New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-01-12
PULPIT THOUGHTS.
EXTRACTS FROM YESTERDAYS SERMONS
THE VALUE OF DOUBT IN RELIGION.

"Doubt" at All Souls (Anthon MemoriaD Churcn 'c
terday morning Among other things no s~.u' "
Thomas was o born sceptic, true rauonsnS' '
member Of the apostolic college. Was no there - AZ
example or warningi The presence OF such "'uos
different views OF the Christian nationalist petrays ~
antipodal conceptions Of doubt itself Science anu
philosophy eulogtze doubt Bacon affirmed tnss no wno
would become philosopher must commence by repuui"
ting belief The history Of modern science - Aoiy
of uncquaed advance won by an % rn"W We
question On the other hand the ,hsr rShS tell
doubt Sdo Ess p" p the roots Of
and with 1t dies morality Society itself Is unobv
n, IS ting s.a OF ase Of
be treated disease II not as positive sim HON SSn s
answer lies in correct understanding Of what Is
meant by doubt. What science means Is ndmnr0ugbiv
humble investigation which will not receive m
Others have rsceysa as Me as Of geology
and viii hold only that which verihes itself Inc
sphere Of religion By it sndby alone the Church
continuously advance Men who grow must pas -,
real sith. must winnOw out the wheat Of truth from
the chat Of tradition Our age especially calls tnoux
nums sr would to become superstition
without this questioning there would be no sor
hcuani This spirit the real ssSrss of
hut reconstruction 1t is an instrument In the manu- VI
God. -. ...r IN
such a mental attitude which warrants the Churcns
warning though not her nSSSus soul
That normal state one Of happy r,n
the armaSns Of n ra'' n, 'n need to
get through the slough of doubt as quickly as may
POSITIVE S faith There is cheap and nasty doubt which
goes through the land dcnouncing on sunday evenings
son and cne dollar for reserved seats Announcing with
great flourish Of very brazen trnmpcts the nove us
ton ago seeming to say II the Almighty had called
in at the creation could have given MIN vaIu onS
result in establishing on rrner foundations es'eh'a
truths Of religion.
THE TRUE TEST OF CHARACTER.
The Rev Dr. Taylor: Tho dividing line which sep
into great classes is character We may
not see any more tho line OF the equator
but surely exists Many things, however. often hinder
from taking position on the side 10 winch
they really belong. The engrossng cares OF business
from OF virtue and others FROM works OF Vice
Business must be attended TO. the wGrslngman
be left undone which would be very pleasant TO no.
SO. too. the conventonscs OF society restrain men
Certain things tabooed in social circles The Chris
tian into society-he wOud De coward II hc re
fused-but he insist upon doing there just what
he would in a prayer-meetng. The man who Is not a
Christian must be received by society Tor the wofid
but society will not allow the profane to exhibit his
profanity In her or the drunfard to be ntoh
over men. However much men may at
Mrs. Gruudy they pay court TO her They may say
the local moral atmosphere they 90 TO Coventry and they
quite ready for that True. the Christian WIN not
lower his principles but he will not tilt against wind
mills by attacking things Indifferent mans true char
When FOR instance the days work ended he TO
the pursuits he really loves Leisure one OF the most
his leisure hours and will tell you what he Is youth
makes OF himself both for this life and the next
In 5 6B G1e Sn lost ia influence When boy and
The man too sometimes goes from the country town TO
knows him and he thinks no can do what he peases he
very shows what his pleasure actually 4. Sooner
longs-n II he has the opportunity II not hen when
death removes all restraints.
WHY MEN SHOULD JOIN THE CHURCH
The Rev DR.. Robinson Men excuse themselves for
not Joining the church by saying q" There are good
Christians outside of IT, The dying thief Joined the
church" lie never had chance. We have II 10 true,
no proof tho Virgin Mary. Philip. who baptized
the eunuch any OF the disciples was baptized Yet hap
tsm IS the usual symbol Of admission into the church
Bctrothal may satisfy some msdcns but bridegrooms
usually insist upon marriage sooner or later Church
membership not essential salvation but obedience
10 Christs command Is AID he distinctly commands H.
" Do this I'm remembrance ofme. Always No. IL was
not the duty Of dying thief but It was OF the eunuch
weak evidence OF present faith keeps many rsn joining
Of disease and say There is hospital built for such
you" will he answer am not well enough to enter
IL n The highest Office OF minister Is brotherhood Ny
business IA not to keep out but 70 let In The UleVer
outside OF the church must surrender either his hope or
hi. objections entering There arc many trees out
side the garden but the Master rarely reaches over the
wall.
RELIGION SOURCE OF JOY
The Rev. DR.. Alexander Many persons regard reli-
gon as medicine necdful In the last resort. but I'M
pleasant to take or system Of eractons and re-
sfctioDs Of Thou shalt nots 20 DO obeyed or avoided
But this IS a pagan idea OF religion the scriptures
always couple righteousness with JOY. and sin with
misery The Christian experiences the JOY o spiritual
cOnyacsccnce Disease Is anarchy Ia the physical or
gansm sin ANARCHY In The spiritual oTsrnism a nS
Christs great work was healing sin-sieL souls The JOY
OF true activity also belongs % the Christian No man
ludOlcnt A
said the Grecian sage In every great soul there an
ure Aud when man becomes builder with God then
he feels conscious that he Is building FOR eternity
THE vOLUNTARINEss OF BELIEF
The Rev. DR. Parkhurst: Tho amount OF conviction
produced stands in no fixed ratio to the amount
OF truth adduced. We fail OF the truth because
there with reasons that stronger than
reason. We individually determine how much truth
shall let in Our eye made TO see aud the light
which enters win give picture OF the external world
hangs the eyed which obcdient the slight
est movement of our Will This makes good many
things clear II shows why scripture says much about
Christ has brought into the world additional light but lie
has also brought additional seeing power Not knowing
Good begins with not wanting Ia know. Spiritual blind
ness is voluntary before is constitutional This makes
can destroy every Joint in an osament Is Christ says
| aye will not believe" You convince a mans inel-
are nnbelievers have reached belief you viii md that
you have come over no jonted pavement OF logic. You
| Will have as much Christ as there il open door.
CHRISTIANITY Is SOCIAL.
The Rev. T. L. Hale, of Boston, at All Souls Church
The the mount will do for the multitude to
day well for the multitude In the time OF Christ.
Jesus Christ addressed not this that ono but
his special message was To men united In community
| All criticism on the sermon tho mount is wasted
which does not revert TO the truth that to COM
pany OF followers that Christ gave His teaching Even
when He gives warning In the singular number 10 is TO
some one because he belongs to the Christian common
wealth. There cannot be lonely Christian. Christi
anity means that Christians must bear aD0thers
burdens What He says lie means for the whole com
pany working together When the whole kingdom seeks
first the kingdom OF God and His righteousness then
all these things shall be added It, II work with
God, God works with II live by the law Of the
Spirit we shall have The spirits guidance u we do Gods