The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-27
THE TRUTHS OF SCRIPTURE.
The Theme Of q Sermon at the First
Baptist Church by DR.. Jefery.
A discourse BIZ Rev. ]. Albert Rondthaley on
Divine Law-Rey. Doddridges Sermon
to Young Men.
nc Ieffery's Discourse at the First Baptist
Church Yesterday Morning.


In. Jeffery's Discourse at the First Baptist
Church Yesterday Morning.
'Scriptural Truths Conditioned on Natural
was the theme Of DIR. Jeffery's sermon yesterday
morning, which was preached TO large congre-
CATION. IL was an extemporaneous discourse, as
all his sermons are, and was replete with apt
illustrations, while his argument was made inn
pressive and forcible by the fervor Of his elo-
quence. His text was, II have told you OF
earthly things and ye believe not; how shall ye
believe IL tell you Of heavenly thngsT-John
Iii, IL.
The irst point in tho sermon was, that reve-
1saicn had a two-fold function. First to articn-
late truths which men might discover without o
supernatural communication. Second, to COM
municate truths which could not be known with
out it. AS to the first function the Bible gave
us certain manifestations Of the laws of the
human mind ard Of the human character,
AID gained claim on our credence by
the infallible correctness of its descriptions
The psychology Of the Bible is faultless. The
consciousness OF every man attests its statements
concerning the instinct of worship, the sense Of
Gin and guilt the proneness to do wrong, the rec
ignition Of the desert Of sin and the law OF retri-
button, the need of pardon, the helplessness OF hui
man nature TO make itself better, the necessity Of
some power outside and above itself to redeem 1t
from the thradom of sin. and the instinct or I'M
mortality. What the Bible says OF these things
every man knows to be true.
The next function OF revelation is to- reveal
Gods method of meeting and providing for these
elements in mans moral nature. 1t reveals
God who is worthy OF our intelligent worship,
a method Of meeting the demands Of retribution,
and at the same time of bestowing pardon
through the mediation of Christ; u provision for
elevating human nature by transformation
through the influence of the Holy Spirit. and of
assuring and inspiring man to lofty ideals by the
revelation of Immortality and through the resur-
rection Of Jesus Christ You ask how am to
know that these truths have had objective real
ity. answer, because they are just the truths
that our own natures demand in order TO meet
any of its needs; because they are the only
truths that contain tho power to purify and
ennoble us; because in proportion only as mon
accept and come under the power Of these truths
are they purified and ennobled.
The skepticism that rejects these supernatural
truths has its root in the refusal of men to ac-
cept and be governed by the natural truths on
which the spiritual are conditioned. AS mere
speculations of mental and moral philosophy men
may assent to them, but this assent does not
ordinarily carry with it an ability or disposition
to allow them to enter into the practical forma-
ton of the character Illustrations are abund
ant What drunkard does not know the evil and
sin of intemperancel What dishonest man does
not acknowledge the meanness or fraudi In
fact, all laws in legislation and social life are
based on the recognition of these natural truths.
But does this knowledge restrain men from evil!
No, but instead, it provokes men to deny the
truths of revelation. Men want to disbelieve
the BibIe for the sake Of gaining greater
freedom in doing wrong. 1t is easier to deny
the doctrine of a future Judgment than break
with the sins that render such tribunal a
fearful apprehension.
It is easier to deny the provision of mercy in
Christ than to exercise penitence for sin. 1t
is easier to doubt the being of God than to give
him the homage of our hearts. Our natures con-
fess the need of pardon, and the Bible Is the
only book that proc.aims the offer of free and
plenteous' forgiveness. All other religions sug-
gest the possibility of escape from penalty only
by a system of penances and reprisals.
The reason why men prefer other religions or
no religion is found in the fact that the Bible is
the only book that, while offering deliverance
from penalty, at the same time de-
nands characters that desire and strain
to be free from sin. In this re-
spect the discrimination is remarkable. And
herein lies the proof that other religions are
human devices and that Christianity is divine.
They Suggest premiums for a deliverauce
from sin, while allowing the devotee
to continue in the indulgence of it, If the
Bible made such a provision men would not be
so interested in denying its supernatural origin.
In short, infdelity is not so much matter of
head as of the heart. When you come to see the
awfulness Of sin, when you truly desire righteous
ness. when you fall in love even with your own
Ideals of purity and manhood, you will find no
difficulty in trusting in Jesus as a savior, and
in laying hold of that eternal life He came into
the world to bestow.