New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-06-15
ATHEISM IN ALL AGES,

Tn. Rev. s. b. Roster at The North Presbyer,aa Church
The Rev. S. b. Rossiter preached yesterday
morning at the North Presbyterian Church. on the sub
ject oil" Atheism" His text Pa. xiv, l. The fool
hath said in his. heart there Is no God" Among other
things he said
Atheism in OF its FORMS is nearly old as man.
The only that pretends to tell Of the ear
est condition man. reveals to happy state and
condition which God worshped and loved. This
same book tells us Of the apOstasy OF man. which was
also birth Of the subsequent doubt and denial OF
Gods existence which the world has since known. In
Genesis we read that God looked down upon men and
beheld them all gone out OF the way In Davids time
there those who found In their hearts to deny the
existence of jehovah Among the prophets there were
false prophets. Among the schools OF philosophy ate
ism had its school, ana its yotaries and lis teachers one
would think that at the presence OF Christ it would
Christianity In all It's career has fought against this an
tag9nt There have been schools OF snee ne
the word Of God IL had its carnival in France, when
ana when in the murky days OF the Revolution it wrote
the arches OF the cemeteries: " There Is no God
10th century 1t has its stanch adherents. men who
openly and publicly proclaim their want OF faith:
men who, while they do not deny, vet do not affirm aud
teach doctrines, the logical outcome OF which.
good believe, leads one to the doubt II not to the
proof Of truth atheism has the Of long life IN
It's favor. But II SIN, In growing older becomes more
pravity Of man from age to age and in spite Of glowing
light turks among the shadows, and 10 the face OF
atheism has much to for and the atheist Of
day must bear the weight OF worlds reproaches.
There forms OF atheism that trouble to this
day, VIZ: Atheism in belief and atheism in practice
One form OF atheism Is the denial OF the existence OF
God This Is bare, bold atheism, the very lands end
of skepticism, niquty Of 1t Is not
easy faith one might think 1t Is not native to the
mind neither is 10 pertinent suggestion OF science
students of nature led to M Though Its vOares
have appeared In all ages yet their number has been
small Though 1t has It's advocates to-day, yet its num-
bers few and their arguments do not convince even
the sinful race of men.
The difficulties In the way OF atheism these 1t is
difficult to believe In negative. L)gicans tell us that
Ii Is impossible prove negative SO prove
that God not for that involves the proof OF mega
tive. Men attempt 10 demonstrate that We have
need OF God As soon as men can build up this great
tellgent conscious being, 10 will be time for all
forsake the Christian faith aud follow TO the eternal
deep Of which the French ndeis dreamed You cannot
believe what you cann0t prove, what Is Inconsistent
with highest That there is God, Is imposs
be and the difficulty which lies In the laws of thought
will be forever In the way OF Atheism. 1t Is difficult to
runs athwart all the laws Of being 1t is the nature OF
man to get hungry and no conviction OF the man that
there Is no appetite as hunger will stay
things see, that they may be OF other form and
color than appears to US; but nevertheless. In
preme confidence that the laws Of sight and feeling
Interpret rightly the shape and shading Of things
lay brick to brick and adorn with wood and use
mortar 1t presents itself to eyes, and have
never yet been deceived. In fact, the laws Of being
and If dsobeyed lead on TO pain. Would to God that
the OF were past and the perfect creed
hung before recognized by the universal
and adopted by the universal that athe
denial would to God that the age Of SIN would pass,
and mems hearts would turn to the God their
had already professed perfect creed and perfect
life meet and blend In Christianity. am the truth
aud am the ie."