Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-03-20
PATH: ITS NATURE AND PROP
ERTIES"
Bishop kain's Third Lenten Lecture
Yesterday,

heSteruays
The ingenuity OF the uSherS at the Ca.
thedral was taxed to its utmost yesterday
afternoon to provide seats for those pre-
senting themselves to hear the third of the
course of Lenten lectures by 1T. Rev. J. j.
Kahn, the subject discussed being Faith
Its Nature and Properties"
Having quoted anu explained the detini-
ton of faith given by st. Paul in his
Epistle to the Hebrews (Xi:lD, the Bishop
proceeded to show that the very nature OF
faith implied infallibility in the persons
proposing the truths Of revelation to our
acceptance God does not speak 10 us inn
mediately, but through an authority
which He has appointed to represent Him.
When Gods messenger speaks, it is God
Himself who speaks, He that hateth you,
hatcth Me" etc. How did the early Chris
tianS know that Christ was God? That He
was born OF virgin? That He will come
TO Judge all men, etc? Was it not through
the preaching or teaching of the Apostles
and those whom the Apostles delegated and
empowered" Faith then meant the he
lieving of revealed truths. because the
ambassadors Of God taught these truths; il
meant the internal assent of the reason to
truths which reason could not see or
prove. because the Apostles and their
SUCCESSORS in the sacred ministry vouched
for the fact that God had revealed them.
The only lawful exercise of reason was to
ascertain whether these men had 4 mission
from God to teach in His name; this once
proved, men were not at liberty to criticize.
to pick and choose such doctrines as pleased
them. but they were bound to accept us true
all the doctrines proposed to them by the
duly authorized messengers OF God. Sub
mission OF the reason to their teaChing-tO
the teaching OF living men-waS the very
essence of faith. But what faith was then,
il must be now: and if u man denies that
there is anybody of living teachers
authorized 10 teach unerringly the
truths OF revelation, for thereby
denies the possibility of faith. without
which it is impossible to please God. Il"
propose to accept y book is not the same
thing as to submit ones Judgment to liv
ing tribunal. From the latter there can be
no appeal, while the SearCher of a book
may interpret the book a. he pleases. There
can be no doubt that -. Paul would protest
most stOutly against the construction often
put upon his words BY those who boast OF
the right Of private Judgment. Without
an infallible Interpreter OF Holy Writ men
may have any number of. opinions about
its meaning; but they cannot have that ab.
Solute certainty which must he now as it
was in the Apostle time the chief charaC-
teriStic of faith. But outside the Catholic
church the claim to inerrancy in matters Of
faith is not even set up, and therefore
faith is unknown. The strongest Conclu-
sion which can he drawn from any other
than Catholic premises is: Probably Christ
was God: probably He arose from the dead
probably there is a heaven for the just and
hell for the wicked, etc. but of all these
things man cannot be certain. Abiding
then to the peace of soul which comes from
the assured possession of religious truth,
the Bishop announced that he would speak
next Sunday afternoon on the certainty
which faith impartS-a view of the subject
both interesting and important.