The Rev. T. W. Dunn at the Presbyterian Church.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3601, 12 July 1880, Page 2

The Rev. T. W. Dunn at the Presbyterian Church.

The Rev. T. W. Dunn, of Auckland, preached in the St. James' Presbyterian Church on the subject of "Protestantism." The Church was quite full. In the course of his remarks, he said: That ever since the time when the Israelites fell into an idolotrous system of worship, Satan had been endeavoring to corrupt the Church of Christ. That external force, as seen in -persecution, failing, Satan tried to overthrow the Church of Christ by internal corruption, as seen in the errors.of 'he Church of Rome. This question—" Who is on the Lord's side P " —was one which should be asked in the nineteenth century. A commander must know the number and position of his foes. Acting on this idea, the Church seeks to know the number of her foes. There were two great foes of the Church of Christ, as seen in Infidelity and Popery. The former believed too little, and the latter too much. It was, therefore, ihe duty of the Church to find a via media. History revealed scepticism and superstition iD league against the truth. This might be seen from those who opposed Christ when on earth. The Pharisees, representing the superstitious, accepting the worship of God, but neutralising its power by vain traditions. The Saducees, who were materialists, did not believe in a hereafter. The question of Pilate— " What is truth P "—marked him as a sceptic. He condemned Christ, but Christ was also condemned by the High Priest, the: representative of superstitious teaching. Infidels professed to be the friends of progress and freedom, yet we found them having a strong leaning to the Church of Rome. Didero mentioned in his memoir, that at a meeting of 17 infidels, the sacrifice of the mass was offered every morning, and both Voltaire and Hume confessed to a Roman Catholic priest, and received absolution. The Roman Catholics gave the infidel party Hume's celebrated argument against miracles, and Father Leinder gave to German rationalism its first impulse. At the present time scepticism and .Roman Catholicism were formidable enemies ef the Church. God's side was the side of freedom, and the rev. gentleman impressed upon the congregation the necessity of maintaining the freedom bequeathed us by our forefathers. :