SHIVLER, Mrs. MARGARET A., Brooklyn, N. Y. SHORTT, Rev. WILLIAM, Walkerton, Ontario, Canada. SHOUDY, JOSEPH A., Brooklyn, N. Y. Sigfried, A. H., Manager, Chicago Daily News, New York. SIMS, JOHN C., Jr., Pres. Pennsylvania R. R. Co., Philadelphia, Pa. SKIDMORE, LEMUEL, LL.B., New York. SLEEPER, Hon. JACOB, Boston, Mass. SMILEY, Hon. ALBERT K., A. M., Mohonk Lake, N. Y. SMITH, Hon. A. HERR, Lancaster, Pa. SMITH, AMOS B., M.D., Geneva, N. Y. SMITH, JOSEPH J., M.A., D.D., Tomkins Cove, N. Y. SMITH, SAMUEL G., A. M., Ph.D., St. Paul, Minn. SMITH, WM. B., A.M., Ph.D., Prof. University of Mo. SMOOT, R. K., D.D., LL.D., Austin, Texas. SOUTHALL, JAMES C., Editor Central Presbyterian, Richmond, Va. SPENCE, Mrs. J. P., Cincinnati, O. SPERRY, LYMAN B., A.M., M.D., Bellevue, O. STAFFORD, EZRA A., M.A., D.D., Toronto, Canada. STEWART, THOMAS E., New York. STICKNEY, Mrs. LEANDER, Albany, N. Y. ST. JOHN, WILLIAM P., New York. STOCKTON, CHARLES S., D.D.S., Newark, N. J. STURTEVANT, Miss CECILE, New York. SUMMERBELL, Rev. MARTYN, Pres. Chr. Cor. College, Lewiston, Me. SUMRALL, Hon. JOSEPH K. A. M., Judge of Kentucky Court, Danville, Ky. SUTHERLAND, DONALD G., A.M., Toronto, Canada. TALBOTT, Rev. HENRY J., A.M., Indianapolis, Ind. TALCOTT, JAMES, New York. TAYLOR, ARCHIBALD A. E., D.D., LL.D., Ex-Pres. University of Wooster, O. TERRY, Rev. RODERICK, D.D., New York. THAW, WILLIAM, Pittsburgh, Pa. THOMPSON, CHARLES L., D.D., New York. THOMPSON, Rt. Rev. HUGH M., S.T.D., LL.D., Bishop of Miss. THOMPSON, Mrs. Wм. F., Mason City, Ill. THWING, Rev. CHARLES F., Minneapolis, Minn. TIGERT, JOHN J., M.A., D.D., Prof. Vanderbilt University, Tenn. TILLETT, WILBUR F., D.D., Prof. Vanderbilt University, Tenn. TODD, E., M.D., New York. TRAVIS, Rev. G. J., M.A., Ph.D., Fallbrook, Cala. TRAVER, Rev. ALLEN, Rochester, N. Y. TREAT, E. B., New York. TUCKER, WILLIAM, D.D., Mt. Gilead, O. TUDOR, WILLIAM V., A.M., D.D., Norfolk, Va. TUTTLE, Rev. D. HERNDON, Wilmington, N. C. UCHIMURA, JON KANZō, Echigo, Japan. VAN ANTWERP, Mrs. ELIZABETH, New York. VAN BENSCHOTEN, JAMES C., LL.D., Prof. Wesleyan University, Ct. VAN DYKE, JOSEPH S., A. M., D.D., Cranbury, N. J. VAN SLYKE, JOHN G., A.M., D.D., Kingston, N. Y. VAN VLECK, JOSEPH, Montclair, N. J. VERDERY, MARION J., New York. VINCENT, JOHN H., D.D., LL.D., Bishop, Plainfield, N. J. VIRGIN, SAMUEL H., D.D., New York. VOORHIES, Mrs. MARY M., Brooklyn, N. Y. WARREN-BEY, EDWARD, M.D., C.M., LL.D., Paris, France. WESTWOOD, HENRY C., D.D., Fredonia, N. Y. WHEATLEY, RICHARD, D.D., Cornwall, N. Y. WHEELER, ALFRED, M.D., D.D., Greenville, Pa. WHITNEY, GEORGE H., A. M., D.D., Pres. Cent. Col. Inst., Hackettstown, N. J. WILLIAMS, HENRY S., Ph.D., Prof. Cornell Univ., N. Y. WILLIAMS, JAMES M., A.M., Ph.D., Fall River, Mass. WILLIAMS, Rev. JOHN E., Hornellsville, N. Y. WILLIAMS, Rev. SHERMAN M., Albany, N. Y. WILLIAMS, WILBUR G., D.D., Pres. Allegheny Col., Pa. WILSON, HIRAM A., A.M., Saratoga Springs, N. Y. WILSON, WM. D., D.D., LL.D., L. H.D., Prof. Cornell Univ., N. Y. WINSLOW, Rev. Wм. C., L.H.D., Ph.D., LL.D., Boston, Mass. WITHERSPOON, THOMAS D., D.D., LL.D., Louisville, Ky. WOOD M. L., A.M., D.D., Rockingham, N. C. Worrall, John M, A.M., D.D., New York. YATES, EDWIN A., D.D., Durham, N. C. IN MEMORIAM. The Institute cherishes the memory of the following deceased members: 1882.-DR. WILLIAM H. ALLEN, President of Girard College; GEN. JAMES LORIMER GRAIIAM, New York; REV. DR. MARSHALL B. SMITH, New Jersey. 1883.-Rev. Dr. FERDINAND C. EWER, New York; PROF. BENJAMIN N. MAR. TIN, New York; PROF. ALEXANDER MEANS, Georgia; PROF. MOSEs Stuart Phelps, Massachusetts. 1885.-REV. DR. SAMUEL GILMAN BROWN, Utica, New York; Rev. Dr. CHARLES HAWLEY, New York; PROF. WASHINGTON C. KERR, North Carolina; THE RT. HON., the Earl of SHAFTESBURY, England. 1886.-REV. DR. J. B. COOPER, Pennsylvania; PROF. JAMES W. DODD, Tennessee; Rev. Dr. John Forsyth, New York; Rev. Dr. Samuel K. LothrOP, Massachusetts; PROF. JULIAN M. STURTEVANT, Illinois; RT. HON. and MOST Rev. ARCHBISHOP TRENCH, Ireland; DR. SYLVESter Willard, New York. 1887.-REV. DR. DANIEL CURRY, New York; REV. SAMUEL W. Duffield, New Jersey; Rev. William J. GILL, New Jersey; RT. Rev. WILLIAM M. GREEN, Mississippi: Rev. Dr. RoswELL DWIGHT HITCHCOCK, New York; Rev. Dr. MARK HOPKINS, Massachusetts; COL. THEODORE HYATT, Chester, Pa.; PROF. JAMES L. JEWELL, Illinois. 