Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-06-17


crowded auditorium, aisles, and gallery. Like
the sermon of the morning. it was delivered
without manuscript and its clearness and abil-
ity held the undivided attention of the audi
ence.
The subject chiefly discussed was the vicious
error of placing the wisdom of man in compe-
tition with the wisdom of God. This. is what is
meant by the term PHILOSOPHY" in the text
upon which his discourse was unded:-Colos-
| slams, lis
"Be1vare lest any man spoil you through philoso-
p1,u and rain conceit, after the rddltion Of men,
after the rudimenls Of the acortd, ana not after
Christ"
Christianity was introduced in the Augustan
age when peace prevailed throughout the
| world and when learned men lived and prose-
| cuted Inquiries in philosophy. lift could with
stand the scrutiny of the able and learned Jews
and Gentles of that era, it can Withstand that
of this or any other age.
| When St. Paul wrote, the Greek, like the
French Of this age, was the universal language.
and its literature was filled with the charming
and seductive ideas of the philosophy of the
| Greeks. ST. Paul was learned not only in the
| Greek but the Latin language, which he spoke
with f1uency. He understood all their philoso-
ply, and believed it deceptive and false, and
and hence he gave the warning to the Colos-
slams to "beware lest any man despoil them
through philosophy and vain conceit."
The speaker showed how PHILOSOPHY, falsely
so-called," produced its evil effects.
1st How it despoils our faith in the authority
| of Gods word.
| We should have faith in the inspiration of
the bible. We should reverence it as the word
of God-should consider it, like the soul of Mil
ton, star apart. With the inspiration of the
| OBJ LODI how
scripture ready for all questions concerning the
creation, the resurrection, the future state Of
the wicked and the righteous; but if the bible is
not inspired. no satisfactory answers can be
given. Modern philosophy says that the bible
is inspired as the Had of Homer. or the Eneid
| of Virgil, or the poems of Milton, or the
dramas of Shakespeare are inspired.
End. How it influences the Interpretation of
| the word.
Modern philosophy always has theory, and
| the intrepation is heightened shortened, to
make it conform to the theory.
Millennariansm is but the revival of an old
theory that has been stamped out, and comes
down to us from Judaism, through the tradi-
tion of the Jews.
| Universalisn is but a theory teaching how
God should act under given circumstances.
And it perverts the Interpretation to make
Gods will conform to that of mans.
To interpret the bible correctly. examine it
carefully, free from prejudice, DESTROYS only of
learning the truth. AS the rays of the sum-
| however divergent, all centre in the god of day.
| so truths, if followed up, will be found all to
centre in the sun of righteousness. Truth nev-
er contradcts itself-henee man who correct
| ly understands the scriptures may preach not
only %, but 125, years without contradicting
himself.
3rd How it despoils what is called systematic
theology.
| 1t destroys the systematic theology which is
the product of the learning of all the ages. The
modern philosophy OF Germany proclainls it
| irrational.
The speaker said they called it irrational, be-
cause unacceptable. The trinity was irrational,
| because unacceptable, and it was unacceptable
| because the second person in the trinity be-
ing savior. implied that there must be sin,
and that was unacceptable, and hence the
| trinity was irrational. The first person, God
| the father, the all-Father as they called him,
| was rational and acceptable.
| The speaker announced very emphatically
| that he concurred with the old Scottish dame
| who declared that "if you take away her total
depravity, you take away all her religion"
If there be no fall, what need of Sayiorc If
| there be no sin, what need of atonement?
1t despols the whole body of systematic the
! ology.
Ifyou know what man thinks of Jesus, you
| know what his ideas are respecting the whole
| science orthodoxy.
| The gifted Edward Everett, the American
Cicero. was once minister but he became
unitarian, he thought but little of Jesus. andhe
left the sacred desk; and such was also the case
with the able and distinguished men-George
Bancroft, Jared Sparks, and Ralph W. Emer-
son.
1t was Infinitely better to have the simple
faith Of the little Sunday school girl VINO, wnea
| asked what she would do if possessed of a gold
| en- crown, replied, with promptness, that she
would take it to heaven and lay it at the feet of
| Jesus.
4th. How it despoils the spirit of prayer.
| 1t teaches that the laws of Nature are fixed
| and immutable. That the laws governing the
fall of rains, and the currents of the ocean are
Interchangeable, and the pupils conclude that it
is useless to pray for rain. or for the safety of
| friends at sea. Also the laws ofphysiology
unalterabe, and to pray tor health is vain. 1t
makes God the helpless slave of his own laws.
| There is law, however that is fixed and i'm
mutable, and that is the law of prayer.
Ask and we shall receive; seek, and we shall
| iihu, hHOCh anu IL Silall uc OpeHe0 uuIO YOU.
5th. How 1t affects preachers and preaching.
The 18th century was remarkable for its
| RIGHTEOUSNESS and crime but there is one name
| that redeems that century-Isaac Watts-who
sleeps in Westminster Abbey, and whose sweet
| hymns are the consolation OF thousands. John
| Wesley whom some think one of the greatest
| of men, also lived in that century.
In this, the 18th, century, Brooklyn contains
| the ablest and most eloquent minister but none
are converted by his preaching.
| The Christian Associations, male andfemale,
| now springing into existence throughout the
world, furnish the proper antidote to the Vicious
poison of modern philosophy. They teach
sound, practical theology, and all agree in four
| things.
LIST. Race in its sins.
| End. The blood of Christ cleansetn from all
| sin.
| Ifit were not true, that without the shedding
of blood there is remissi on of sin, the sacri-
flee of Cain would have been preferable to that
| of Abel.
3rd Believe-relying upon the blood of Christ
| for salvation,
4th Will be saved.
The last prayer was offered by Rev. ]. 1. Mil
| Ter, Principal of the Staunton Female Semi
nary, the long-meter doxology was sung by the
choir, and the congregation dismissed with
| the benediction By Rev. DR.. Hough, Pastor of
| the church.
| AS we go to press, the annual celebration of
| the "Lee & Jackson Literary Society" of the
| Wesleyan Female Institute, Is taking place.
| 1t embraces the usual salutatory, essays, and
valedictory, interspersed with vocal and in
strumental music, at the close of which an adj
dress will be delivered by Bishop w. NJ. Wight
man, D. D., L. L.. D., of Charleston, S. C.
| All grades of CHEWING TOBACCO at FIFER &
| Co.. and cheap. Try them. je l7-4t
| AFEARFUL FALL.-On last Wednesday night,
| Capt. j. NJ. Hardy fell over the banisters of the
upper porch of his residence on the corner of
Main and Market Streets, to the pavem ent be-
low, distance of some eighteen feet b reaking
| his arm and terribly crushing his chin and
| jaw bones. No one knew Of the accident until
he had recovered consciousness and, crawling
| around the corner distance of some fifteen
| yards. knocked at his front door, where he was
l.; oY,I