The New York herald., 1874-09-28
TABERNACLE BAPTIST CHURCH.

The Confusion OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Has Nothing to Fear from the Attacks
OF It's Enemics-SermOn by Rev. DR..
Rambaut.
There was large congregation assembled at
the evening services held at the Tabernacle Bap-
tist church, Hicks street, corner OF Rapeyea,
South Brooklyn, ana an excellent sermon was
preached by the distinguished pastor, Rev. Thomas
Rambaut, D. D., LII. D., upon the "Confusion VI
lnfdellty." The text was chosen from l. Corin-
thians, l., 21-"Where is the wiser where liz the
scribe, where is the disputer OF this wofldY
Hatn not God made foolish the wisdom OF this
worldP
The word "world," which occurs twice IN this
text, is translated in each case from different
word In the original. The answer to the inquiry
which this fact Institutes in the mind Of the crlti-
cal scholar suggests two ideas. The frst that tho
oppoAitlons to Christianity are the oppositions OF
several different agesthat is, they are as transi-
tory the passing time and the second, that Chris
tianity, which is the agency by which God makes
foolish the wisdom Of the world, Is permanent
through all the transitory ages, and shall remain
SO forever. Now, these Ideas suggest very impor-
tant consideration in confirming our confidence in
the Christian religion. Christianity has been OPP
posed from its first appearance by philosophers,
Variea their points and modes Of at tA sck, age
alter age with pertinaeity, yet It has remained
unchanged in either form M or method an an IN
OF opposition and improved the advantages thus
gained for It's own ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. We have no
reason TO believe that things Will be ever other
wise than they have been. Hence Christianity has
nothing more to fear from inndeity.
WHERE ARE THE DIsPUrEHs?
For eighteen centuries the gospel has sustained
itself against the attacks OF opposers. The OPP
sary to disparage their attain ments or abilities.
Neither have they ever been diThdent, but OBJ
trusive for their credit and their cause. Yet
rn m
Porphyry and Hierocles, liustrous philosophers OF
the Neo- Piatonic scnoOL Who knows anything
legaces to their race, save the seeds OF crime and
vice they sowed In society, and would be utterly
quotations Of their works to be found IN the more
famous productions OF their Christian answerers.
1pes q Saye Of
Spnoza, Blount. Hume. ,Gibbon, voltaire
Sna Ws.t Vss equal dns tnsm nSy what 0y Si
they ever do FOR MANI To men they are only
known or spoken OF by a few OF their own class.
Christianity They assai Christianity for the in
consstences Of Its books the divisions OF It's sects,
the failures in the lives of It's devotees. They
system, and age after age have begun their work
anew, inconsistent with themselves, dlsputng
with all others and changing their issues and aims
nothing TO oner as proved or agreed upon, as re:
oSrsssnisy' and as 70 morals, nom s christi; ST;
ahlty moral gOOuness lB 10 po eAPcSecu, oue
inndelity mas none, nor any principle to base
any on. Where is the disputer For eighteen
centuries, by many claiming TO De sne greatess
Where have they made q success Tney have
tried the text or the Bible the ANTIQUITIES OF all
nations the laws OF the stars, the laws OF the
rOcks OF earth, the laws OF atoms; In short, ran
sacked heaven and earth to md single witness
Iu nature art or thought aud We can dehanty
say where IL the dspHter who has made single
IMPRESSION on Christianity IL sits upon the
throue OF Zion laughing at their palms. and since
they will have out their spite, urging them on to
do their best, knowing that BY their best her
throne VIII rise and be seen STILL more glorious
a M