New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-26
BACCALAUREATE SERMONS.
PRESIDENT PORTER AT YALE.
PERNICIoUs INFLUENCE UPON MANS CHARACTER
or THE SPIRIT OF UNBEIIRF

PERNICIOUs INFLUENCE UPON MANS CHARACTER
OF THE SPIRIT OF UNBEIIRF.
NEwHAYEN, Conn.,, June 25.---The bacca-
laureate to the Yale class Of was preached
this morning in BatteL Chapel by President Noah Por
ter, who took his text Hebrews Ill., II Take heed
brethren lest there be in any Of You evil heart of u
belief in departing from the living God"
From DR.. P0rter's discourse the following tboughts
are extracted:
The heart of unbelef is evil in four particulars in its
influences pon the character upon the plans and &C..
Invites OF the hfe upon mans hopes for his felowmen
ana upon his relations 10 another life. UnDehef dwars
and lowers the individual man far 1t hun OF
rom Cod IL lowers and limits his intellect Our
intellocts, our intellectual solutions VI the problems
OF the universe carry us back 20 the comprehensive
background VI the universe as no more really an enigma
man the nVng men whom science cannot fail 10 find In
the foreground, because they do tho work OF
Inc man tnat never has more thought OF this, or that
thinking OF Goes not accept true has narrowed ms
mnd, whether MS unbelet is that OF the sold earth
worm or tue quck ana arce-mnded Intelligence who IN
the multitude OF hls works aud ways has few o.
thoughts OF God lie neglects excludes the highest
ahd hoDlest realous that man can recognize Such mar
rowness Is essentially EVIL and worst OF all, IL is selatis
fed and cOntenptuous OF that truth of wnicH it will
ihSly ignorant Uhbelet depresses the imagination.
Nhe iah provides solid basis OF facts aud truths, IL
stimulates the Imagination intense and glowing ac-
tlvly The faith OF one generation may blossom INTO
the poetry OF tie generation that follows, but II aith IS
actually dead lie imagination must follow 10 the tomb.
need not say tsat the character OF man, especially
OF Of culture, depends very largely upon the type
ana teryor OF his imagination Acco ding as his Ideals
are high low according they clear vague
such Will be tine himself IT his intelligent faith
living God his character VIII be lfted upwards by
lervor of his stimulated and sustained Imagination.
without tlis stmuant is renewed, spred by constant
vision OF the living God there Is danger that he VIII
either sink to be selfish and mean be the victim or
sport any romance THAI caprice or fashion Of ambition
may inspire. Lord Bacon knew not how pregnant
tue truth when he said ThCy that destroy God destroy
acts Of those atheists of Time wno, in order 10 de-
stroy God, nave been willing 20 immediate msn on the
altar Of natrrialsiic denial Remember, when the
living God leaves conscience then everything that Id
good goes with himthe sefrespect the jr0l
IN ne uefq he M
ruin Of Thought ana truth of sa.snrmt tHr sontro OF
the animal appe e and Whatever else duty enons, or
higa ideals; All then give way under subtle and
powerful temptations, especially those IN which modern
lue abOunds.
TUE CONTEST OF FAITH WITH UNBELTEF.
The face is be disguised that faith Is destined IN
these days meet contest and that unbeef In some
Of It's aspects composing of cul-
than IL is at the present time There Is no use IN
whining whimpering about the times in which We
live Our business is to defend the truth ne believe
it, and to defend it because we know Its worth and s
power The times are, in certain sense, not made by
us but for IL is wisdom and our duty to take
them find them and make them Deter 10 lar as We
may.
Unbeief is indeed somewhat conspicuous IN the gh
places of tnougnt ard ASSUMES a positive tone. Ii nas
entered upon almost every OF speculation and
philosophy and literature and al story,
and claims with q confidence thai often is sheer ef-
frOntery that the of 5ht which ascd upon
The neids has only mad darkness ylslD. Ia the
crclipg domain In which hitherto faith had dreamed II
glory and immortal love. AS the result OF tueae
lyltle5 many old opinions have prOp0r-
lions and put aspects, general disposition
question sacred truths prevails
q few quick-nnucd and megcuri4 TIL k-rs. Credu-
lOus haste IN accepting the iast Suggestions Oh lilo
fancy taken the place critical scrutiny.
l. Il surprising that tue advocates OI the Old altl
snDu sometimes nave been hliei wth alarm 1ndcr he
circumstances aud that tLs should and then have
been lnicns lied into PANE.
UnGer these circumstances it has seemed to M proper
remind You unDcici Ia the sacred Ylrlcs as
practical force ranght with disappointment and oe-
cclL ts fe and the Iuturc anu, therefore, IL - pre-
sumcd TO be false ana deceptive. 40 nor
expect ahd do not desire tnas your lain
should in any particular 90 beyond evidence or
any other form than rational conviction.
But / DO urge that this cOnviJon should Dc lar5e and
ber.l which it rests. ana should include
among those data OF proof just data OF the practical
YOrin OF faith Ill nmOr alt, In COD and Christ, as tao
springs motives Vi action AID the inspiration o tho
"a