, 1879-05-26

regret TINT tncy cauuot sco That Right lian1
part the clouds aud show them Where the path
of Christian hcrolsm shall end tn vlctury mud
written King of Kings, ihry can only look INTO
the book or The laws mud find tlcra tho march
ings of the s1ar ans! hour; ana there the music
Of the perpetual advance. Tho act OF mi Abra.
ban vas tl,at of a., hour hnd oi II. nno man; no
ccived hts food from the Wild tayens WINS tho In.
cIllent OF strange dny; no Christian wilt dnro
ask tie rnvons for bread; but the lava OF Ma
turo arc from everlasting 10 cveriastlnG, the
trluea Of Christianity must tnlng1o with Neba--
kindred drops Ia tho great cup of life.
DIFFICULTIES OF UNBELIEF.
sgnMoN ux THE RRv. GEORGE C. lonlMEn
The now pastor Of The First baptist Church,
the Rev. George G. Lorimer, preached on the
"Dfl|cut,cs Of Unbrliot" Inst evening 10
quite large audience. liz took for t,is Text:
Lo, they, rejected the word of the Lord; ard what
wisdom IN In thcm'-Jtr.. vIli.. o.
The reverend gentleman spoke substantially
Us follows:
Not few Of our people af1cct would answer
tho question Of tic text with an emphatic much.
We have falleu upon timca when II Is laahtotl-
able 10 reject tho Word Of the Lord. II Is dono
aippantfy, as though II involved no loss, md
confidently, as though 1t cutuilcd no intellectual
difficulties. To judge from the manner of
speaking on this subject, we would fHfcr tllat
the man who ncccbts this Book as divine is the
only one who hns to 10 violence to rcaso,,
os outrage evidence; for 4 Is being con-
stantly proclaimed ihat, he believes In ideas
aEc historical absurdittes. atd In 1lopcs that aru
Inconsistent chEmcras. SO frequently haro the
alleged fnsurmouutabls barriers to rational
belief Ut the Scriptures besn pointed out tllut
anythlaK else; partlcu1arly are they blind 10 the
oihur side os the question. The other sides II
will be echoed. What other s.1o3 Why, the
qucsttln that demands an answer. Thu text, by
its sharp Inquiry, may bc understood % carry
Ing after II negative response, Ms though It
stated plainly t!.at The fdca Of unwslo,n was
settled whCn d man claimed over all tile arVu-
nlcnts ln support Of the B!blc's sublime coll
ccptton to provc the chilly plea stamped Of un-
beltei. But this IL our time is rarely thought
Of The difficulties nrc supposed TO lie
altogether on the sldo VI the Scriptures,
n,'l none arc tccognizcd On the sldo. of inldels.
Now, ! aIn not willing for you to continue In
this parhlEnd condition, especially when u,tl
satisfied that te obectious to the Scriptures aru
moc.ltla III comparison to the mountainous
objections, which shoui1 restrain II. fro;n reject
Ing their authority.
;, Whit propose this evening Is to survey the
book or t}Od; not aB thcoloEtan or skeptlc,
but ~ Ui,c delegated to tell you what IL in IL,
and airo you wise impression Of It's scope and
scheme. ln the course Of my examination, as
AMI cnahlcd to disclose its peculiar character
these things IN your hrphtllcs!a, and In tlle end
hope shall ,convince you Of the force Of the
nbalrdtties involved Ia tho denial that tllcBc
writings arc not heaven eout. ! may Just 1neu.
t"rotS 'sn to ySa IN 'e ass aa P'asa st a.
my duty to rcad tl!s Book. o. hearing
this doubtless many Will bu amazed, for nova.
days there Aeetls to be keen intuition that
knows " o9ok without reading I. never at;
1t straight through. This haye done for tie
sake Of my hearere. fuu Will be amazed to
know how very few people have over doue It Tor
tillcmsoiycs. II you prsss then, on tllo ,puut
principal facts, but have not worried ti,cr
minds with study Of fts dotaits; uul yel
these very persons are continually objrctnE to
It's inspiration. Theyrcad iragmcntlrly. They
eeua MI aoa eapttf e NY 1;S to
Shakespeare. defy tic whole host Of the
pnilistines to reproduce m entire chapter nr-
snra,.!y Iese nsrso' could not hopu TO un-
comes rs the result OF Familiarity With his say-
'ugs And how can they understand the Blulo
without au equally prolonged md painful ef-
losts fet every tlouKhtless ,;obody Is ready
ina.,ds q most careful study. Strictly speak-
Ing, euch people huYe no moral RIGHT to al
oplnion on tic subject. Tllcy certainly would
not were 1t matter OF law, medicine, or phil-
osopl'y; aud why should they when ttle moro
vital subject Of religion s utMlur disbussioni
observe aud report to you Tint this Book
never flattcrs anybody. and uever sccu1s 10
haVe any dcsirc to make itself popular. Other
bucks ask to oe pernscd, pleaatng for an op-
uortunlty to be heard; nnd begin, In fact,
"Courteons render. will you be 30 indulgcnt az
to pay tne little aftcntiona' But tho ulhtu
addresses every tnan as s!nnor, assl proclaima
llIs utter he!plessness. Tllus 1t at first lrakcs
enemies. When tho proud man comes to 1t,
Il. says. "Prlds Rootn before destruction"
When the rich man approaches II says, ''l'rust
NOT In your Riches" When lhs sef.rightcous
dr,w near It cxclalns, ...Oh, ys generation uf
ylpers ~ IL II not. therefore, d wonder that tho
hook has 80 faw readers; tlle mrilrle Is TINT It
hns my Ut afl.
But there IL au tmpcrtousness about It that is
exceedingly singular. It does not drive tle
Imperative !noae out OF all its verbs. 1t Is now
tle hatit OF tcucers 10 request tl!o pcupto to bo
courteous enough to let Thu light Of truth tnto
their chambers; to be 80 condesccnllng rs to
consider 1t nnl see II they can unke anything oil
IT. Not 80 With tho Scriptures. ,iuyer lind
tle1n guessing. As q lnRtler Of fAct, VIC ret ntl
nuswcr to tho highest questions u!,t enguge thu
human mind. Aud by so much they commit
themselves IN 0peu court, In broAd duyllsht, to
stfeIgtU