The times., 1899-12-11

The sermon preached by the Rev. Or.
Wallace Radcliffe at the morning service OF
the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church
Yesterday was founded on the text as con
tanned in The Gospel according 10 John.
chapter V. verse "A: Verify Verify / say
unto YOU. and treated on The Assertive-
ness and Certainty Of the Christian Re
ligion Dr. Radcliffe in the course of
his sermon, said:
The never changing tone of the words
of the disciples Of Christ carried with il
the victory that overcame sin and saved
mankind from eternal damnation. In uu-
erring tones of self-assertion Christ's doe
trine is engraven on the pages of history;
the gospel of Christ is a certainty of
facts. an account of interchangeable nara
tiOn OF history, whatever skepttcism what
ever those who scOf and doubt may preach
The great comprehensive facts Of Christ
are written il is proved that Christ was
born, that he lived. that he suffered. died.
was buried. and arose and ascended on
high. These facts are acceded by an his
torians. We are as sure that Christ lived
rs that Caesar lived The life of Christ
and his works and his existence in this
world are as unimpeachable as the life
Of Washington and Napoleon.
Individuality must assert itself Uni
fOTmity is the crown of attack Whilst
there may be differences of opinion con
cerning details and minor points in the
doctrine of Christianity, all witnesses
agree on the grand substance and princi
pie Of the Christian religion. Differences
of opinion in testimony tend TO assure,
whereas a general agreement and assent
from all parties leaves ground for suS-
picion and doubt. Variety of opinion is
natural. and as regards Christian Iel-
giOn is but a confirmation and acknOwl-
edgemeHt by all parties of the truthful
existence Of the point Of argument
Christianity and its doctrines History
brings TO us. as it brings aught else the
/ doctrine, person. and life Of Christ, ab-
T sOlutely seif-assertive
The ideal of all religions is character.
No religion exists for itself; it is for man.
II there IS penance. modification, and suf-
fering it is instituted for the benefit OF
the individual for the promotion Of hon
esty, morality, truth, and all the noble and
/ divine impulses and virtues. Religion is
for man, and Christ declared the princi-
pies for all religions. Character is the
perfected completion of the being built on
I truth absolutely The ideal of all reli-
gions is character. Character in abstract
I is perfection built upon truth In the con-
/ crete 1t is Christ.
The world reyels in pain and cries IN
[ sorrow, sweat and tears of blood can be
| seen on every side; men groping in dark
I ness and fear reaching out 10 find some re-
/ lief. Education and culture is the prog
/ ress that viii prepare man for life's duties;
I that Will strengthen, enable, and en!.SnteL
( him, and dispsl the gloom in which he Is
/ surrounded. But who viii wipe the tears
away while school is closed and before we
! receive culture? Who viii Tighten the
/ burden that crushes us and makes us mis-
erable while we wait for the development
Of education with its sweetness and food OF
I light and comfort"
Dr. Radcliffe then arraigned the teach
ings and doctrines OF socialism, saying
I that the ills Of society cannot find redemp
/ tion in the use Of dynamite or brutal force,
as the exponents Of the socialistic doctrine
/ claim that the State should be the Messiah
/ Of society.
He could not see the clearness and
/ strength of their claim since the people
! in society constitute the State. There was
no power in gospel Of destruction dyna-
mite, and brutal force; there was no com
fort. and il would not spend consolation OF
wipe away tears. It is by preaching re-
dempuioH Of the law and out of its force
and goodness Will gradually emanate the
. uplifting OF man.
Wealth was defined by the minister as
the source Of pleasure. luxury, and much
/ happiness, but also as the very miasma
Of misery. suffering and much unhap-
piness.
"Materialism with its PHILOSOPHERS usher;
men only in the region Of mist What hope
can materialism hold out to the dying OF
/ the deathbed or 10 one IN need of spiritua
& NJ do hfIf
10 stultify itself. whereas Christianit5
1 opens its beams Of light. II is light anC
life itself"
Amy religion is aggressive simply by
virtue of the amount Of truth ii con
tains: no religion is utterly bad Mo
hammedanism. Buddhism, Confucianism
are aggressive by virtue of its one granC
truth IN its creed, that there is one God
Christianity is aggressive above all, as j
is the truth only 1t appeals 10 the mar
of culture as we'll as 10 the low and igno
rant anywhere and everywhere. 1t vel
comes the Hotentot and lifts him up from
his state Of bestality and redeems hin
TO manhood Christianity is not exclusive
Whether practiced in cathedrals or The
jungle il is the same. Christianity ap
peals to history, il reveals thousands and
thousands who, by its hand have come
out Of tribulation; it defes denial; il
welcomes investigation; it challenges tes'
timony
Christianity asserts itself and CLAMPS
acceptation. Self-asseTtion of the Chris
tian religion is the argument Of the Chris
life. Sometimes your best friend floors
you in an argument; but here. persuasion
is stronger than logic. the assertion tina
is argument in conformity with a true
ideal in the sweetness Of a Christ-lik,
peace. These things are not Of You, but
of him who is of eternity
Verify. verify. I say unto you
UNITY OF THE HUMAN RACE.