The New York herald., 1875-09-27
ONE THEME IN SEVERAL PULPITS.
Demand for Less Dogma and
More federation.
THE CLAIMS OF LIBERALISM.
AniagOnizing Methodist SceptiCiSm About the
Methodist Miracle.
CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES

SEASONS WHY WE SHOULD BELIEVE THE
nrnLE
Arain yesterday morning the unpleasant weather
prevented large attendance the Church OF
ths DISCIPLES though there considerable increase
on thai Of the previous sabbath. Mr. Hepworth
preached a very earnest discourse, taking for his
text Isaiah XIV, H:--'Produce your cause, saith
the Lord, bring forth your strong reasons saith
the king OF Jacob - There are two facts in connec-
zion with this somewhat remarkable text 20 which
desire 70 draw your attention briefly. First, the
piled tendency to unbelef the part Of the children
OF Israel 1t OF the strangest problems
nectcd with human history that those who knew the
most Of God and privileged to have physical
manifestation Of HIS being should have constantly
doubted His existence, and constantly left Him to
worship
IDOLS, STONE
They could look up and the pillar of Ere guiding
their footsteps; they heard the coming the
clouds above Mount Sinai; prophets taught them
corning the nterpostion of God their lives; yet so
strong this unbeief that time and again they
threatened with disinheritance and more than
they reused the wrath Of Jehovah by their persistent
unbeief in His existence. Second, the entire willing
of God to subject His words and acts TO the nspec
tion OF careful and honest criticism
There is a feeling in the community amounting to
superstition sometimes that religion simply and only
emotional matter that it is exaggeratng the heart
TO the exclusion Of the head but although religion has
its the affections it not to be understood that
logic has place in religious spiritual life II is
true in religion the world that what will
bear the of honest placid truth-loving search
ing is not from God, and common is good
standard by which to views 1t is my
desire to begin a of to you some OF
the
CORNER STONES oP OUR FAITH,
and although religion affects the emotions ultimately it
yet have strong granite foundation which to
stand 1t is not a superstition it is not tradition, it
is not legend, it is not spasm-t is
vtcton hrst which ultimates action, and he
whose life strong has behind that life mighty con-
seriousness concerning truth In order to feel not for
moment, but for lifetime, must think; and the
whole superstrucure Of Christianity based inexor
able logic and historical facts which may be sub
jected TO any test and come
PURIFIED GOLD.
IL seems then, that religion is not like sand
bar that shifts out and in with every outgoing and in
coming tide but rather mighty headand that puts
out TO and presents invulnerable front
to the of ages 1t has occurred to
10 say also that this course l contemplate
will be adapted to the present times for various
First. we awaiting the appearance of those two
marvellous evangeIists who have swept continent like
whrlwind- revival acts upon certain presump-
tons its end is not by the of logic to convince
of christianity; revivas touch theology, they
have no logic in them; they begin with the presump
that people already Of facts but
have DETECTED through temptations overprosperity
from due consideration Of them, and when Moody
comes If he does come, he will probably not open his
lips single theological question He will presume
that YOU believe in God that YOU believe in the Bible
and the church. in immortality and the judgment Of
Justice and mercy combined in the hereafter, and pre-
suming all that he will appeal to your better nature to
ma hlndQ AM WI oman M md yHn
with unparalleled power and eloquence TO make your
self douby conscious of what you already know Once
more, 1t seems this is fitting time for such course,
because science for some reason or other stands in
somewhat
HOSTILE ATTITUDE TOWARD REVELATION
You know have great reverence for the at,anments
OF science; bow in great to the conclu-
which science arrives deny its positions with
great and only after mature deliberations neither
am one OF those who would bid you beware Of proper
use Of your intellectual faculties. am God made
the brain as well as the heart, but 10 take
ali the loud assertions of science for truths For
tance, when science tells US there such thing
authoritative law given by God ask, Who are you to
make such assertion count the Of several
men, grand every one frsighted and careful in their
investigations, they look TO the stars and their eyes
SOMETHING OF THE EVERLASTING FUTURE
give them all they claim but assert this, that you
and have good right 10 make assertion
they. In these l. 800 years scholarship has rendered
Its verdict am to make up my estimate Of that book
and its authority by the size Of the men and the
grandeur Of thought tell you that the scale Of nAdel
ity kicks the beam, and the brains Of the whole
be hundred to the side Of my kind Of truth
the truth that is being preached throughout the land
day The third reason is that the young especially stand
In need OF it, There is great lack OF moral education
IN generation take back word have uttered
this subject before On the contrary am ready to
emphasize all have said One OF the great faults con-
nected with family education lies here-that we
teach boys 10 be smart and not true that teach
girls TO be worldly but do not with sufficient
their souls We talk about business and busi-
ness success more than we talk about moral Chris
tan character; converse more about money than
do about prayer. Undoubtedly that is fact ana all
seed sown must produce fruit Any neglect to-day will
OUR AUTUMN crop TOMORROW
The indifference toward church the boy Of fifteen
exhibits itself in the Of forty codness Of heart
and want of preparation for the great Of life which
is death plead for more careful training Of the young
In religious matters In the last generation the churches
were tiled with catechsms; children taught
tor things; theology part OF the education
Now it is left out aud we never give children reasons
and while boy urged be good, the greatest
sons why he should be good are not given him. felt
this in my Own case and therefore have tue better night
Now, then let me approach the subject, which can
only do briefly. do want-gving great deal Of care
and study to the subectto put before you one OF the
strong points Of Christianity and some Of the
strong reasons why believe in the Bible and count
controlling element in our lives Brethren, believe
that have received revelation from God These
words not rhetorical they are simple statement
Of fact and we cannot too greatly emphasize the inn
porance Of that fact IL Is literal truth that we have
received commandments from God himself, and that
those commandments the rule Of our spiritual life
and the criterion by which are to measure every
deed and thought You ask why believe this can
only answer in an Introductory fashion this morning
In the first place believe ID because Of the dignity
and majesty OF the book which claims TO be the Word
of Godi second believe it because Of tho dignity and
majesty Of the object which that book has in view;
thrd, because OF the unselhsh character Of
THE CENTRAL THAT BOOK,
and we can only accord that lie who died
than man. that In stature He touched the robe Of the
Godhead. believe In IL again because Of the good il
has done In ages past and because Of the good il Is
doing in the present. and because Of the good II Is
destined TO do In the lapse OF time 10 come when all
the geniuses that shine ike lights literary hrma-
ment shall have gone down There have been preachers
and orators in every since the cross lifted on
the sandy top Of Calvary. Where are they now
Gone every one. There have been men whose good
deeds were written the hearts OF nations their re-
membranes is utterly obhterated by the
SMOOTHING FINGER TIME.
There are few tfht live century, and fewer they
who stand i've hundred years; but here have bold
saadiand mighty rock whose shores All round n