Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-12-09
A sermon.

cal notions some fuss was made year or two ago,
aud led 10 withdrawal Of fellowship on the part Of
tie sect to which he beIonged) stiB breaches in Bos
tom and has very Jealous friends and supporters
His notions however correspond rather too much with
the unsop histcaed doctrines of the New Testament
to be very popular in these latter days. Here is
sketch Of recent sermon by Mr. P, which will give
some idea Of the man. We find it in tie Boston
Post:
Jesus Christ did not teach any system of religion;
nor did he teach nep religion. The system Of doc
trines now constituting the popular christianity was
never taught as such by hun. Many of them lie
never mentioned; and sune of them are opposed to
his teachings in letter and spirit. No docriRe of Je-
sus was entirely new. Its spirit, however, was new
as taught and exempliied by him Ia H. .I
Jesus was born aud educated a Jew, and he lived
and died jew. He was not higoted one, and did
not, like most Jews then, and like most christians
now set up small things IN religion above large ones
He strove TO introduce reformation Of abuses, and
add the accumulated light and knowledge of subse
quent ages that which was embodied in the Mosaic
law. He was resisted aud defeated in his labors du-
ring his life, though his principles and efforts nave
since been productive Of astonishing effects. His
disciples and apostles, and those christians whom they
converted, with their successors, raised upon the
foundations he had laid a new system of religion,
This has been SO often altered, pulled down part.
apd reconstructed, with numerous additions in all
styles and orders that is often difficult to tell which
is the original structure, or the original plan , .
Most of those christians who continued to reside in
Jerusalem, adhered to the Jewish forms during life.
There Judaism in the church for hundred and
forty years. .,.- -,..-f r...,...- --t.... Il.
A national, popular church, of whatever religion,
always resisis reform. The Jewish did So, and the
CHRISTIAN church, in all ages, has done the same.
Those who do not believe in the God of the people,
the popular Deity the attributes of God as taught
by tie priests and generally profeSsed be believ
ed by the masses, however impious homogeneous and
degrading those attributes may be, are always stig-
matised dests and atheists, and denounced and
/ prosecuted. 81, --.,l -
From the third 10 the sixteenth century. however.
there were some good men and philosophers in the
church, who were retormerS, and who were able to
effect more or less good. In the present Temperance
reform the clergy, when they were needed most Cat
the commencement did not yield their assistance,
but resisted it, either positively or negatively Only
lone minister Boston supported it, and he
Sustained by his people,. ,l 3. r.,.... 41.. 80.
Clergymen always held in letters. They can
have no freedom and Independence of thought and
action. Its peculiarly so at this time. They are
obliged to conform 10 popular opinion, and to be SUBJ
missively guided by it, ID. r-. ...,..l .r..r,. .
The church has not only always resisted reforms in
religion but also opposed discoveries sea
ence- Such is the in this enlightened age
The priesthood is constantly fearful of something
that will undermine, dsprove, unsette the popular
faith, and, perhaps, overthrow the religious inst
tons, and the influence of the clergy. Even states
Patake this fear, and atheists also trembe for
the security of their wealth, if it be unprotected by
popular religion. Thus faith alone is demanded by
tie priesthood, and investigation denounced,
and proofs forbidden to be required exam
lined. The church, as have said, is always behind
the science of the age.
In society there are several classes, in regard to
their relations with the church. Some people avoid
attendance on public worship and teaching altogether,
and have no communication with the clergy. Others
sustain the church outwardly, and arc level with
H. They are friendly, for the sole purpose of secu-
ring property and good order. With them meeting
house is like court house a bank; and the minis
Tier is viewed in the light of constable. A pew tax
lis freely paid, and popular, smooth, supple, con-
forming minister is employed with a large salary.
His supporters 60 the forenoon 10 hear him preach
they do not expect much, and they obtain just what
they expect. Their church is church Of the world
not of God. The minister breaches about sins which
nobody commits, which are Questionable and out of
date; and he is particularly careful 10 avoid any allu
sion 10 such prevalent in fashion, committed
by any wealthy influential respectable parshoner,
Ministers are generally conservative and the Jealous
sustainers of old abuses.
Greatness of heart is better for society than great
hess of talent. In families, and especially in mothers,
Il is far better. Ii is not the ambition of being rulers
even for good, that is of highest and esteem, but
that voluntary ioaeSs whiclris assumed for the pur-
pose of more eectually and extensively doing good
TO others. Goodness as well as greatness has been
the object of worship. The Catholics worship good
ness in their saints. Jesus adored and
tcanonized as such, or under the same principle.
REGULARITY of the present age is general insen-
Isibliiy misery and wrong; cold, unfeeling in
difference. Even hell Itself has almost ceased to in
spre terror In those who do not dsbeeve It's reality
! This kind of indifference may now be considered a
failure amongst us. ..,
Let us, my friends strive to awaken ourselves and
others from this prevailing torpdity. Let US exert
ourselves to the utmost to do good and TO be good
Our time is short Let US work while it is YET day,
! before the time comeh when man work Let
US not be mere Journalists, mere fashionable religion
ISIS possessing only selfish, worldly views and being
destitute OF inward peiy and brotlery sympathy and
I benevoence. Let us do what we to diffuse rell-
gious light and knowledge in its purity to dspel
error superstition and hypocrcy TO set the oppressed
free, and break every yoke The teachings, efforts
and suiferings of Jesus Christ had ut first, no
outward appearance of success. Our feeble un-
promising, despised labors though now apparently
l.valueless, may possibly, with Gods blessing, and
when we are in the silent grave, yield plenteous
nestimabe harvest to unborn generations.
LAW Items. -
trial for debt recently came off between two per
sons In New Jersey The person who brouobt the