1888. REV. DR. ISAAC ERRETT, Editor Christian Standard, Cincinnati, O.; RT. REV. SAMUEL S. HARRIS, Mich.; REV. DR. PATRICK HUES MELL, Chancellor University of Georgia; REV. Dr. Alfred S. PATTON, Editor Baptist Weekly, New York. 1889. MR. SAMUEL B. CHITTENDEN, New York; REV. BISHOP HOLLAND N. MCTYEIRE, Tennessee; REV. DR. JAMES P. WILSON, Newark, New Jersey. OFFICERS OF THE INSTITUTE, 1888-1889. CHARLES F. DEEMS, D.D., LL.D., President. Vice-Presidents. Connecticut, NOAH PORTER, D.D., LL.D., Delaware, HON. THOMAS F. BAYARD, Georgia, PATRICK H. MELL, D.D., LL.D., Illinois, REV. BISHOP CHARLES E. CHENEY, LL.D., Maryland, EDWARD J. DRINKHOUSE, M.D., D.D., Wisconsin, JOHN BASCOM, D.D., LL.D. Executive Committee. Trustees. MR. CORNELIUS VANDERBILT, MR. CHARLES M. DAVIS, Secretary, 4 Winthrop Place, New York. MR. WM. HARMAN BROWN, Treasurer, 64 Broadway, New York. CHRISTIAN THOUGHT. THE NECESSITY OF FAITH. [A sermon delivered before the American Institute of Christian Philosophy, July 21, 1889.] BY ALEXANDER MACKAY-SMITH, S.T.D., Archdeacon of the Diocese of New York. WHI For we walk by faith, not by sight.—II. COR. v., 7. HEN we realize who the man was that made this confession, it is certainly a very remarkable one. In point of fact I suppose that no Christian, save the Twelve Apostles, ever had as much reason as St. Paul to reverse the wording of the text, and to say, "We walk by sight, not by faith." He had been converted by a light and voice from Heaven. He had seen visions, and worked miracles in the name of Christ, such as are confessedly within the power of no Christian since. And yet he tells us, in effect, that to hold the Christian hope, and to walk the gospel path, and to believe the promises of Christ, still demanded so large a share of pure faith in him as to dwarf all earthly evidence. It is a confession of human feeling in Paul that brings him very near to For he certainly believed that he had the power to work miracles, and had been converted by one, as already said. And yet there was so much in the world that seemed to contradict the Gospel, that all his sight was as nothing compared with the faith required. Do you not think that a man who could speak thus, understood the difficulties of religion just as keenly as you do? He saw in how many ways God hides Himself from men; how little He often seems to interfere with evil; and how humble, obscure, incredible were the surroundings and evidences of that Saviour, who declared Himself to be, nevertheless, God's us. Son. Yet St. Paul was in the face of this such a fervent Christian that he willingly gave his life and all that he had for his Master-than which no greater proof of sincere conviction can be expected. But in so doing he declared that he followed not his lower, but his higher nature, "We walk by faith, not by sight." I ask you to mark this well. For no doubt some of you entirely misapprehend what it is that Christ asks of you through His Church. You look back to the gospel times and you think, "Those magnificent Christian heroes believed because they thought the evidence from what they saw was so overwhelming. They were convinced that miracles were being enacted all about them. Many of them saw their Master risen from the grave. So they walked by sight, not by faith. But to-day I have no such sight given me. And from all the myriad books and papers issuing from the Christian press, I get no convincing, mathematical, scientific proof as to the absolute certainty of these things. Therefore I am not to blame in caring little for them. When I can have the same proofs by sight that St. Paul had, or when I am convinced in the same way, e.g., as that twice 5 IO, then I shall become a true Christian-until then I wait for the Church to be more successful in the proofs she labors at so vainly. Any other faith is really weakness." = Now such reasoning is a misapprehension. Miracles were needful once to introduce and accredit the Gospel to the world. They soon ceased. It is well they did. For they have been, however admirable once, a fruitful source of error ever since. For it is a mistake to suppose that Christianity has ever tried to make the Gospel so clear that there will be no lower doubt in men's minds. That can never be done. The Gospel is moral and spiritual truth. You never can prove a moral or spiritual thing mathematically. This would be to confuse two different ideas. Nay, I go so far as to say that it would not be desirable to have the Gospel so proved that like the ocean we could not help confessing it. In other words faith or trust is a necessary part of religion. God meant it to be so. And when men say that one must wait until the Gospel is proved, meaning thereby until they are compelled to feel its truths as they feel hunger, and know its certainty as they know |