Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1839-05-03

COntrOvefSlnl
and sinple worship Of the Cross Of Christ. Not to
assurance but enquiry. In this humble spot, upon
this humble globe, (hsnble az compared with inhni-
tyr in the morning twilight OF oar existence, We
build and consecrate this altar to lowy, seeking and
humble prayer; to the truth that we do know, and |
to the truth that do hope to know. 10 the enc |
Father, the Creator and Preserver OF all TO the one
Blessed Saviour, Jesus Christ, and to the one Hsy
Spirit Of God, that sheddeth abroad his love IN our
hearts
We dedicate this church to the Cross Of Christ; to
that Cross distinctive symbol OF our salvation;
in which symbol we the glory OF God and the |
hope OF man; and the knowledge of which Cross, is
the dearest and most precious which man can ae-
quire upon earth. The Catholics worship this Cross
with fervent and enthusiastic devotion. too would
worship it, but not the symbol OF religion;
but with the sense and light impaired by the spirit,
which, II fully known and realized, would make as
the happiest creatures upon earth; and from which
knowledge all true Christian virtues spring, and by
which all the darker msts the path Of life
are dispelled. would that could here explain
with its worship; but have not time; neither is
this the place for controversial disputed points
We are Christian worshiPpers and disciples OF
pure religion. We worship for ourselves and for
posterty beneath this rosf, and speak to after
ages from this massive altar. We dedicate it to
practical religion-to that which is connected with
every mans daily doings. We dedicate It to human
welfare, and this exists the intrinsic character of
every All human welfare centres in piety to
God and purity to man. Human welfare is not con-
fined to the church the closet is in the street,
in the store, in the mandatory in daily path,
and on land, in our sleep, in our studies, IN
poverty, in riches, in sickness, in health; must
ind his essential welfare where he h.btually is or
he will find it no where. To the advancement and
increase of this welfare all pulpits and churches
should be consecrated, without restriction Of idle
FORMS or unmeaning ceremonies. Then you would
find in them that true principle of piety and excel
lence to which the treasures of the world poor
indeed. Let the whole great world be your minister;
let it contribute to you from every mind, from every
city, from every seurce from every wave OF the ever
sounding, solemn sea, yet, without the possession of
this right principle, all the products will yield but
suffering and privation, and care. With me, these
are not words of course. would have sedulous
attempt at display today, which tomorrow vanishes
like dream. l would rather take my stand in the
street-in the suburban grove, like Socrates, as
lecturer, that honorable callng modern days, rath-
than be mere automaton preacher, possessing the
shadow and net the substance.
The pulpit is nst chair of philosophy, not the
not God that speaks here, he speaks every where
bat frai and fallible man; and the preacher should
feel with his fellow men, The great error Of preach
eI the
JOY and sorrow, and hope, and misery. 1t stands
aloof from tho beaten path Of life and turns deaf
the passions Of the human mind. The biblical essay,
the theological discoase, however deliberately drawn
up has, unfortunately, nothing to do with the mpas
stoned throbs of feeling that swell the human heart
almost to bursting. The parent does not sufficiently
consider the respect and sympathy due to the pas
sions of the child; the pulpit does not consider
these things ought; il is theological tub sea
without rudder compass, and contains no chart or
map Of the human mind. The pulpit should operate
like the newspaper, connectneEhe whee army OF hu-
man passions as with one great electric chain!
the world is rejected and kept aoof by the pull
pit; its existence doubted its appeals rejected The
many beautiful and slowing RassS., that "a m sn5
love; the affection and ympathy between the sexes;
the majesty Of natural sympathy, the pride Of the
manly brow, the self satisfied feeling ofthe success
full student in science; the immortal feeling Of affec-
ton that would yield up mortal life for the objects
OF its love; the sense Of all things beautiful in
and art the religion that breathes in the marble and
on the canvas, and Yin poetry. With these the pull
pit too seldom communes. Hence the pulpit is so
often useless and it's emanatisns worthless The
ligion Of the pulpit must be practically connected
with all the relations, movements hopes, fears Joys,
pains, sins, suherngs and passions Of human life, or
il is barren and nugatory in its results And Of so
much importance do deem this practical religion
that shall never find time to talk upon points Of
sectarian controversy.
Men fall 10 ruin far other than doctriaal errors
and cannot and will not waste my time and yours
in drawing the line nf metaphy steal dsquisitions
which the path Of life in reality. will
never consent to around the fair form Of hu-
manty the wircdrawn meshes Of bigots and fanatics
will not consent to clothe il with the cumbrous and
scholastic drapery of the middle ages which wonld
only tend to conceal its fair proportions and crush
its swelling energies. Ii is not this way that we
can point out the pure principles Of religion and Of
mans redemption. Salvation is to be obtained by
free. energetic, and spiritual action il church
business; IL rs a worlds business. The church is
built for teaching and doing What we have TO
do, must do in the daily walks OF life; we must be
honest OF bus coe re- we must
be temperate and industrious as every day citizens
and not as Sunday psalm singers We must hourIy
improve the intellect which God has given us in dis
pclling the dark clouds Of ignorance and folly and
mischief, and nquity that III at round the world and
this we can do without entering a church, cavil-
ling on paitry points OF disputed doctrines. This
daily life Of is the stage for religious action
the battle field where the good fight is 10 be fought
and won; and not the church or the pulpit, at
sundry times and on divers occasions as occasion
suits. place no reliance the religion or worth
OF mere church goers / afraid that out of all in
the churches Of the earth who attend its stated
ings, and transact its worldly business the great
majority those with which the practice Of reli.
gion has nothing whatever to do. In short, / am
certain that the religious morale Of this country s
far, very far, below the tone Of the social morale
lis true, It's pity, and pity tbs, tbs true.
An eminent and good man told that the great
body Of members Of the church Of Scotland were the
most unprincped body Of men in the whole world;
and so fear il is the with the bulk Of the great
body Of church members in America. They have |
set up systems OF exclusion and batticmens Of pre-
tension which must be pulled down. and the bright
handmade Of region walk forth in her naked maiden
purity IL is this fatal separation of freedom Of |
opinion from religion that has caused our churches |
to fail lamentably behind the age Of the world |
There is no bigctry, no faaaticism in the general
literature Of the day; IL is all shut up in the aises
and vestry rooms of our churches. There is mo- /
safety for right principle by grdIing IL with the
walls Of church, though they high as heaven
II is only safe in the hands Of intelligent people,