The New York herald., 1874-09-28
Sundays Messages of Mercy for
Dying Men.
MR. FROTHINCHAM SEEKS TRUTH.
The Holy Eucharist, Necessity of Prayer
and Duty Of Work.
TALMAGE ON BLESSED DEATH.
LYRIC HALL.

Rev. o. b. rockingham on the Spirit
OF Truth-John TyndalIs Vision.
Every seat In Lyric Hall was occupied yesterday
morning. Mr.. rockingham after reading seec-
tions from his collection OF ancient Scriptures,
preached on "The Spirit Of Truth" He said: by
the spirit OF truth l understand the truthful
spirit the spirit that loves TRUTH thirsts after it,
seeks 1t, endeavors to obtain it, holds 1t precious
above all things, above dogmas, above prejudice,
above institutions. l don't pretend to say that
the writer OF these beautiful words--the Apostle
John, 80 called-meant what l understand. II
read his text arlght, he means by the spirit
OF truth the Divine Spirit, taking the
place Of Christ in the world alter he
had left II, to clear away their doubts and
TO bring them at last to everlasting city,
This, say, suppose to be the meaning OF the
writer OF these beautiful words; but, taking the
words themselves they mean something different.
They mean that the love oil truth comforts all men,
and the spirit OF truth is disposition feeling in
man. 1t Is an appetite, it Is spirit that is a
Dreath-sOmetning lndefnaDle Intangible, that
moves as swiftly as motion Itself. On it is an
impression that love OF truth for truths sake Is
very rare, so rare that many persons suppose 1t is
impossible and that the spirit Of truth must come
from the outside OF man. 1t is rare. We see
love of traditions and institutions, put the love
of truth itself is undoubtedly rare thing. But
when you take wide view In society, looking at
mankind in masses, you see the
LOVE OF TRUTH Is INERADICABLE
In man. Deeper and stronger than anything else
II the appetite tor truth See il in the history OF
the form Of beauty see it In the history Of phos
Ophy-a strange, varied nlstory-but which stead
lily illustrates mans dete. mination 10 find out
the truth IN the shape OF laws. Take theology;
have studied 1T some what myself IN its nature and
history, and, although may disown many of the
lheOlOgles OF the past, still am firmly persuaded
that the history OF theology illustrates the deter
minauon OF man to dnd out the truth concerning
ss asn OF men things in the see ugly the cresas eSs
they have held. Take, for instance, such
doctrine as the OLD Calvanlstlc one fortunately
rarely entertained now, OF election-a doctrine
tnat supposed beings were actually picked out
without any asslgnable cause TO be sacred, letting
also honestly held oi INFANT damnatlon-the ooc-
trlne that unbaptized iniants went to he-or the
Otner doctrine, which seems hldeOus beyond de.
scriptiOn-the doctrine Of
EVERLASTING DAMNATION FOR ALL
put those VINO neld certain creed. Wnat could
the love OI truthp AS | read these things
there Is something tender and pathetic IN
30 sure but that those who held tue
spirit Oi truth in forms ike THESE derived comfort
fom 1t. don't know that there were ayes of
sorrow and bitterness and resentful feelings. 1t
seems to me that where people believed these
thought they mad arrived at the truth, although 1t
was bitter truth TO bear.
Jonathan Edwards preached sermon on sim
awful that people rose from heir seats and stared
At the ghastly prophet NOW. Jonathan Edwards
was one OF tie sweet souls. He was tender
bearted, compassionate man. He did not reanze
She ghastly side OF his doctrine. He was looking
IT the divine side, and what he saw was the divine
triumph OF justice over inlqulty.
TYNDALL's SEARCH FOR TRUTH.
But there Is one thing more TO be said The
spirit OF truth guides people into all truth. The
ppirlt OF truth Keeps people always on the march,
hooking forward. Even the Evangelist says, ''rnis
Christ Is going. but In his place there comes
spirit OF truth that shall lead you on" We know
tie process OF seeking the truth is endless, and,
therefore, speak or things unKnOwable. Probably
there is nothing that Is unknowable PROBABLY
ages hence the secrets Of creation Will be revealed
rue other day John Tyndsll made an address at
Glasgow, which is terrifying the whole
theological world. read IL, and the thing
that strikes me in 1t all through is
the boundless JOY OF man in search OF the truth;
no thought OF controversy. no idea Of waeing war
with anyone, lie IL enchanted with the vision he
has seen; he is no dogmatist, he digs no pitiall,
throws DOWN no glove Of challenge; he SIMPLY tells
what he has found as lar as lie has ROne-there
are no conclusions, he has come to no conclusions.
Men fing the ugly word mater alist at him, call
him an atheist but as far as he Is conscious he
knows Of nothing oil the sort. Cavlers say his
speech comes to nothing-his speech Is fancy,
Imaginative OF course It ls II not 1t would not be
Tho cr.iri fc frnt