, 1881-01-24

occur In tho transitions Of mini and Thought
trntn ohldhopd 10 mnnhool. We referred Mlst,
tn tho childhood Of tho worll, ond 10 tho ehangcs
that hnvu occtlsrt"l In aocloty i,y thU growth uf
s.,h ideas ns Justice mil lIHrty.
Let VA tnko up tis tnnr,,i1 thu clolciy rclhtcA
fhDns sslt Or s,,lcct or tho things thnf nbte, or
remain III tho ,nlst oF MI tho ullgns TINT cour,
not only 10 tho imiirlds'nl ,u!ud, but alllo
through the growth Ut tho uvcs. .
Thoro arc n1wnys thosn who nrc alartnctl nt
chnhxcs III thc socln, urt1cr. Thoy somehow
think TINT chnnge tnuals destruction; or, II not
thlt, ut least something not 70 EUtl for things
10 retnan US thoy nro. This fnny, indeed, A1,tt,c.
times bu tho casc; but In tito larger
nld longer view nj things chnnues
nru Rc,erui'v seen to t'c IN tho direction Vt
prn1trsE. md generally n tho tim of whnt snAy
bo called tho wOrls nAturni growth. There m.
Mnny now who scc only evil and discourage.
t'iet,t IN tho changes through which tho public
f1tt Is passing IN tho subject Of religion. Thoy
hhve boon Taught thnt certain thIugs nro truu Ii,
religion nn1 tllAt tho,o things nrc essential; they
have cntno 10 look uDOh rGflxiOn frntn certuM
staildp1Inls. nst ~ eeu II wearnX certain gar
lnrnts: and when thoy sec t,ct,pse .supnrtEnX from
thosc. nml sec rnl'xlur changing It's FERNS, thov
view tlio@o things With alnrn. Thoy REGARD
thoH' 1s driftln9.-As moving Mway fr0,n tho nll
founLanotis Nnw, this nIny In 81 In snJr,o r,aos;
but lnrYe hooking Mt tho subject l,iay sl,vw
TINT instold Of nl,r aye drifting lnt0 inollty. 1t
10 rathor III u stHte OF trahstaun 10 larger and
better fllith. And II Is tho purpose ot tho
present ttlsccursG tU call nttcntion to tho things
that retnaln: to sllow that futh, md hope. nnd
charity stil abide: lllat In tho midst OF all tho
changes nf BELIEF tnoy Continue; they tnay tako
on t,thar forms, but th0y nrc mt lost.
As a startlng point IL this lotns 1iotc carefully
a few things.
The trst IL, that We should tlIsCrinlf,nte be-
tween II cilanRr Of faith md tho luss Ut faith,
10 ronfouDd these Ia tu ennfllso tho wliO(o sub-
jccl, both IN personal experience md In tho
broudcr stuuy Ut tho fifth of tho world. Wd find
III things apnrt from rellgnn that wr often
chnslKc our 0plnlnns, and hence G1anyc our be.
llGfat but We d0 nOt say tiult VIC have Inst our
fhlth, but rather TINT 1t hus chan4rl, nntl often
II, tho chnngeit Is greatly onlurHoi. Thus, IN
science, tsacn onco Thought that tho carth wns
stationary,-was tlnt.-,lnd thnt tho al,n moved
aroi1tI It cYDry tweDty-fpur hpurs. And when
they came tu SEQ shor m!stuko,--to SEQ that, In
stead Of tho sun moving, tho cnrth simply turned
day, thoy did Mnt call It i loss IL IaitG. hut Il
S s"su 5 VIZ It xfS s e at tsf, i ;ho fs thee @
ory, md pcr4eeMtud thnsp who Ntlopscd 1t, ,,i,d
elard 7 int!.letEty aud denying tho Isil!e; Int
growth and not II loss, and tho world Ia thereby
f,r,,. r'oaor ana Mt pot,ras III fatth: u was
fuispa, aid that evil sl;au 10 ret,.rne.i ior wi
-"4n ego for ,.n ty9"; alsd tho OLD Enyllah law
,t,cn for .leIt. and turned Witches. hut We do
nut count TINT tho world hhs lost falth IN tho
ghMtiKo tat nus brought t,s tn!lt'er and t.tstor
fortunate hid tho crinnal cisssSs. W. @ en"at Mn
il 9lin Of taIth W. have hut lose THO ,tipa Of
S aas W III 1 sdes. Su IL
All. 80 t il in matter. Of religion. A change
II met lara or }nat
Jows beloved TINT salvation belonged 10 them:
TINT they were uM's favored J,oIpu And ii
tho Gospel w,ls intended fur tho UentIlcs ~ weil
t.s tho 1uws: but wAun the chilnge calno Peter
did not trgard J. % loss Of fait,, but as aln.
Ercnt love n Christ. johsl Calvin taught that
God dlA not lntoud to saye all .nanklnd, did not
fas IL 'Es sss es1S Ill., casss ill., oy ~
VI $sn 'sa seqss ;,'s ''i 's
ehusuhos j. soutsrowns their creuds Il xeisins iit
to- larxo for tho'i s'l .hat these eharcI:s aro
nEw ,s 4fs Is Ryatn: fSr NJ " w
than the Old furne wert. u, Is thoso gali,, md
any Iut our Is,Innn" Catholic friends ns Il lu.s
when Luther sought to tnko OF tho hnrispis
,hat wvro put ~ ipoa the po" e a, to reyo
them anu 1nl hut raltllor l1yu nil i'roestanls
looked unon T. rs q gn'u, Us aiylns tho world u
kss aaa prss.. doa % ~. ws tS
w.,rta IN cur our gay y fconlnr to s!,are r. larger
nj u dcsno, nor . drifting lntu niety. il il
a. lhrRor talth IN tho 'p..rpose and tho pnwor nt
God tilAt nakes t4ut loro eterna,+-tlint s1olss
uponit not nnly ns working nnw nsOAu To snrU
sDDk and To sMvG tho lOat.
:, Aynin, wo should not eonfo,,n.l fnltn with bo.