The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-07-07

Nazareth the whelc agnostic scheme il
false and The right of the soul to know
remains intact; the intercourse of th,
soul with God is proven. The distanc,
between the finite and the infinite i,
bridged in Him, the Goldman. Agnos
ticlsm, denying The possibility of thit
or any 6iher connection with God, il
the babbling of a philosophy falsely "
called; or else you must adopt the othel
alternative, that Jesus of Nazareth il
the arch deceiver of the world ant
Christianity-in its birth, progress, ant
triumphs-a monstrous delusion.
We turn now to the other great fac
of the human soul, which is faith.
Is faith an attribute of our Intelligent
nature by necessity? Is it as much 6
part of us as sense, perception or rea
son?
AS TO knowing, we have seen thai
man is under the necessity of knowl
edge. There are truths, both moral and
physical, which he cannot help know
ing. Is there provision in his nature
for faith ps there is for knowledge, sc
that to believe nothing would be az
obsurd as to know nothing?
4! answer in the following five propo.
sitions:
First-Faith is a necessary element
in scientific progress.
A large portion of all such knowledge
depends upon our faith in the honesty
truthfulness and competency of the in.
vestigation. This is all we demand in
scientist. His researches are accept.
ed in good faith as additions to human
knowledge. No one can stop to test. t.and
prove everything. Then there were no
progress. Scientists have faith in each
other, and The world has faith i'm them
SO long as they exhibit the true spirit OF
science and no longer.
Again the scientist must have faith
III the permanency of nature, in the
observed course of things.
Ii is an inference from observation,
an article of faith. lie has no demon
proof of it, but he never for a
moment distrusts it, and his confidence
is an act of faith.
lie has moreover great faith in the
theories framed to account for observed
phenomena, although no full and COM
plete testing of them may be possible.
This faith often amounts to credulity,
bnt its legitimate place is well assured.
Science without faith would be impos-
sible. Researches would be without an
object and nature without an allure.
ment.
Second-My second proposition is
that faith is n condition OF ali successful
human endeavOr. 1t is wrought in
10 all human life.
What man accomplishes is done by
lhc voluntary putting forth of his pow
,rs in the circu instances that environ
him. lie is never sure of results with
hat sort of mental rest and satisfaction
With which he accepts automatic truths.
For the object in view he has plan of
,ilort. lie never sees the whole of the
difficulties to be surmOunted. A part
If the territory that lies between is
llways more or less obscure. lie has
,nly reconnoitered it with field glass
}nt he moves forward with the courage
Which his faith alone gives him.
Unespestea I aissSysTcs sl5 oaS sSpet%ss fe less
he rewards of faith. Without it You
annot prosecute single research into
he unknown, or achieve any great
york .environed with difficulties, or
reast with courage the disasters and
everses which beset the whole path of
rogrcss.
II man believes nothing he will do
cthlng, except to grumble at those
'ho believe and do something. Uni |
ersal skepticism is the universal fatuity
I all the faculties that constitutes II true |
IL undermines the founda-
ons of courage and hope. Every hero |
humanity has been man of faith.
My third proposition is that faith is
ways founded OIL sufficient evidence.
This may seem 10 conflict with the |
lct that its objects are often remote |
nd tho mode of attainment more or less |
bscure. Some have ridiculed faith as
eing nothing but fancy. This is the
assault of ignorance. Faith |
ways stands on solid ground. 1t has
he pon sfO from whence TO move the
'orld.
In science it has the ground of an
rderly universe. 1t has, on severe
lductive principles, reason for trusting
ie uniformity of nature, the regular
,quence of cause and effect, and the
ldden complexity of natural forces and
'ws which the investigator seeks to
nrayel and reveal.
If research extends into the domain
history it must travel by the light of
nth over the whole field. The explor-
: moves step by step, trusting in the
nifty and universally of all the laws of
nman nature. His faith is i'm men as
le same in past ages and in the present.
le may find some things strange, but
never looks for, and never finds,
ny thing not legitimalely belonging to
nmanity. The object of all his labors
to Illustrate the nature and history of
AN. He firmly believes that every
lct discovered will serve his purpose.
e can give a reason for the faith that
In him. All history is TO him unit.
Tho merchant and the navigator
ave reasons for action. In seeking
10 uncertain and the unknown they
D upon evidence which justifies them.
nd when their difficult enterprises
suit in magnificent success they are
)nored as possessed OF some of the high
I'd noble elements OF humanity. 1t
rs not come by chance, but having in
md the given data and clearly perceiv-
g in them the possibility of an attain
'le good, they have acted upon the
,edince and achieved the result. Take
ith out of man and the all-powerfnl
)llar, even, will lose its power. lilo will
axe no use of the evidence and will
'nture upon no enterprise, will trust
future and in truth will have no
ture.
Fourth-My fourth proposition is
at faith is more closely related to our
hical than to our intellectual interests.
'hile II cannot be severed from any
'partment, morals are peculiarly its
here.
1t is SO of necessity, for there truth is
iown as law. ltis In the moral sphere
at "the categorical imperative" reigns
I'd imposes duties and courses of action
hich often antagonize present interests
I'd powerful impulses. II is here that {
an realizes his own personality audl