The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-05-24
From the Atlanta Constitution.)
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
FIRST DAY.
ATLANTA, GA, May Is, 1882.

Toris Missouri, took the chair. Prayer was
offered by Rev. William Brown. D. D., of
Fredericksburg, Va, followed by the singing of a
norton of the Tooth Psalm. Rev R. K. Smoot,
D D., of Austin, Texas, read from the 18th
chapter of 1st Corinthians, after which the As
senbly Joined in the singing of the 91st Psalm.
The Sermon.
Rev. R. P. Farris the retiring Moderator.
taking as his text Matthew xviii 6. preached
in refutation of the prevalent idea that scep.
ticism had made any inroads upon Christianity
Like rock in the centre of the ocean, dashed
by the fury of the waves, and yet resisting
humiliation the Church stood firm. Though
prosecuted by devils and men, by Jew and
Gentle, by social corruption and rancor of
Goddess learning, which sought its overthrow
it stands to day as rock, having tor its foun-
dation Jesus of Nazareth Granting to scep-
ticism its fullest possible measure of success all
its arguments, all its ingenuity will fail to de
stroy the Church. Fifty men could have saved
Sodom, even ten. Notwithstanding that this
small number could not be found, it was not IN
til Lot safe that the divine vengeance fell
upon the fated city; so the Church will be
saved were the worst to come. But the very
elements that are being used for the destruction
of the Church are redounding to its growth
Denying that scepticism had made any pro-
gress, the speaker went back to the first half of
the eighteenth century when doubt hung as
black pail over the people and religion seemed
to have fled the world. Romanist and Ritualist
alike predicted the utter failure of Protes
tantlsm. The indications of the present day
are but 1.-THE as compared with the facts of the
period referred to. AS an illustration the bish-
op of Litchfeld declared that the Lords day
had become the DEVILS market day. Political
life was saturated with rottenness and bribery
fashionable life was corrupt beyond description
The Literature of that day presented the moral
rot Of fln
witness the writings Of Fielding, Smollett. and
others. AS in England and Europe so in the
United States. Chancellor Kent declared that
whenever he met a professional man he ex-
pected to meet an infdel Professor Dwight
gives his testimony to the absence of Chris
tan feeling from Yale College, At Bowdoin
college there was but one Christian. As of the
scholars so the professors. For the most part
they were unbellevers. In Boston and through.
out New England Congregationalism was giving
way before Unltarianism. The speaker then
drew the parallel between this state of affairs
When to be an lnhdel was too common to be
noticed with the present when to be an infidel
attracts notoriety. From 1917 to 1880, over g.
OOOOOO volumes of Paine and Voltaire were
sold In the United States. Dueling was popu-
lar, unchastity prevalent, and sin triumphant
Now over 90 per cent of the college students
are under positive Christian government The
speaker then drew line bet 7een honest scep
tlclsm and the unreasoning unhelief which does
exist at present-the Ingersollism which in
ouIges IN bind hate, Ignorant assertion, and
ingenious perversion. Those qualities appeal
TO the baser part of human nature. Then
the eloquent passages of the great inidel
win plaudlts from the mere lovers of rhet-
ORC. The sceptics put up a man of straw
ana demollsh it, but in doing so like the
Pope hurting his bull at the comet thew
nave their labor for their pains. Scepticism
heed cause no Christian uneasiness-there
nnrrh
sceptlcism come at once into the field of evl
dence, demanding just such evidence as is called
Tor IN other matters and under the same limita.
tons, and Christianity will put it to utter route
Ihere is pride OF learning as of wealth, and
when 1T INDUCES in brawling objections it for.
gets taat Christianity is large matter 1t is
easy Tor DIRECTORS to carry on a guerilla war
fare, but to meet such warfare is unsatisfactory
we should not meet a skirmish here and a Skin
mlsn there matter as insignificant as picking
up pins Let US concentrate the battle We
have tort-that fort is impregnable. If by
assault 1t can be taken, let it be taken If, as
sceptclsm claims, we are deceived | shall vel
come defeat. We are not deceived we are able
to give the reason of the faith that is in u.s. We
have fort-it is the resurrection of Jesus Christ
In matters of business men investigate thew
satisfy themselves whether the investment would
be safe one: Is the soul worth less than
money? Is the whole world price for it No
Religion is the essence of reason. Come. now
and let us reason together. The question is not
now mercy can allow a sinner to be lost but
now justice can allow him to be saved We do
not merely believe-we know. The resurrec-
,hon Is the fulcrum of Christian evidence 1t
has been truly said by an eminent sceptic that
II is upon an empty tomb that the Christians
found their church" Even scepticism admits
the fact of Christs existence Strauss said that
the resurrection is either a historical humbug or
verify. We accept the issue in this form we
VIII meet 1T as IN any other matter of evidence
and we must hold them to the evidence Renan
wall, and others all admit that Christ existed
In denying his Godhead they take pains to
assert their belief in him as man Of the high
est tyPeof virtue with every hun an dualfca-
ton in ITS perfection. Christ himself has de-
c!ared that he would rise again-hence he is his
own witness. The sceptc presents him as a
perfect human character. That makes him a
credible witness. We will not allow them as
the rules OF evidence do not, to irnpeacb their
own witness. The proof of his existence. then
Is also the proof of his resurrection. The sneak
er also introduced the apostle Paul az a witness
whose testimony in trial would be unimpeacb-
able. his writings are as well authenticated as
are the writings of any other ancient writer
lie testlhes to the resurrection The argument
then, is this Christ was killed Did he rise
Inhdels admit his virtue lie said he would
rise. If he did not rise then he was a liar
Where does this leave the sceptic? The speak
er then contrasted Christianity with infdelitv,
whose age Of reason was but u reign Of terror.
IT Jesus be not risen there is nothing to love
there is everything to hate. There is no light
to show the wqy for there is no Cbriet ord if