, Brooklyn, to large audi
ences, on "Man. fearfully and wonderfully made
physically, Intellectually and spiritually" he re-
marked week ago last evening that having been
both teacher OF science and theology he thought
he saw the solution OF a problem mucn discussed
In these times, viz-'Does prayer contravene
natural law ?" As that was the topic an
nounced for discussion yesterday the spacious
edi1ce was filled by those desrous of hear
ing one Of the abiest thinkers Of the Meth
odist denomination descant upon the natural
relation OF science and religion. After the usual
Introductory religious exercises DR.. Warren read
as text the seventeenth verse of the fifth chapter
OF st. James:-"Elias was man subject TO like
passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that
1t might not rain: ana it rained not on the earth
by the space or three years and six months" In
his Introductory remarks the speaker said that
the early Grecian philosophy assigned q personal
cause for every effect. When the green grass
spread over Eleusis Ceres did the work; when the
clouds came from Parnes, 1t was Jupiter that
ralned; and, then, as men grew wiser they found
that matter had power. and chemical science SUBJ
stltutes absorption and capillary attraction for
Ceres ana meteoroogy substitutes heat,
cold and currents Tor Jupiter. They have
swept away these gods, and men now
desired to enthrone principles and laws instead OF
personal God. The Christian philosopher con.
ceded the utmost that was claimed Tor the rigidity
of law; 1t is perfectly ineNorabe. Gravitation
does not cease II we fall or precipices. and there
Is no mercy or compassion in 1t. But little
deeper thinking would show that these natural
laws fall, as it were, into different departments
such as gravitation ana light, and also manifest
themselves in vital and mental directions, and
these departments do conflict in various ways.
Gravitation would hold the ocean to its level, but
the sun contravenes gravitation, swinging 1t up
in tides. lifting 1t up in mists, carry
ing 1t, through the sky and pouring
1t on the land. Cohesion would hold rocks
in perfect nrmness, but heat and cold
dissolve them INTO dust. Momentum sends the
ocean waves on the Shore but the vital force In
the animacule builds up tue coral reefs and op-
poses them. What is the law OF victory IN these
we e snb tbs we low 1nd fnat me
high. Man advances according as ne takes into
alliance with himself the highest forces. With
Weston'S muscle he travels a hundred miles day /;
with wind, three hundred; with steam, six or
eight hundred miles day. He cannot tear rocks
to pieces with his fingers. but ne reaches into the
heart OF the mountain puts his ethereal gas there
and 1t tears its way out. Now, continued DR..
Warren, we begin 10 see light. Laws are rigid,
but were constitntiunally made to be overcome by
this higher power. What are the highest
powersg Not to go through the physical world, 1t
would be at once conceded that mental was above
material power; there ore man controls material
laws to his own ends There Is, too, a realm or
feeling and spiritual power that shows greater
power even than mental action. Gcd's estimate
Of this force was clearly seen IN the fact that He
couuted the world at Its costa word; wisdom
or mental power He could bestow with a thought,
bat spiritual power was worth Its cost--tne HE
ana death OF Christ. The Redeemer OF MANKIND
was satisfied TO paw that great price because the
worth was so much This principle was evident
when 1t was remembered that the Bible is a record
Of things impossible 10 man. II tells OF water up
right as heap. water that Is burned,
and water that floats iron "lmpossioe,"
saws the sceptic Yes, 1t Is TO
those who know not the Scripture nor the power
Of God. Twice year this world swings into the
realm OF meteors, and these things from beyond
the world light us up at night Three hundred
and slxtyfve DAYS in the year It rolls in the midst
OF spiritual powers superior TO earth;' therefore
miracles are in the realm OF law. II is as natural
Tor water to burn as 10 quench fire, II YOU get the
right Kind or nre. Some one has asked with
Sneer-
When the loose tain tremb!es from on high,
Shall gravitation cease II Thou so by
No. not cease but, If need be. be overcome with
a higher power. Men feared confusion Ii law was
thus abrogated; but the fact was that there was
this conflict constantly, yet only the low went
down and the high ascenced. The earth and sun
might exist without light, but what a frozen world
this would be