New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-08
HE SAYS IT rs Not 4 FIGURE
MIRACLE OF THE Sun STANDING STILL
MUST BE ACCEPTED, ACCORDING TO
DIR. REMENSNYDER. II OTHERS
ARE TO BE BELIEVED.

The Rev Dr. J. Il. Remensnyder. pastor OF ST.
Jamcs's Lutheran Church, Mad'son-ave. and Sew
enty-thiri-st based his sermon lat night upon
the miracle OF the sun standing still He con-
demned the criticisms that have been levei!ed
against the actually of this occurrence. and urged
that The miracle should be accepted literal
happening IL would be illogical. he maintained to
reject this wonder. unless all miracles described III
the Bible were refuted. "S,eptcal criticism he
said in the of his sermon, troubled by
;he very feature which constitutes its grandeur
has assailed this miracle First. it has been as
serted that no such miracle as exclaimed In Joshua
occurred /; is said that the inspired writer Is
only speaking hgurativey. and does not mean TO
assert that any wonder really took place. Now
that hgurative language ia sometimes used IN
Scripture. as IN all literature. is certain. Sun, 1t
is equally certain that the whole settings sur
roundings and context always enable the reader 10
tell whether Il figure is intended or not II this
were not case. there would be end OF literal
writing for every fact and assertion could be
dissolved into the mist of figure and fiction.
There H. common sense sanity OF judg-
ment to he employed in Discerning narrative from
figure And submit 10 our hearers whether
the evidence tina; simple his:or al account is
here intended is not absolutely conclusive. II
no miracle took place here. then none ala else
where in the Bible. To attemp; 10 explain away
SUCH direct and conclusive evidence "a We have OF
this miracle is mere trining with the Divine Word.
all Scripture into contempt and make 1t and Chris
tans the sport Of nfIels
Another objection brought forth Is that the
miracle is too great that IL involves too gigantic
disorder In the system OF nature. Siill jesus tens
us that nothing is impossible with God, and Jeho-
yah himself challenges. i am Jehovah. Is anStnnS
too hard on me- Were 70 look on II sclentlh-
caliy there are many ways IN wni'h II couIi nave
been effected easily enough. We say the sun rises.
tho sets when klOw t1at. strictly speaking.
It does not, bat We describe wha' appears 20
does the inspired writer here describe the scene as
u apparent
going down was stationary in the sky for Twelve
hours Now. science shows that by retraction or
bending OF the light rays. SEE the sun eight
minutes after IL has actually set and all that 81
would have needed to 10 would have been by a
stronger refraciion to have bent those rays
as 10 have he'd the visible IN That spot mus
much longer. When We consider ne Hight wonders
OF the aurora. the appearance OF mock suns ana
the marvel = the mirage. by which objects on
earth and invisible projected IN perfect image
20 the eve alOfi In the heavens with w1at IN
finite ease In a myriad o! could the Almighty
Creator have effected the single thing he desired
here-the continued visbil ~ o; ne sun and me
prolongation of the day He ala virtually IN" same
thing In the case 81 HezekiaA. when 40 moved The
shadow ten degrees back on the suntia % Ahaz
we cannot get rid of miracles IN the Bible or
concfiiate the objections - s'ep'ics By giving up
any one that looks exceptionally hard or dlhcuit.
This IS no. very revercu' or pleasing to God With
Him ono IS hard and as easy as another. II We
accept the Supernatural Jet Us assent 20 all the
RiNral miracles. r. reject T.. then let re-
feet al miracles That Is the only logical and con-