New-York tribune., 1880-01-12
PROGRESS THROUGH CONQUEST.
TIE R,r d. VilIam r. Prytol q, M IUst Plcsdg1tai %
lLulrL

TIE RE- d. WUtaM H. ff'tpi az W' 4"'t ''''"' '''
The Rev. DR.. William VI. Paxton preached
yesterday morning to large congregation ~ the flrt
Presbyterian Church nc Fithtvc and Eicyenh-rt HIS
text was taken from Isaiah liz, 10: g. 80 snail thy
fear tie name Of the Lord from The west and his glory
IRON he rising of Ia, s,m When the cneuY shaI come
III Ike nood the sprt OF hc Lord shall ft ur stand
ard against him" He spoke substantially rs follows;
We have inst asked Gods blessing our homcs, our
children the sabbath-,chool the work Of the missions
ard upon every effort to convert the world 10 CHRIST
T- gives rise to question OF the dee est prdcucaI
interest What Il the necessity of all tins prayer ana
effort and struggle to maintain tire asccndancy Of re
ligon hearts, and 20 establish It throughout
the world Indeed. the question begins 40 home In our
own hearts, and We ere tOmcmc3 ready 10 ask; " why
is % religion D. such struggle With me irel t.c
power and grace of God why d0n't He conquer
mo to Himself Whv am / lcit IN this coH-
tiuual struggle sometimes cast down and sometimes
ccvat.dl Why tAs perpetual struggle to Keep ny the
power Of religion in myself Why the necessity II
PRAYER and labor to maintain the Of Jesus Christ
in the world The religion Of Christ has been III the
world for 1000 years. why is II hat II seems loHoIrsn
and l,n Die QUITO mako progress aud thcn ~ BACK
aea.ui Iilt Is such Gospel Of light, why is ii that we
are all made captiyes Why tins continual struggle
aul conflict extending through 80 many years O.
I'll 20 these c.t!1rr, continued the sp'"keF,
ar. iouud m the text Il s Not n accordance with Gods
plan. 20 make religion victory without struggle. NJ
one can read The rptu.cs without learning that Coos
command il progress throucn effort, victory through
coUlIcst. We hud this IN our individual experience
Everything that IS good IN man Is developed ny
-tlu-e -ri force ami energy are developed I'D every
man by ,lugslc IL meyer makes an effort hc VIII
have little force of character. Everything
IN rho history Of tho world the way Of principle and
power has ~ the result OF long continue
struggle The Church hIs been placed In the midst OF
great warfA-c. Bat wc must expect times when tie
enemy Will come IN lk, hood You have only to reflect
moment ~ see bow this has been tue I'm past history
Illustrations floods OF prosecutions ARE found ~ the
pcr,ccuuons Of the Roman Emperors, when the
blood Of Iulty seemed rs IL II would extcrmuate the
Church OF God from The earth, IN the massacre OF ~
Blrtloom. w the Cut.ons 10 II .iand Ia LnSlhI
ard IN Irruld The enemy also comes lu 40 ho1d OF
"a, doctrine There was also the great Rat!onalistc
food that swept over Germany. IN All lGc'" n"ouS
n,uonnli.u ho. been swrpt away rom Germany! The
h,tc has bccu tcu-nt ana the victory won Tho arR-
mrn.s mat are defeated Ia Germany nave ltdpicaT
Lsra n f., e,rause fact tdat tho public mind and
Inonsluds of men have been growing rch, ana tlcY
reiay The lrxurics OF the world, and glad to
,o',y o, t, gro;nd fhat Chrisauity has been dam
aged ln ;As warfare. lvciyihiug TINT Is uttered IN
ffyor ulGet, appears before he tuJr 70 the news
nf,ilc mind Sow nu thi- is the mnrc remarkable he
cuu. asmplo nct that the nhdrnty oi iM' "se i
pnrc with the stilwJIt arguments OF the rhhosoI"c
There Is not single fortrcs, OF Christiauv on which
assault has BE- tiAdc Win success an WIS
made. ON the chronology 81 the Bible wui u wax, fierce
I'm, rctulfcd ln nothing Men Who call Themselves
scrutft- make certain hypothcscs. How 10 We always
know the hypothrss Is right! The hypohcsls is sup
position by which scientists attempt 70 prove some
fbng Yon know thu' there burst " inidrity IN
Inc theory OF evolution, chImponcd by Darwin, ttuA
ey and Tyudall. II taught that there nisht ne
no Gu. l. supcrstltiOus tendency, ana public
teachers shook their bc DIS in doubt In recent letter
Dub shed 10 l. gish magazine Professor lyhd.H
tnt,, "a . shat D." hls said And yct G Ll- alter the
damage has uccn d0nc Men say, "Wcil scientific men
say so; IL must be- So" Aft.r the minds OF many nave
been damaged ont comes the champion and says The
whole hug d-orcdtAbic That Is the KIND 9i Hood
that has ruined many 1pod II deception AMI OF ialso
nrltcipic But the tcNt say- must expect it,
Tho second point i- that ~ thcgo times the spirit OF
tLc Lord snail m up q standard The Application j.
made Tor two classes Some persons think that religion
i, nothing but love. KIN !uc-. ucuevOence and 10 make
ever. thi 10 smooth AS possible lou must cdrn thdi
religion means conflict; gospel means battle. There Is
10 b. no compromise Hintdc!ity comes. II ' iust what
Is io bc expected II KItlonsm comes. u IA 10 De cN-
p,,trl. Tho Hppli's 10 your own nature Hl' men
tLo ru.uty cpmts Nkc Good. II must b' expected
But Tho Spirit God vii M mp standard against iin
Remember O. depend uu Gods standard ana yOd Will
be- brOuEtf a CAPTIVE to enlist