Year: 1869

Lecture ON the Encarnation, by the Rev. DIR.


Dix.


The first OF a course of lectures the incarn atlon
was delivered by the Rev. DIR. Dix at Trinity chapel,
last evening. Being the opening lecture, the
speaker confined himself rather to the Importance
of the dogma Of the incarnation as the foundation
and essence OF Christianity rather than theological
dsqusition on the subject. The dogma OF the ncar-
nation, said che lecturer, is mystery so profound
that no finite intelligence can explain it, 1t is the
first truth Of Christianity, the one which,
If we understand, we feel that we need
no more. We live in eventul times; our
lot has been cast in strange days when there is
great work to do and 1t must be done quickly There
are signs OF an alarming nature in the horizon,
time when we must engage in an active struggle
with the spirit OF n6delity Rationalism was never
bolder than nOw and 1t s startling to hear the man.
ner in which men speak OF religion. The spirit OF
inhdety now speaks not by argument norm curses,
but finds expression In jestng and In laughter.
What Is needed by the children OF the Church Is true
conception OF what Christianity is. The Incarnation
is the sum and substance OF our religion. What Is
the great truth dstinctively shown 10 the world by
Christianity-a truth which Judaism did not teach
and which cannot be learned from study OF the
natural wOrldY All truth that was ever known Is
included in Christianity, but all truth IS not Chris
tian truth. What is 1t which, II removed from Chris
tianity, would compel a return TO Judaism and the
creed Of the pariarchs The Holy Scriptures tell us
that 1t Is not necessary to have the Bible and revela



Some there are who think and say that any one who
believes in God and lives morally Is good
Christian But they speak without warrant; TINS IL
very many OF them have set an example that
Christians would do well to follow But the heathens'
morality was based on what they could learn from
the natural world. IL Christ came to teach us no
more than this, there was no need OF His coming.
Christianity is not belief in God or In one God or
In the necessity OF morality. This does 1ot const-
tute q Christian for man may believe all this and
stiIl be pagan. There is one truth which contains



all Others in itselfrst In importance yet last to be
known-t Is the truth, the mystery OF the lncarna-
ton. This the Of Gods revelation to THE
truth that God has united himself to man by taking
our human nature; that He has brought the finite
where reveals to us-is the foundation Of Chris
tianity GOD was, In the person OF Christ recon-
s ns " wGTS Z, IS M 5e 6h to
Christianity, ana constitutes its sum and substance
and lie. He who denies the Incarnation Is anti
Sast1 Sas i sense @ ~ oeSSsIti5h. sen,s q
conscienteds Opposition. 10 say that the de,


arati3h su Is not true Is To- to go asagst Chs Christ
The man is anti Who tries e eliminate from
Christianity wnat is Christianity ITSELF The doctrine
cordlng to some pretenders to wisdom God has no
more personality than the law OF gravltation. He
who was made man and lived and died for surely
had personality. The doctrine OF the Incarnation Is
q shield against ratIonalism and infdeiity, for no
one who believes this doctrine as taught by the
Catholic Church can De lost In the fog Of
doubt and error. Christ in person untes
two distinct natures, yet there is no comminglng;
these natures exist eternaly together yet eternaly
separate. The Incarnation teaches our absolute
dependence on God, for God would not have made
man II without IL man could have gained that for
which Christ came. The Incarnation Is not a past
event which concerns us now no more, but state
which exists and will last forever. The dogma of
Incarnation involves also the idea OF the progress
OF humanity, for God. In taking our nature, carried
IL up until II was alm0s divine. Tbs exaltatiOn I'M
plies similar eXaltatlon OF man. The ideal man OF
philosophy looks somewhat like the stage hero,
knowing much and boastlng more. II we would
the ideal Of humanity as presented by the Catho
template Christ.