Newman's Sermons #'s 23,24,25

Since the beginning of Christianity, man has tried to explain the great mystery of the Trinity. People from the religious to pagans went to great lengths to use language to convey messages about the existence or non-existence of the Holy Trinity; and, moreover, if there is such a thing, how does it exist (i.e. are all three persons divine). One of the most renowned orators in the history of mankind, John Henry Newman, made some attempts to explain the Holy Trinity in three of his sermons. There is no question in Newman’s theology that the Holy Trinity exists; in fact, he seems so convinced of it that he seems to suggest that the simplest-minded man should know it based on simple everyday human experiences. In each of Newman’s Parochial and Plains Sermons Volume 6, Sermons 23, 24, and 25, he suggests that people are “unreasonable in refusing to believe before they see the Scripture proof,” “no wording can remove or explain the Adorable Mystery,” and that God has given man “Peace in believing in the Eternal Trinity in Unity;” moreover, he employs a different style of argumentation in each sermon to convey his different messages.

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For example, his first question is as follows: “I would ask, in the first place, whether we reason and prove before we act, in the affairs of this life?” Just in case the answer is not obvious to his listener, he then follows this question with an example of how we act in an effort to obey laws without first trying to reason and prove the theories behind them (unless we are a lawyer, etc. London: Longmans, Green, and Co, 1907. 23, “Faith without Demonstration,” Newman’s thesis is: “…a very few words will make it evident, that they [disbelievers] are unreasonable and inconsistent in refusing to believe before they see the Scripture proof. John Henry’s message in Sermon 23 is effectively delivered through his method of using rhetorical questions to draw the audience into the meaning-making process. By juxtaposing something familiar (obeying the law) and his topic (faith without proof) Newman helps the audience understand his point of view. Furthermore, “…why should we be told anything about God’s Adorable Nature, if incomprehensible He is, and mysterious the doctrine about Him must be…how can we, worms of the earth, and creatures of the day, pretend to determine what is most suitable to Him to tell…and cannot we consent to leave Him to speak to us in His own way. “ ‘The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness, and assurance for ever’” ), which definitely makes his audience more lenient toward his views. Furthermore, the fact that his message is so short (barely four pages) seems to suggest to the audience that they just need to flat-out accept, peacefully, that God is one and three. not leaving much open for interpretation).

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Approximate Word count = 1268
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

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