The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-14
NEW VISION OF
 JESUS IN 1910 New Haven Cleric Expects Criticism to Destroy Faith
 in Miracles New Movement Not on In- gersolian Plan, But from Within the Church.

Rev. Dr. l. w. Sheath addressed his people at the Grand Avenue Sunday morning upon the topic. The First Gospel in 1s10." He referred to- the fact that next year the international lessons will give the whole year to the study of the Gospel of Matthew. This study means a fresh investigation of the life, teachings and works of Jesus It will therefore be year of more than usual interest in the religious world. Modern criticism will present its convictions and will be attacked by the more conservative scholars The movement will not be an Inger- sollian one. It is a movement within the church, and will not be an ordi- nary one. What are some of the questions which have to be faced? First will be the book of Matthew it. self It is now asserted that 1t was not written by Matthew, but is a compiler's work. The extreme critics therefore declare that we cannot de- termine what is and what is not his torical in the book
 Second. it is affirmed that the the ory which holds that the old Testa- ment prophets foretold future events is erroneous, and therefore when the compiler of Matthew says it was full filled which was spoken by the pro- serted that faith in miracles is no longer necessary, and that all mira cles with the exception of those of healing are legendary. Therefore the virgin birth, the physical resurrec- ton of Jesus. the miracles which He wrought. the transfiguration scene, the belief in demonology. in angels. in a personal devil are all legends or de- lusions.
 ''Fourth. the geneaIogy is unrelia- ble and was made up by the compiler to fit into the supernatural life of Jesus Again there are certain fea- lures which are inconsistent with Jesus as a conscientious man and so did not occur, such as the entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and the Eord's Supper as a commemorative feast
 Finally certain scholars are ready to assert that the teachings of Jesus are not sufficient for our age, and cannot fit into the conditions which we face today. As a result of these and other assertions on the part of critics a new apologetics Is develop ing, the province of which will be to sift out the worthy and to condemn that which is untenable. In the meanwhile the elders are anxious, while the young are ready for an ac- ceptance of the new. It behooves men and women everywhere to study. so as to be able to give a reason for the faith that is within them
 But the year will also witness a new vision of Jesus in his life of puri-
 
 manity. His work of compassion, His supreme purpose to save the world, His death. resurrection and eternal life. It will grasp with new vision the fatherhood of God and the life of trust in Him: 1t will have a new and larger vision of life as 1t ought to be lived. it's sin and fearful recompense. it's righteousness and rich rewards. It will take hold anew, under the i'm fiuence of the life and teachings of Jesus. of the great social problems that are confronting us today. It will also have the new vision of world wide Christianity. as it Is the centen- nial year of foreign missionary en- deavor. And it will also be a year. let us believe, when a deeper spirituality will be manifest in the life and church of the world. am persuad- ed that with the study of this first gospel by millions all next year throughout the world, there will be a larger Christ among men, a strong CT faith in Christianity and a pro- founder spirit of unselfish service among men,"