The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-17
NEW YORK DIVERSITY.

BAccALAUREATE SERMON TO THE GRADUATING
CLASS by DIR. CROSBY.
The graduating class OF tho New York University
assembled, with their friends, ut the Fourth
Avenue Presbyteria Church. corner OF Fourth
avenue and Twenty.second street, TO hear their
baccalaureate. sermon, which was preached by
Rev. Dr. Howard Crosby, pastor OF the church and
Chancellor OF the University Previous to the
services conducted according tho Prcspyter
ritual, in the course of which Rev. Professor Martin
offered prayer for the spiritual guidance and general
welfare of The members OF tho raduating class. The
students occupied the right hand OF
church, mediately IN front OF the reading desk.
1 Dr. Crosby chose hts text from ST. Paups epstio TO
the Cooss,ans H.. 3-"l In whom hid al tho treas
ures OF wisdom and knowledge; and this say, lest
any man should beguiie you with enticing words"
Thore class Of people, said the preacher, who say,
"rhe Bn'e Is very good book. 1t Is admirable
questions Of morals and religion; but ON
matters OF science II is of no authority. II
belongs 70 an antqnated period, whose learning is
all exploded aud has all tho OF antiquity
general knowlcdeo.n Now, said the speaker, people
Who hold this belief seldom fail 10 60 step
further, and draw An Inference. which seems 10
~ follow naturally enough from such prcmses--
Of Knowledge il must sometimes be wrong, even on
points OF religion and morals. lf you convict tho
Bible OF laundering N one thing you may say that II
assume patronixing air toward the Scriptures and
apologize tor Its mistakes In very kind sort Of way
Oh, now the nineteenth century has come and Jesus
and tho saints and angels aud prophets eclipscd
and the hight OF truth can only BIO found IN waves and
that sori Of thing The wisc OF this day have
rs their scriptures nerves and gray nerve matter
and white nerve matter.
OPPOSITION scRlPTURAL TRUTH.
But there 10 nothing In this In Pau's time all
thu, now exist. There were hose ..bsaunr with en-.
ticing words" then Just as now And yet he who was
well versed in all the knowledge OF hts day says that
the treasures Of wisdom and knowledge arc In tho
Word OF God alone. The groundwork, OF the Bible
y It's perfect character rs being from God. since
understood all, and what lie has said must accord
with scientific truth. While tho researches OF men
may enable US 10 reach scme or the MINOR LINKS in
the cham OF cause and effect II Is only through Gods
own teaching that we can follow Il right up TO Him
and discover the relations that exist between Him
and tho universe. THIS revelation IS worth moro TO
US than all tho discoveries OF Kepplcr. or Huxley
the inventions OF Watt, Fulton or Dnguerre.
The preacher then arguct ali tho descriptions
OF natural occurrences In the Bibo perfectly
cord with the discoveries OF science tho only apparent
difference arising ir0n tho fact that they are de-
scrlbcd IN phenomenal language" that 10, just rs
they appear. The grand branch OF the knowledge OF
nature that the Bible teaches US Is its relation
with God, who 10 the creator, the mover and the
protector OF all. In God Ia hidden tho spring OF
are tho Manifestations OF HIS designs, ana whom we
glance at His word wc must discount nothing Tho
Of science morals and religion is the thin edge
OF SataLs wedge. aud the man who let's II enter his
brain VIII run dreadful risk OF having inndcty and
irrcligion thrust upon him.
no preacher concluded IN the following phrases
addressed directly 70 the students before him My
denr young friends, you will be tempted oy the thso
ries Of many learned men. they will como to you
with tho authority OF fame but recoiect they
ouly the theories OF goddess men. These men
good guides seen tnc question: In the laboratory
or tho dnscctipg room but when they come
struci theories u cosniogony and lie they nre no
longer men OF sctcnc., but only drcamors. God has
set His seal ON the earth ana they endeavor TO re-
move IT, They say that tho universe Designed
without a designer. Do you stand last IN tho first
principle OF your reason that 70 design there must DO
an intoect ana rcpeI the teaching OF these men
right.
"Avoic also the teachings Of those who teach
will develop into angels by their own innate good
meas, ana that God Will open HIS breast 10 all Avoid
those who deny revciati0n say religion IL but sort OF
bonh3mie, and that God Is too good weak exer-
else justice SEQ Coo operating IN nature and believe
In His intelligence, activity and power"