The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-23

ings Uttered by the Hnstcr-t n
reasonable Arguments of Doubters
Rev. Frank NJ. Bristol, pastor of the
Metropolitan Memorial Methodist Episco-
pal Church. preached yesterday morning on
the following words: Rabbi we know that
thou art teacher sent from Gcd; for no
man can do these miracles that thou doest.
except God be with him John iii:2.
In his sermon DR.. Bristol said. in part;
THE disposition of rationaIism. so called,
to eliminate the supernatural element
from religion is menace TO our faith.
1t is the privilege of every believer in the
teachings of Christ. TO be able to give
reason for his faith. and those reasons are
something more substantial than mere
credulity. We are saved by faith and
lost by credulity. We will, therefore. con
slider what may be termed the nationality
Of the supernatural element in the teach
ings of Christ, and in his working of
miracles.
Jesus declared that the witness to his
hlNAAAtN was " ne lUuUu III Ills hUIhS
1t was the things which he did that at
tracted the attention of Nicodemus. a man
Of influence. and one of the teachers of the
Jews. But Nicodemus saw deeper than
the mere works of Christ and coming
TO him by night, made earnest enquiry
about the doctrines of his teaching. Nico-
demus. in the first place, was no coward.
He did not seek out Jesus by night be-
cause he was afraid to go to him by day
tt~au . -
in the Jewish council, asking if by their
law they could condemn a man unheard
No. Nicodemus went to Jesus by night
simply because 1t was then only that he
was free from the multitude. When Jesus
was taken from the cross there were two
men who paid him honor-Joseph of Ari-
mathea who gave a tomb to the broken
and wounded body of the Christ, and Nico-
demus. who brought costly specs to en-
balm it.
The Teachings of Jesus.
THE text is capable of being reduced
to logical syllogism. A teacher who does
miracles is teacher sent from God Thon
art a teacher who does miracles. There
fore. thou are teacher sent from God The
teachings of Jesus were linked with the
miracles which he did. and the miracles
were proofs of his divinity. II Jesus per-
formed miracle. that fact substantiates
his divinity. The miracles give to his
teachings divine authority, and there is no
between them. To force a
separation is TO give to the teachings
low and mean method. If they were not
Of divine origin they were based upon the
vilost Of pretences and lies. Jesus said,
and always claimed. that he was sent from
heaven; that he was the son and heir of
sad= sLoH
and that when his work should be done
on earth he would go again to the Father
and assume again his regal position at
his right hand. If Jesus was not divine
then he was the vilest imposter of the ages,
and his method Of teaching was farce and
unworthy OF confidence or belief.
Jesus taught great things; greater than
those OF Socrates or of a-Plsto-the best
things ever taught. The truth which he
expounded embraced better code of
morals than the teachings of Zoroaste-. of
confnciGs. and Socrates combined. Il is
impossible TO suppose that the Apostles
could have invented the miracles. the SER
non on the mount, or the other marvellous
.eachings which fell from the Masters
Ups. They could not have reported the
-eachings and at the same time have in
rented the miracles. How could men have
aith in the teachings which at the same
ime they had invested with lot of lies.
There was no money motive, for the Apos-
les made more money fishing than they
1Ver did preaching the gospel. There was
10 motive for them to deceive anybody
lies could not advance the cause of truth
lnd no trick could give the sermon OH the |
mount any greater power than 1t possesses |
They had no motive to adopt corrupt ,
Methods; they were not dreamers or the |
inventors Of philosophical vagaries, but |
we're plain, common-sense men, fishermen 1
If Galiles, farmers, tentmakers. custom |
louise officers, and hardheaded men. and |
heir testimony is not only rational, but |
las stood unimpeachable for eighteen cen
uries
1t is quite remarkable how much res- |
on is required to believe a thing some /
lines. and how little one can get along
With in disbelieving the sams thing. The /
gncstic's philosophy IS summed up in the
words, I don't know You ask him for
he reason why he doesn't know and he an
wers: 1 don't know. He has no reason
or his doubts. He doesn't know, and
nows not why he doesn't know With the
Gospel 1t is entirely different, for no man
s asked TO believe these great truths with
ut reason. But how will you answer a
nan who does not want to believe We |
now that the world Is round but he saws
e does not believe IL, and bow shall we
nswer him? We know that Milton wrote
Paradise Lost but he says he does not
eiieye it. and how shall we answer him2
len believe things of this kind on the
of others. and on the same
round We believe the miracles of Christ
But the objector brings in the question
probability He says 1t is quite possible
nat Alexander conquered Asia, or that
here is such a country in-the world as
nina, but that the miracles are improba-
lie, II not wholly impossible. How does
e know? Such objection should be based
n knowledge and not a mere philosophical
uibble. In human power miracles are
nposs!ble, but not to the divine power
would be no greater exercise o.
over for God to calm the tempest than |
Or him TO create the winds and the clouds.
lie could easily cause the sick to re-
over as he could al first breathe life into |
be human body. and he could bid the dead
, rise. animate with life as easily as he
ould people the earth with men in the be-
inning. He created the eye. and shall he
OF bid it see? He that created life, shall
e not command ii to revitalize the body
the dead? What is law but the |
bought OF God, and is he a wooden deiiy |
nat he cannot think another thought? Is
cd so hampered by the material world |
lat he cannot perform a miracle to save
an? Has he bound his hands so tight |
it'll natural law, so called, that he cannot |
them TO the cries of humanity |
as he made nature such dungeon that !
, light from the throne of the Creator