New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-04-03
THE ELEMENTS or ST PAUL's FAITH.

THE ELEMENTS Or ST. PAUL'S FAITH.
ne Rev u. Hfchcocg ne UHirersuy race ITsbytefGn
The Rev. T.. W. Hitchcock, pastor of the
American Chapel in Paris preached yesterday morning
in tie University Place Presbyterian Church. MI
Hitchcock is forty years DID, and of rather short
stature His face is round and full and no has light
sldewhiskers His voice is pleasing In preaching he
follows the conversational style The text upon which
he based his remarks II Timothy ", :: I" have
fought good fight haze finished my course have
kept the faith"
Saint Paul wac at Rome in prison, began the preacher
while Timothy al Ephesus. Between the two there
was strong affection. The Apostle had hoped to have
fast falling away. lie knew the Tune OF
his maryrdom was I'll, near r,s . at a narT
him md Therefore he sends for Timothy TO come 10 nun
with mark bat feene periap- that tl9Ie ngh no.
long homa sends in the letter 10 Timothy The words
We Ind in The chapter from which our text n taken, and
of which ia a part. TO be aDie 10 speak the words OF
the text afte such lie Paul had gone through shows
him 10 have been hero OF the highest type as wen az
man OF e greatest wisdom
Let rs consider the elements OF this faith s tests,
It was we the letters of the Apostle and from
his history as given by Luke From these We get teach
thst his his doctrine and creed in part are not
found in Crsts teachings and that tey are uh Ter 10
obligation t. follow what they cal the Fauuhe IncoF
But he was carrying out Christs teachings lie IeiC
called oxpound the attn and make 1t clear lie says
" make known the Gospel preaching 9It m
in Christ He believed he was teaching hIlSts IeN,a
truth During these later days there Il great ocIy
ayaus creeds. Men clam the right Ia change their
crceds every day IT, by reading the Scripture they THINK
they have warrant of such change It Is OF little use 10
argue With such and to tell them about the cardinal
truths they know The reason they change 50
il brcau.e thcy never nave faith They have merely
passing fecling impressions, hut not stable iath
Specuations IN the mind are not taith. We do, not
uroperly believe what only think. ST. PAU KEPT his
f4ith and may keep II is true he had remark,
able and supernatural experience bY Whlch ne gained
his faith but he held fast To keep the Gospel IN It's
purity was ever has desire ST. Paul lived up t his iatA
lie reduced il 20 practice -.
The age mari rdom has passed away, 9n our faith
and fidelity are yet Cuect 10 the 'est Ihe Christian
has soritu foes and they Will connuc their war until
the devil Is bound J.. FRY who Wort mus be til o.
But hess God, there is a refuge where tcrmentd sous
NAV run and ud drlvcIanco Christ Is rue refuge NOT
only the lithfl tried, but the iaith se mere are
MANY minds winch are skeptic;ly constituted There
are many like Thomas, who want t. " thiislians Dut
they must Doe rational and scientific Christians Ihey
want to see Christ in the flesh. But Curlst mas gone
above and cannot be seen. We may know INN az -
alted and clorined and yet # s no eosy thing TO mann
tain our faith science ana philosophy hodSc up lhe way
Christ. The 3carchc and tortured l&t some
doubt NAV be thrown upon personal God. The aith
has also It'd friends and champions