The New York herald., 1879-09-22
: CENTRAL M. L. CHURCH.
THE ARROGANCE OF MODERN INFIDELITY-sE


MON by REV. DIR. NEWMAN.
Dr. Newman. in continuation of his subject on
modern inhdelity. treated of the arrogance of
infdelity," taking his text from Romans l., 22-
"Professng themselves wise, they became fools"
Pride and vanity base qualities of human
nature They are the essential characteristics of
modern free thought. The unbeIever substitutes
selfconceit for sef-abasement and selfglorifcation
for the glory of God His self-esteem public
recognition and to this he dazzles the world
with audacious blasphemies and atheisical vulgar
isms In the delirium of his passion for notoriety
he assails every doctrine hold sacred by civilized
man, laughs to scorn the cherished hopes of the
good and treats with contempt every aspiration of
the soul. The text is the inspired portraiture of
such a The better translation is-conceit-
ing themselves wise, they became fools Because
that when they knew God they gorihed Him not
God neither were thankful, but became vain in
their Imagination and their foolish heart was
darkened.
ISFrpEL ASSUMPTIONS.
Let us this morning look at some OF the arrogant
assumptions OF the modern infdel in contrast with
the faith and humility OF the Christian touching the
source and authority of morality. Some of the ad-
vocates OF free thought profess the warnest attach
ment to virtue pretend be the teachers of public
morals and the guides of private lifc and propose
the regeneration OF the world by new process, by
the disruption OF morality from religion. They
assume that reason Is competent to discover in the
constitution OF nature, what is essential to
the well being of society, ana thereby propose to
supersedc the necessity of a divine revelation.
IL Is audacious for them to assume that they know
what Is necessary for the we'll being of society. Rca
son has sublime mission, but il is not that of
oaton. Wore there one supreme human
reason, that would give plausibiiity TO the
claim; but humanity is made up of units ami each
individual has right TO judge for himself. The
pacity To reason differs in different men, and the
exercise OF reason Is limited by knowledge; that
what Is really necessary to tho well being OF tho
community individual taste aud interest must de-
eide. Will the inhde compel the citizen TO be vir-
tuous by the dungeon and the stake?
Mankind as mass not inclined to
DO contemplative. The millions are doomed to toll
and have not the time to study moral philosophy.
few men do the thinking Tor the world in the
great interests of human lite. by what authority
do the free thinkers intend TO impose their system
of morality upon the millions o. this country. Do
they propose to substitute order priests Tor
another-a philosophic priesthood for the priest
hood of the Churchr should they do so, what
have they TO suppose that their precepts
would be needed by the massesg Are they better
and wiser than Socrates and Plato. whose commands
disregarded by tho Athenians2 And should
this priesthood succeed the present what guar
auee have that they viii not become bigots and
tyrants aud the cry go mp from the people. down
with the hypocrites; down with the spongersl"
But the Christian offers the millions OK the peo-
pie n divine command that contains the ought and
the ought not OF human conduct. and which finds
response In tho OF the unlotterod and toll
ing millions OF earth. These priests of reason
assume that man is competent. without the aid of
religion, TO suppress vice and give universal prcva
lence virtue aud happiness and this by the aid of
government education and family rule. But the
power to purify is not vii hin the province OF gov
ernment. Law may dictate, may guide, may con-
serve, but IL cannot purify.