The Newtown bee., 1895-07-05

A SERMON BY REV WILLIAM M. WEEKS OF
 THE EAsToN BAPTIST CHURCH, IN RE
 sPoNsE TO INGERsoLL's LECTURE IN
 BRIDGEPORT.
 Text, John :l6, "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that who- soever believeth in Him should not pei ish, but have everlasting lite."
 The "keeper of the prison" at Philippi said to Paul and Silas, "Sirs, what must do to be saved ?'They replied, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." A noted infidel, a man of surpassing eloquence, has taken for topic, in connection with which, to scoff at Christian truth, the question of the Philippian jailer to Paul and Silas, "What must l do to be saved?" It is a momentous question, and one that he might we'll ponder with the utmost ser iousness, instead of treating with light fippancy. It is question that every in- dividual needs 70 bring home to himself with deep earnestness and it is ques- tion that one cannot settle too early in life, provided he settles it aright. A great change comes at the close of life to every human being. The path of life has many perils, to be avoided or encounter ed, according as by our free wills we choose one way, or another. There are vicissitudes we need to be prepared to meet properly. There are evils possible in every stage of our existence; so in- stinct, experience and Scripture alike teach. And from those evils, whatever they may be, we each, if rational, desire to escape. Is it not then the plain dic- tate of common sense that we ask in ear nest, "What must we do to be saved?'
 < We remark, That no one, unenlighten- ed by Christianity, can give an intelli- gent answer to this question. Ingersoll, treating of this problem and making it his theme, gives it up. He simply, while offering no substitute, ,endeavors to throw discredit on the Christian answer. An old adage, that believe has good sense for it's foundation, says, "Speak well of the bridge that has carried you over" That bridge to the people of this country is Christianity. Christianity planted our fathers feet on Plymouth rock. Christi anity founded the city of Providence. The Christians hope sustained the noble men who signed the Declaration of Inde-. pendence. Christianity underlay the character of Washington, whose iudg- ment preserved the infant nation. Chris tian principles permeate all helaws that protect the lives, liberty and property of our citizens. Christian morality banish- ed slavery from our land I AND CHRISTIAN IDEALS -,s s-=E- i are what sustain the morals of the com munity to-day. Without the schools sus- tained by the spirit of Christian enter prise, the brilliant lecturer who assails Christianity could not have obtained the the skill in rhetoric by which he does it, Does he ssspeak we'll of the bridge that has carried him over p or does he strike with cruel hands the mother whose milk and love have nourished himt-He says he knows not whether there be any inn mortality. How then can he tell you how to escape any dangers arising from immortality ? He cannot, It plain, he cannot. He says he knows not whether there be God. How then can he tell you the way to win Gods approval and to avoid his displeasure and punishment? It is plain he cannot tell this. But the great questions of salvation, are those of God and immortality, and mans re- lation to the eternal. Of these Ingersoll confessedly knows nothing What then can he teach us concerning "What we must do to be saved?' He who goes there for spiritual help, goes to a foun- tain that Is dry. It is different motive. If one wants to hear gifted platform speaker, regardless of subject, he will hear him, when he hears Ingersoll. If one wants b eautiful rhetoric and musical utterance, hs will get that. If he wants to see how eager men are to have deeds contrary to Christianity justified in public, he will have his curiosity satisfied in the complaisance and applause with which some of the audience greet the denunciations of many things which Christ commands. Alas If he wants to see young men and women, cut from their moorings in the safe harbors of Christian influence, and sent unballasted and ill loaded out on the sea of life, to be q prey to the terri ble storms of passion within and tempta- tIon without, and shut out from all guid- ance by the impenetrable cloads of no God and no immortality; he can see tbis there. Reverent criticism and examina- nation of the foundations of the chris tian faith believe in. And ! admire the skill of an orator eyerywhere. Free speech also Is part of the liberty our country enjoys. But I mourn for the moral anll splrital wrecka which are too