New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-14
SERMONS WORTH KEEPING.
DR. w. H. p FAUNCE PRESENTS "THEUDAs

I'LL, following such an eloquent preacher but he ha
succeeded to the satisfaction Of all who him. Al
great Blblicalischolar many whose NOR,
frequently seen in print he is constructive and not
| destructive critic. The sermon delivered yesterday
shows his reverence for the Bible whole, and ye
his willingness to receive new light from any quarter
In order to understand the text should read the
oohtext In the fifth chapter of the Book Of the Acts
| me text was: Before these days up Tieudas
bossting himself to be somebody, to whom q number OF
men, about 400. Joined themselves; and now
say unto you, refrain from these men and let them
alone' Acts v :36-36. Tie sermon was In substance
! as follows:
Who Theudas was Do net know. and have carefully
feiraheo from inouirinR Biographical details small
importance when search OF substrsta PRINCIPLES
me point Of this lies I'm the Theudas
was Wholly insignificant person, Just like thousand
other men who have made noise In their day.
fale OF the world for few hours and then passed
silence and oblivion. In the fifth the Acts the
religious authorities rising against infant
church and the whole atmosphere electric
OF coming There alarm ON one side hatred ON
the other and the agitation spreads until Jerusalem
hed with seethinR theological dsputaon and the prison
and the scourge only add to the intensity OF public feeling
Livery Verse In the narrative quiyers suppressed
energy At last the apostles summoned before
council which has already resolved
stands Gamslie-the teacher Of Paul a man had in
reputation among all the peope"and reads the excited
sanhedrlm lesson their national history He
says In substance:
This ALARM this huryng to and fro this calling for
the scouree and the dungeon breathless haste is all
the result Of vision and sna outlook Our own
time Is not the first 10 witness startling
Tore these DAYS Theudas. and drew
him Yet that uprising which seemed terrible
almost forgotten. Wider horizon would mako Us calm.
Learn the lesson Of Gods great plan moves
through the TO Its accomplishment II this new
teaching be not Of Him. it will be like all the
noise followed by great silence. But II God Is behind
This tachng-bewsre lest hapy be found fight against
God"
Thase words imply that eamaliel was almost ready
to embrace Christianity. they indicate only that he
wss btesA and tolerant Jew. either
u9n 10 cur rtstes disDutse0us cea<
We TOO. live In time Of hasy moving and fro. Of
questioning and when the conflict
and clash old outlines minge with and old
forae recast. until souls timid wise.
loving quiet than truth. ALAS what shall
doi The true be given either bv
partssnship by cynical indifference The
is TO be found In the unfalternR faith which God
behind the shifting Of human thought and ACTION
and knows that whatever lights may armament
whether glowing planet. shooting steady
He calleth them all by in the Of His
GODS KINGDOM ON EARTH NOT NOVELTY.
The first thing for US TO remember is that the Kingdom
Of God earth is not novelty, Christianity is not
experiment and that before these days" Thousand
similar dangers have been trumphancy surmounted. The
man who is not In league with the past cannot face the
future. We need to things in large perspective,
stand on from little immediate task, painter
stands from his canvass, that he to IL
with touch Even in the common responsibilities
Of daily life knowledge of history is quite i'm.
porant Acquaintance with multiplication table
the man who despars OF political leaders to-day read
the story Of the attacks made Washington the dark
est days Of Revolution, Let The who bewails
the prevalence Of secular ideals In college life read how
the Yale students the opening OF century delighted
In assuming the of noted atheists. Let he
who mourns over the bitterness OF modern controversy
read the stately amazing prose OF Mtoa's pamphlets
and the depths 20 which that soul descended Let
the who is bewidered by the sudden influx Of
knowledge and cannot adjust himself at the fresh
truth poured into his mind, remember the shock
given to humaniy-s shock which seemed to dislocate
all systems Of science and all hymns Of the faithwhen
the centre OF the universe for the sake Of which and
created Ground which the ordered revolyed
but mote floating IN the boundess void insignih
sending It's tiny into the infinite darkness.
We America specially deficient historical per-
spectiye Our life has been swift wholly modern.
tina: intensely individual deghtng often In
CATION from the past Thus, having small background for
endeeyor restless and easily tossed by
conflicting winds. History too Nature TO Emerson
why so little man - The history OF the Christian
Church O splendid armOry for faith The future Of
Christianity does no. depend what Is lost this
morning The OF Gods Kingdom in The earth is
staked The OF my little scheme any than
the coming spring depends the OF the
bed In my garden That kingdom before came into
being, will endure when goneit is the work on
Him who and is, and is to be. the Almighty. Be-
hind all the that and the theories that rise and
fall stands God within the shadow, keeping watch above
His own"
A BACKGROUND OF TRIUMPHANT HISTORY.
In few days shall be writing 1882" all our
letters notes deeds. These figures vastly than
conventional arTang cement. They eloquent with
strong Thy like flag brought home from
battle. smoke beerimed, blood teined. buetton, but
fright original spltldid color and vocal with
inspiring speech. We have right 70 live did
Church century when much tentative
and experimental. We have background Of triumphant
history. We have demonstration the Apostles could not
have. 'lS9o"-thst that not saayIng forth
novel errand. that not bearing some new nos
for the ills OF humanity 1t that the Gospel
a Christ has shown It's power In Europe, Asa Africa,
America that civilization the world has been
IT, product that the no5lest drunk
at its fountains all the pilanthropes OF modern life
sprung from the example Of Jesus and that whoever
1892 tn head OF documen: renders involuntary
homage to the Saviour OF mankind. Under the equator
arctic circle, beneath palm and pine, beside
nedral and pagoda, Saul Of Tarsus and to Joseph
Neesma, has Christ proved able TO regenerste the md
Nldus and mould nations lie Our apoogetcs
dang grousy icing apology and the who
syologzes for being Christian never Steadily
Kingdom Christ spreading from the river unto this
earth. Witty and keen have been the attacks
on the falth-sonetimes they have purced it from
cresence ofttner they have glanced oil and rebounded
opponents Oh NnrlsNat'l VI
grandeur OF what they attacked In this Christian land
we do not accept Christian faith whether 1t is true
accept accept the earth beneath hurrytng
feet and the untroubed sky chat overarches all.
Hence the place and purpose OF the Old Tesla
peculiar function Is show that God is
WITHIN human history, and that all history Gull
inmates revelation Of Jesus Christ. Gods primary
revelation through speech, but through events
With Him. with factions sIsak louder than words
The Old Testament recedes the New To show US God
behind and within the nations life, and when
and believe that, historical Saviour becomes not only
credible but inevitable. Every historical book is fnda
mentally sermon whose purpose is no; al all TO tel US the
numter killed battle the date at which petty king
reigned but disclose God behind al 3 tumuuou and
life Of the people IL is to bring Us camness and
con ndonee by showing how before these days " God
was at work in human life and He IL still accomplish