The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1892-09-15
WHAT'S rRrrup

Macn see young men carry the Chris.
tnn name and really illustrate 50 many Ol
the features of Christian life, and vet make
u positive denial uf essential truth, or. by
their indifference TO 1t, sacrifice the dearest
Interest ut Christian truth, ! am dishcart-
cn,d. am not contcuding here for sec.
terian theology. | am preaching to YOU on
the broad lines Ot catholic Christianity, and
am trying to present To- YOU the essence OF
Christian faith. | only wish that you should
realize that Christianity, n II il ANYTHING, IL
IL deserves any enduring place. IL II has any
exceptional claims, II II brings any word Of
comfort. II II has any voice of authority,
rests upon the doctrine that Jesus
Christ was delivered of our Offences. and
raised again for our Justification. II is not
true that Christianity i a life aud not a
doctrine 1t isa life bccauscit is Il doCtriuc.
4 religion that sees only the human side Of
CIri,t always calls him jesus; the religion
that looks only upon ethical states and
breaches only 'hc mpralitics of life n religion
that holds that love j. the greatest thing In
the world, aud is satisfied with the sweet
nr,. aud tenderness of Christian feeling, is q
religion of which the best that you can say
j.. that IL Is trying tu keep the fruits ~
Christianity living. while It lays the axe tC
the root of the tree which bears them
Now say, | dare io sny-vuuld tO God
that men would heed m"-that II must
choose between life and dogma, | viii say
that Christianity l. not liie but a dogma.
loU cannot live the Christian life without
holding the Christian dogma; the one cmH.
nate, solely from the other Tins dogmas
great OPP o,tiuu Is, that man is u sinner,
aud that without the shedding Of the blood
there j. no remission of n. Its great fact
/. that Jcsu, VS. the Precipitation for our
sus. and not for oulS only, hut for the ,ins
Of he Who'll, world. II cum,s 10 Us Saying
in "A ihuu.aud ways that We cannot hc iusti-
t,.t flIut ltYiUtF lao
faith We have T. ace with God. It, one shin
in and con. .picuuus miracle ls the rtsurrec.
I on uf Christ. H. doctrine u the iuCarna.
tiuu ',parat,, it from all the religious in the
world.
II YOU are IN carnc. my friend, and YOU
want To know what YOU shall do to kcCu
Your Christian faith on rational grounds,
, will tell you how to get ~ the heart Of the
question without delay. You believe in God.
Add to v2u- ''gsm the ucaruate IhTAi
and You havc tOuud cnvisnth The pilCup,
battle of unbclicf II here. IL is history yCf-'
sus philosophy. Settle with yourself whether
YOU win let your ratiounIistic philosophy
settle your history, or whether you viii
make history qualify your philosophy. VIII
You permit theory to make fact or fact to
make theory; This is the crucial Il 'c-t.On
uf theological debate, not 'hc inspiration OF
the scripture nor the authorship of TIE i'n-
iatourh.
Young men of the scui class, you lately
won - battle in athletic games; then rcm,m-
hcr that ordinary cN,a;- Ia IItc are often
parablrs 10 us, There are battles we have
To- t-ht,nd victories We hOpctu win through
he. You know how yuu did II. Nou know
the patience, you know the training and the
faith that entered into IL. Nrf.conldcurc IS
the lcgjnuing ui great acts. You contested
that you might win an earthly crown; but
go not forget my friends. that there 3, a
crown Ot righteousness that iadclh not
away. Go forth today iy the strength Of
Christian character, stand like true soldiers
nu the battlefield, and tight your hardest.
[Baccalaurcatc sermon, Princeton Uuiy,r
tlty. IN the Treasury.