, 1877-02-11

Saints, sinners, and Kostonians has to them so
long been the classification OF humanity luas
to sec man with one daring blow strike out
the third class, was staggering beyond anytnaug
ever delivered to IL Boston audience VIII"
no words Of conciliatiou for the peeal,ns pe
people," with emphatic assertion that nctNeeia
them and other sinners taere Is no NE,
Air. Moody affirmed that " Godl:ould SHAKE + nos-
ton as easily as a mother shakes her chlld. linen
touching the skepticism OF that city, nc ap-
preached it not with kid gloves OF dainty ac
acknowledgements. not with any consciousness "
its claims or any words apologize Tor during 10
confront it. he mentioned it only to say in1uel-
ity in Boston was no obstacle to God. III the
very midst Of their pride and their philosophy,
he planted the doctrine OF dcprayity common to
all, and the power of God sufficient for all
The skcpticism of that city Of learning and
culture is met III a n0gel way. Arguments tney
have been accustomed to-aud patroniznEly
wait for thcrn-dcfcrence they arc used to, anu
treat it with freezing politeness-but to DC t4ls
bluntly confronted; with God, and to have lis
presence end the controversy, to be set oown
among common sinners, and to be told their
only hope is in cry for mcrcy-was measure
OF audacity Tor which philosophy had no reply.
Perhaps The richest estimate IS to Mr.. Moo1y's
effect OH Boston is by an actute correspondent
OF The TRIBUNE of this city. He says ''neither
Mr.. Hale or Phillips Brook nor any other
inau Of experience and culture expects tnat
~ plllosophic mnds-thdt is, the cultivated
Radicals.''. aud then, by way OF rendins the
evangelist lecture on philosophy, he ADDS:
':.With the common misqnderstandlng
the mistake Of chasing all the minds. which, led
by scientific Or philosophical research, deny
nothing, while they refuse any absolute oclicl
OF any creed, with the positive unbclieycrs. INC
positive unbelieycr is not OF the philosophical
order OF minds, rs a more careful acquaintance
/ with them would very clearly show-' Ihls
amusing distinction between doubt and disbc-
lief illustrates tho attitude Of tho New England
Athens. Mr.. Moody's ottense is that ne classes
the poised doubter With the committed illtidcl.
| How in vain such fair distinctions to IN obtuse
mind that sees no farther into the philosophy ot
| the thing the light Of an old preachers word
will show the way. "Hc that bclievcth shall be
saved; he that hclicyeth not shall he damned"
Let the critics give it up. Sad US may be the
| confession, the analysis Of forms OF doubt to
| 1nau who clunsi(y assigns the cultured doubter
who denies nothing, and the blatant inIidcl to
the same category Of sin ind obstruction, Is
| really casting pearls before swine. And then
! the mistake, VIC are assured, is common with az
! that class Of minds. It is very common with
| all who believe that negative and positive
slScpticism are alike without hope, and' tnat
from state OF mental hostility OF Que Of mental
balance aloof equally IRON front faith and 1n-
fidelity, there Is only ont satyation and that is
positive tnith in Jesus Christ. H..
Since the day when au obscure man stood on
viii viii this % babDicr | say!" had saosidea, and then
to stoica1 douhters on one sidc. who were TOO
proud to dcuy lnything. and to the EpicuFcan
| atheists, too proud to believe anything. on inc
other, preached Jesus and the resurreetlon' we
think Of 10 finer picture Of the contrasts OF
faith anl doubt than Boston now presents. May
| the result be even more glorious. There VIII oe
many who will mock. There will. as at Athens;
be the patrons Of scholarly curiosity, who VIII
want to hear Of it again to solve thu problem
from critical standpoint. There will also, w
doubt not, be many Dionysius aud D:slnaris