The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-11-05
A Preacher who is on the Wrong Track.

A Preacher who is on the Wrong Track.
The Rev. DR.. PAXTON, Presbyterian min
lister. preached sermon on Sunday in his
church near Fifth avenue, in which he
claimed that religious faith was now ms
strong and as vital as it ever was. He did
not believe that modern science was doing
the harm to religion some other ministers
imagined. Very few people, he said, have
leisure or desire to read scientific works.
That may be true, yet the theory of evo-
luton and IS bearings are now understood
more or less clearly by all men of intelli-
gcnce. No doctrines have been moro widely
propagatcd during the last generation than
those of DARWIN, and they have bitten into
the thought of the times.
Any clergyman who fails TO recognize this
incontcstable fact makes q very great mis-
take. The dominating scientific theory of
the present day, too, is the most uncompro-
missing antagonist with which the Christian
faith has ever had to contend. II 1t is ac-
cepted, the whole OF theology goes by the
board. There Is no middle ground.
To meet the assaults of modern inildelity
the Rev. DR.. PAXTON himself seems to be
altogether untitled. He complains that it is
very hard to preach in such way as to in
tcrcst educated and cultivated people with
"trite theme" "Just think of the stupen-
dous task" he said, "of finding something
new and striking to say on an old, old theme
to the same congregations, Sunday after
Sunday year in and yearout."
II the Rev DR.. PAXTON feels like that, the
best thing for him to do is to stop preaching
altogether until he experiences a change OF
heart. He is not in earnest, and lacks the
ardor and the enthusiasm CHRIST demanded
OF His disciples. He is mere pulpit essay
list, constructor OF sermons, who breaches
to please and in fear of criticism. and not a
man who can do the cause of religion any
real service in this almost half pagan city.
The Church does not want ministers to
whom the truths OF Christianity can ever
seem old and trite. They may do for fash
ionable religious clubs up town, so long as
they can crafty the taste OF their hearers
for novelty, but they can never check the
progress OF infdelity, and never warm mems
hearts with true religious zeal. The truths
OF which we are really convinced and which
we really love never seem old and tritc to us.
1t is not surprising to find that so per-
functory preacher to a fashionable church
had something fattering to say to his rich
congregation. He told them In substance that
it was entirely proper to get rich, and have
a good time with money. Il assure you"
he said, "GoD is no bigot or fanatic, and
JESUS CHRIST is the soul OF all that is lib
eral and generous as well as pure and good
and self-sacriiicing." And he added:
1.-THE world OF things seen-houses, lands ships, gov
ernments furniture dinncrs-exacts great deal of
time attention thought desire But this Is CONNER
cal and the only object practical man propose
to himself is to amass fortune In olden time
to become warrior saint according to the age. Now
to be rich is the road TO fame Many who do not
for money in digging for it, or in business
ing it, simply because money making is the supreme
passion Of this age; and they acquire millions to show
this age that they beat it with its ownweapons"
That is what the Rev. DR.. PAXTON says.
What did CHRIST Himself say? In the 23d
verse OF the 10th chapter OF ST. MATTHEW we
read: "Then JESUS said unto His disciples,
Verify say unto you that rich man shall
hardly enter into the kingdom OF heaven +"
That being the teaching of CHRIST, then is
not the spirit, the passion OF this commercial
age essentially unchristian? But apparently
the Rev DIR. PAXTON does not agree with the
Divine Master for he finds nothing contrary
to Christianity in the greed for money.
We will give him a new theme. Let him
study up what are the exact requirements Of
Christianity, and then test by them his own
conduct and motives and the acts and the
purposes of his uptown congregation. IL
he is really penetrated by the Christian idea,
and tells the truth squarcly and without
favor, we do not believe his people will find
his sermon dull, though they may conclude
that he is giving them a sort Of preaching
they do not care to pay for
Let the Row. Dr. PAXTON, in fact, preach
genuine Christianity with the enthusiasm OF
conviction, and he will find that he is preach
ing with an entirely now spirit and treating
an entirely new theme for him, and one
which will be to his congregation. He
will no longer bore himself and other people
with his pulpit efforts. He will be at no loss
for variations of his subject, and old rs he
may grow 1t will never seem tritc to him. but
always fresh and always resplcndcnt.