Morning journal and courier., 1885-03-27

DIR. John Hail, ID. d.. of New York K,
Lectures to the Theological Students
-SFOrces That Have Modified Chris
tian Testimony, Life and Work.''
Dr.John Hall of New York spoke to the stu
dents of the Theological seminary yesterday
afternoon upon "Forces that have modified
Christian testimony, life and works" Light
houses serve for two purposes-to give direc-
ton and warning, and in this way we can
look at fixed doctrines or dogmas Fixed
ness is expected if they are to be really use
full, as that is what inspires confidence. If
lighthouse is to be constructed the place
where it is to be erected must be taken into
account; SO in the matter of doctrines which
must be arranged according to infinite wis
dom in accordance with the place and cir
cumstances, the force against which they
have to contend must always be reckoned in
to account. We find plenty of illustrations
given in the Old Testament. The scripture
was given for correction and instruction il.
righteousness and was shaped into the con-
ception of God as the maker of heaven and
earth. The ancients saw these as the most
striking objects to them and
worshipped them. To mould the
progress of Christianity it was necessary
that the idea of God as their maker should
be formed in order that they might be turned
from the wrong to the right. Then the old
tendencies were forsaken and men turned to
serving the living God who made heaven
and earth. They had worshipped and served
the creature rather than the creator and the
conception of the living God was shaped to
the need of the times. People that are
troubled about scientists would be all right
if they kept to the primary object and pur-
pose of Genesis. The book of Exodus sup
PIGMENTS all the sayings of Genesis and sets
the lighthouse before the nation and makes
all subject to God. The Hebrew nation was
intended to be as light to the nations of
the earth and to show the way in which God
was to govern the world Their idea was
that the church must be visible and the ser
vice so visible that all people could see
what was being done therein To look at
the rewards and punishments as merely a
temporal way in which God dealt with men
is not satisfactory. The discrimination is
not made in the way that is supposed be-
tween the Old and New Testaments.
In order that the Hebrew economy
might do its work things must not only be
drawn on large national scale, but also we
must keep in mind the idea of God, else mis-
conception follows. Looking at the way in
which the name Christian arose, they never
called themselves Christians, but believers.
This comprehended all on the same basis,
The disciples were called Christians by ont
siders, and in this way is the Providence of
God manifested by the spirit speaking in the
presence of men. Christ is the Messiah the
Goldman, who gives the name to the
Christian dispensations. The name Christian
is thus turned into the designation of the
highest honor and loftiest distinction. It il
not separated by an impossible chasm from
the dispensations of the seeds of piety and
knowledge. We see the same designation in
the subsequent development of the new body
of the Christian church.
In the Hebrew arrangement there was
lack of fidelity. The system went steadily
down in the popular estimate. A class sprang
up doing what the other failed to do and en-
bracing a religion which included all. This |
religion was prepared for reception by the |
nature of things. The Messiah came, not to |
1omineer and represent authority, but as a |
imam of sorrows and acquainted with grief.