The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-04
THE NECESSITY FOR FAITH.
Rev. N. A. Hyde's Sermon at May
flower Congregational Church.
Christians Adjured to Hold Steadfast Unto
the End-Rev. MyrOn W. Reed
Talks About Music.
FAITH AN ESSENTIAL FACTOR.

rev. N. A. ayue preached at MaynOWef Con-
gregational Church, yesterday morning, taking
his text from the Epistle Of Paul to the Colos-
slams 2; Y-'For though l be absent in the flesh,
yet am I with you in the spirit, ioying and be-
holding your order, and the steadfastness of
your faith in Christ" His theme was particu-
1arly the last clause of this verse, and dwelt
upon Christian stability. He said that Chris
tianity had hardly been planted before the faith
and constancy of the church were endangered
by errors and by false teachings. Christ's au-
thority was assailed by Judaism, ignorant and
unbelieving men falsely interpreting the Scrip
lures. From this came PauTs anxiety that those
whom he gathered into the various churches
should be on their guard against the dangers
that threatened their faith. He again and again
exhorted them to be firm in their adherence to
Christ, steadfast in their purpose to follow him.
He wants to see these Christians stable amid all
the distractions of false religions and irreligion
of his day. The warning needed then is needed
now, Stability of Christian faith, of Christian
purpose and character are as much endangered
now as ever. The influences that threaten this
stability are as strong and subtle. They are
more specious and need the greater watchful-
ness.
The first Christians were continually attacked
by the Jews, who held that the law of Moses was
binding and Jesus could not claim any authority
higher than Moses. Our faith in Christ as the
divine Teacher and Savior is threatened not by
their arguments, but by others Just as strong
and, perhaps, more perplexing to our faith. Our
confidence in the Bible is assaulted by the criti-
cis1n of science; our principles on f~undamenta
questions, such as claiming the observance of the
Sabbath, the public worship of God, temperance,
and other moral questions, are continually at
tackled. The man is an exception who is not
sometimes in danger of being moved from his
grounds of faith and shaken in his purpose. 1t
becomes every one to have the courage of his con
victions, and to be resolute in the assertion Of
his purpose. The need of the times is stable
men-men who will stand up against the infidel-
1ty, the corruptions, the moral laXity, which I'M
dermlne the Christian integrity of so many.
We want men firm, resolute, clear-eyed, deep
ly rooted like the oak, that grows stronger in
its place by reason of the blasts and shakings
1t receives. Steadfastness is the quality of
character | find in that great man who
died yesterday. Wendell Phillips stood up for
liberty amid the cries and missiles of many enc
mics. Steadfastness is to be distinguished from
its counterparts. Bigotry is one of them. A
blgoted spirit is usually unbending, but it is
frmness without reason. 1t is planted in
prejudice. 1t is without charity. 1t is blind at
tachment to a party or sect and is INSCRIPTIONS.
The bigot is cruel and oppressive. He is firm in
a bad spirit, if not in a bad cause. This is not
the attribute of a good man. 1t is too common,
but there is much less Of it than in formert times.
The opposite of stability, of steadfastness, is
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS this, Addison says:
cannot but be criminal when it relates to mat
tiers OF the highest concern. Apathetic uncon-
Germ in spiritual affairs is dangerous.
Stability is not stubbornness. Stubborness is
a disdainful obstinacy which win not listen to
any appeal made to the reason or the better feel
ings. A stubborn nature is always offensive. 1t
cannot command affection, and is as likely to
stand up for what is evil as for that which
is good. Stability of character means a firm adj
herence to what the intelligence and conscience
say is right, a calm, dispassionate, kind but reso-
lutte allegiance to truth, to duty, to Coda fixed
purpose TO obey convictions, to adhere to princi-
pies adopted because they are right. TIL stable
man is not upset by the numerous and varying
winds and currents of new doctrines, novel no
tons, fanciful, speculative theories. He is a
conservative man in the best sense of the word.
He waits to see what new things amount to He
makes no changes; gives up nothing until he is
clearly informed and convinced that a change is
for the better, and is demanded by truth and
duty. He is not affected by the thought that he
may be on the unpopular side; that he stands in
a despised company. Difficulties and opposi-
ton do not depress nor discourage him. He
answers back to the enticing appeals of the
world, My heart is fixed, o Lord, my heart is
fixed"
l have no fear of the final outcome of crit
cisms and attacks on the Bible and its teachings.
Christianity invites investigation. For eighteen
hundred years it has stood a fiery ordeal of criti-
eism and assault. It's authority is acknowledged
by more minds now than at any other time. But
there is danger that individual minds may make
~shipwreck of their faith. If one is not rooted
and grounded in the truth he may become an
easy prey to in6del sophistries and misrepresen-
tations. Ihave no fear of a mans adherence to
the Bible or to Christ as the divine Teacher and
Savior CT the world, if a man will give our pc
hgion the candid Investigation which it claims. l
have heard that the great novel, Ben Hur,"
written by General Wallace, grew out of a con-
v~ersation he had with Mr.. lngersoll, the infdel
General Wallace confessed himself unsettled in
his belief. He afterwards said that the investi-
cation he had prosecuted had resulted in his be-
hef that Jesus Christ was really the divine
Savior. Two English scholars. unbelievers. in
vestigated the resurrection of Jesus Christ and
the conversion of Paul. They both afterwards
affirmed their belief in the truth of the Christian
religion.
L have said men are tempted on all sides to
WAIVER. What a spectacle of instability We see
III the Inconsistency of the people in reference to
religious duties in practical morality. Many
start well but do not run patiently their race.
Many enlist on the side of Christ. enroll their
names in the ranks of his followers. but play
into the hands of the enemy. Oh, for stable
Christians who do not forsake their posts, who
are not frightened by a difficulty, who do not
lose heart when others fall by the way; who keep
on, patiently, eheerfully, resolutely, biding the
hridegroom's coming, doing the duty of each day,
contentedl knowing that this is right, that this
is pleasing Christ. This should be your idea.
Any duty, however small, is something that
calls for fidelity. If it is noble for the cap
tain OF an ocean steamer to be al
ways at his post it is roble for
The fireman down below decks. out
of sight to be at his post. The ship can notcome
to its port of safety without the eonstancy of
both. 1t does not matter so much what we have
to do. 1t does matter how we aoquit ourselves.
God has assigned you to your post of duty. If
you are tempted to forsake it think whether He
has relieved you. The wrecks of reputation and
character have all come because men have not
stood firm in the day of temptation. The
wretchedness of the miserable victims of vice
and intemperance are all witnesses of the eonse-
quences of instability of purpose,
Do not listen to voices that tempt you from
duty; do not listen to voices that shake Yonr con