New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-08

list. who is content 10 Know about her through the
Mo- illness Of hFS OS will
above he Ell only to him who viii search for her
she goes, who will show by every motion that he
cannot i've without her who will i've for her alone
her e"' 'o' "er' VIII suner TOT her' VIII ole i0r
THE CHURCH STILL LEARNING.
The guidance by the spirit into ali truth is
discipline training. a long process of education
The Church as an organization is in this process
the individual Christian In the Church is also I'M
der this discipline. There those who think
that the whole divine truth is known. that It
revealed to the ante-Nicene Church. In nothing
could they be more mistaken. The Church has
been learning in all the Christian centuries. and
is learning to-day. The Church OF Christ is d.
vided because many great problems OF doctrine
and life have not yet been solved. One religious
body emphasizes one truth and another another
nadequacy about us ell But the churches are
learning and as they are learning they are put
and bringing out truth and better statements
The aHcien d Of truth as taught by the
S9d Ihs bbsaI sd Of truth al the IN
Christian knowledge the form Of the knowledge
and the q i necessary change With
there is necessarily involved change OF some
KIND IN every other truth with Which WI II Is brought
any doctrine until we know. the whole truth Of all
and scientific processes Of Investigation which in
our times dominate ali the realms Of knowledge
lgIon and theology also. This is exactly what we
have to expect not only from the inevitable law OF
creation but also from the teaching Of Jesus that
the Holy Spirit would guide His disciples into all
CHANGES IN THE STATEMENT OF TRUTH.
There are men in every age who oppose the ad-
vance OF the truth. They deprecate any advance In
the knowledge Of the truth. any improved methods
Of study They desire everything to go just as
hefO hat Ues hO hoId nd fraD INIT he
truth Of religion just exactly as they have received
It. Such thing is impossible in a living growing
thinking Church. Such thing is impossible for any
man who is conscious OF the Holy Spirit dwelling
within him and leading into truth
We have heard Of mothers who complain OF the
carelessness and heedessness OF their growing sons
who. owing their activity. vigor and enthusiasm.
are ever rending their garments and outgrowing
them But who ever heard OF a father or a mother
who would have the boy stop growing and remain
stunted In order to save the expense and care Of
providing garments?
The Christian organization. the Apostle tells
US is growing from infancy 10 full manhood. Does
any one suppose that the growing Christian or the
growing Church. can go wearing the same
clothes. using exactly the same modes OF state
ments, used In the infancy early youth
Of the organization?
The fulgrown Christian and the full-grown
Church will be the essentially the Christian
babe and the infant Church. and the identity OF
ter Will remain in every stage OF growth. but the
external dress and form will change in size and
style and mode with every real growth. Let us
thank God that the Church is growing. when we
see changes taking place in its forms and modes
in its statement of truths. Now we know that the
Church is alive. and that II is conscious OF the
Divine Spirit dwelling in 1t, and that the Divine
Spirit is in reality guiding 1t into all truth.
AN AGE OF CRITICAL SCHOLARSHIP.
and thorough-gong critical scholarship. Holy
Scripture has been searched by critics be-
fore and the result is that IT stands forth before
the world in its native historical beauty wealth and
power the holy. divine eternal Word OF God to
man. Nothing of any historical value has been lost
or impaired. The Church doctrine OF the Bible.
defined by the Church. stands forth more glorious
than Nothing has been injured but human
traditional opinions about the Bible which have
never received the sanction OF Holy Church.
The history Of the Church has been studied by
historical criticism in time before
The result. the whole has been in favor OF
churchly and Catholic teaching against
railroads.&c. and agnostc tendencies.
81 believe in the Holy Ghost" believe that all
this wondrous critical study OF Holy Scripture and
Holy Church is under the guidance OF the Holy
Spirit; that the Holy Spirit has been fulfilling and is
fulfilling and Will continue fulfil the promise
OF Jesus. He is leading the Church on step by
step. through after another overcoming
difficulty after another solving hard prob
lem after another. here q little. there little, line
upon line. precept upon precept. onward. up
ward, TO the goal OF Truth. the whole Truth the
glorious Truth OF God.
BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Let us believe in the Holy Spirit and not doubt
His presence His guidance This IS the best
answer TO the agnosticsm OF age. Let us not
be so pessimstic or doubtful unstable in
minds as 10 think that error will prevail. The
" IIa tha tn.
dwelling Spirit and the Spirit will lead him
into all the truth he is willing 10 appropriate and
use for the salvation OF himself and OF those who
are intrusted TO his care. The Church is not left
TO herself She is possessed OF the Holy Spirit and
II she really and firmly believes In the Holy Spirit
He will guide her Alright just far as she is able
and willing 10 60 The Church is advancing
never before 1t is characteristic Of the new
theology that Il believes In the Holy Ghost A
new age Of the world is at hand an age OF love
and Christian knowledge. an age In which the
Divine Spirit will smite all agnosticsm and pierce
every doubt with the invncibe two-edged sword OF
truth; piercing even TO the dividing Of soul and
spirt of both Joints and marrow. and quick 10 dis
Germ the thoughts and intents OF the heart. Apd
there IS no creature that is not manifest in His
sight; but all things are naked and laid open before
the eyes OF Him with Whom we nave 10 ~
(Hebrew Nv. 12-l3)
It's edges and it's point but from It's hilt pours forth
a stream of redemptive grace 10 heal all wounds
and renew into holy. joyous and glorious life
DIR. DE COSTA's SERMON.