Year: 1875

WHAT is CHRISTIAN FAIrH?-sERMoN BY THE


REV. ]. NJ LUDLOW


Taking into consideration the fact that the fashionable
people have not yet returned TO town. there quite
large congregation in attendance the morning service
yesterday in the Collegiate Dutch Reformed Church.
corner of Fortycigh street and Fifth avenue The
Rev. ]. N. Ludlow, the pastor, preached the
He took for his St Mark ix 23-"Jesus said
him, II thou believe all things are possible him
that becveth." Roscius, he said, whose fame had H.
lumined two centuries, who known TO not only
as one OF the first statesmen, philosophers and his
torians Of his day. but the ablest theologan Of his
time, to whom all students back TO find out what
be has said by way of


INTERPRETATION OF THE Sculptures,
when on his deathbcd made the remark that he would
gladly if he could exchange all his learning for the
faith of his illerate serving This incident sug
gested the question, What Christian faith? 1t
a something he said which the unlearned serving
had more fully than the master who had taught the
centuries the Christian faith Was Christian faith a
full intelligent conviction of the truths OF Christianity,
or mere wilful in Christ? Was it the result of
the amassng OF evidence after intelligent inquiry,
simple belief, with little reason--a mere ~ be-
licvey He said that II was neither the one nor the
other. Uncovered mon often talked OF the need OF
more evidence OF


THE TRUTHS OF rmE CHRISTIAN RELIGION





what to believe. They desired the OF faith more
life in the form or belief He sympahzed, he said
with those who argued that IL 1t unreasonable that
God has put heaven and he'll before usthe To be
gained the other be avoided the condition that
shall believe fully. They right in putting the
question in that But the Church Of Christ not
y limbo OF colors Some afraid to battle with
their own duties to face their own consclences and
contened themselves by saying 81 believe" and think
no more about the matter. Gods Church was not


A PooRMoUsR FOR vAGABoND SPIRITS
Christian faith intelligent faith not conviction
nf tila avid nf he
was q faith sufficient lead intelligent conviction
trusting and an intelligent trusting If man should
read in the papers to morrow that vessel had been
constructed that IL could go to Liverpool under
hours and that It had all the improvements OF
other vessels for ventilation and comfort he would say
that he knew nothing about it, but being in a hurry
20 Liverpool he would take the risk OF going in
her. That example OF wlful, arbitrary trust,
just Christians say, 81 know nothing Tor
tain about these truths, but believe rhe Christian
Is able to give the for the faith that Is in him.
though he may not be able TO


EVERY DOUBT.


He said there probably not two persons who
to Calvary IN the same way. Frederick Schlagel,
the German philosopher and nhdel found doubt that
led him trust while making up secular criticism
certain works of the fathers of the Church. Another
prominent led to conviction by the single
thought How pure is the character Of JesusHe could
not deceive, l will stake my souls salvation His
word" Another was brought to Christianity by read
ing the evidences OF Christian faith and taking them
whole truc-just naval officer who gets written
ing the seal and signature the document all right,
his about to obey the orders he has received
He has sufficient belief intelligent that the
seal and signature are correct