New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-09
TOPICS AT NORTHFIELD.
INTEREST UNABATED AT THE CONFER
ENCE
DIR. HAMrIN ON THE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

M U,uIIN ON THE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
or THE pIRI,E-THE NEGRO AND THE INDIAN
East Mortified. Mass. Aug. (speciaD.-The In
tense heat did not lessen the morning audience at
tho conference to-day. II told friend to-day
who was complaining of tho heat, that neat was
better than a cyclone II he was not satisfled Win
what he had he might get worse said MI Moody
by way of apology for the warm wave that mas a'
last struck Nortnfeld. Everybody smieo peas
antly and looked cooler.
The Rev Robert +. s. Pierce, of Philadelphia
gave chalk, talk" this morning. This was FOL
lowed by two addresses. as usual. making the
morning session for Mr.. Moody and others who re-
manned through 1t all three hours long. Two ad-
dresses were given in the afternoon and two In the
evening and promises given Of a rousing day to-
morrow
DR.. Henry f. Weston. president of the Grocer
Baptist Theological Seminary gave an exposition
of the Episte of James, which he happily termed
"A Moody Epistle" because 1t blends faith and
works happily
HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE.
The Rev. DIR. Teunis s Hamln, of Washington.
delivered the second address of the morning, pre-
senting THE Historical Perspective Of the Bible
lie said In substance:
Perspective is that Of the painter by which. by
drawing and coloring, he makes objects stand out
from plane surface so as to-look real In proper
ton and relation We apt to think of the Bible
authoritative and valuable In all its parts; so that
the Bible is Bible wherever the citation comes
from, whoever originally spoke II, and unGer what
ever circumstances. We might well say, Corn
is corn" whether stalk husk cob or kernel all have
been necessary in their way and time but only the
last good for food
SO many regard the Old Testament antiquated
and yalueless much Of 1t Is for one direct use,
directions for building temples for sacrifices. for
priesthood, etc. but very valuable as history OF
Testament morality and religion as though they
were final, instead of provisional
fh.4 Ia Hiafff of .nlQ raEa n
ike II cSroxcies' V IT, l. true equally always and
through vast period Of time Truth is moi the
same to an individual at various stages of his ex-
the succeeding This is fully recognized In the
Bible itself In Isaiah xviii, s,lS. God speaks to
cept, as inyalds must have little food very often
And Jesus Himself had many things to say to His
disciples on His last night with them for which
now John xvi ID We must sharply distinguish
between truth given and truth unprecedented; it may
be ever true in itself, but Is true to us only as
as obeyed and lived III any man willeth to do
Ills will: he shall know of the doctrine" John VII.
shall be progress OF revelation Of the truth 1t was
in reference to Himself Known first the
came known as the promised Messiah. Take the
question OF forgiveness In Luke VI. 81, forgive
giving others Forgive, and We shall be forgiven"
but in Matthew XVI. IS. Christ's atonng work IS
this is My cod of the new testament which is
shed for many for the remission of sins" Take
command is Ask. and it shall be given you" just
ask. but in John xvi, p a. the command Is. ASK
what we will TO ask" and will rightly by abiding
in Ne"
THE PROGRESSIVE REVELATION OF GOD.
Let US follow one line of thought suggested by
this study-the progressive revelation of God as
to His character. The pagans had many gods.
anthropomorphc sensual. vindictve. arbitrary, di-
viding the world among themselves Philosophy
made an advance concluding that there must be
one supreme God, unconditional and eternal
Christian philosophy has. of course. gone beyond
this. but the pagan went thus far without reveal
tlon HUw IN SToad ines Of eht disclosing God
The conception IS simple. sublime. comprehensive
practical
God is Creator Gen I, y; opposed to eternity
Of matter God is preserver Nehemiah TX, %. as
2S); as opposed to blind fate or chance. God is
moral psalm cxv, II. and Genesis xylil 10 as op,
is spiritual as shown in the unrcmitting struggle
against idoatry though the anthropomorphic Ian;
Eu1 End j. Psam xxsv XIV io They that seek the
Lord shall not want any good thing" Psalm Gill,
that are dust" makes allowances, though TINS
rather to His own pe9Pe Partially oS Snn ha,dy 9e
Psalm cxxx 4 EXODUS Xxx % What appears IN
margin Of me Revised sh0 OF De an
tons" - - -,
Now in all the Old Testament revelation, the
National idea is never lost sight OF People feel
that in going beyond their own country they are
leaving the jurisdiction Of their God; the heathenly
idea OF local and national deiies persist Progress
is avowed in Exodus vi. %: There God Is not
known by the name Of Jehovah, but only as
Elohm. mighty.
THE NEW TESTAMENT REVELATION
Contrast these characteristics Of God with the
New Testament. God is Father well as Crea-
tor This is limited at in the Old Testament (Ex-
odus w. 22-23: Isaiah kill, 16). Compare with these
Matt w. 6-l5; where the Lords Prayer is found:
"our your Father knoweth. forgiveth," etc. I'VE
are sons by the birth" John T. Y; John ~ 9,
partakers Of the Divine nature: IL Peter 4, filled
with all the fness Of God: Ephesians Ill. 49, God is
Saviour as well as preserver; Timothy !, z and
H. 3: Eternal life IS bestowed In and through Christ
DOM III. 10; X. @ and xvii. g. and John " ~.
God Is guide well as governor John <, 3, He
callcth his own sheep by name and leadeth them
out" God Is perfect as well as moral; that is, all
the defects attributed to Him earlier disappea
Matthew V. IS. lie ye therefore perfect. even as
your Father which is I'm heaven is perfect" He is
fully disclosed I'm Christ who exactly balances
justice and mercy; John xiv g. God is spirit well