The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-11-13
For the National Era.
DEFENDED.-No. 2

Let us nought extenuate and nought set down
in malice. That there are evils giant, mon
strous evils, within the pale of the visible
church, is most certainly and sadly true That
there is amongst the professors Of Christianity
a far and fearful short-coming of its pure and
lofty principles, is more readily admitted, as it
is more sincerely deplored, by Christians than
by skeptcs. Especially in the matter of Ameri-
can slavery there is, in the position of the
church, derelction from duty as monstrous as
it is mournful and the question now before us
IL, Does the existence of these evils make Chris
tianity lie! Or rs it may be stated, Is Chris
tianity failing to fulfil the design and promise
of its Founder! This is the test question for if
Christianity is a failure, it is not from Heaven.
Christianity, embracing in its creed infinite
holiness and infinite love, propounds, as the
mission Of its cOngrcgated believers, the Chris
tan church-the incubation Of this noble creed
in the hearts of regenerated race The
church, which is but the congregation of the
disciples, has then twofold object--the pro-
motion of the religious growth of its members
and the conversion of unbelievers.
Never, even under the eloquent cxhortations
of a Paul or a Cephas has Christianity pre-.
sented or claimed to present to the world the
spectacle of a perfect community of sinless men !;
and all too faithfully has the church fulfilled
in its dark apostaccs the mournful predictions
of the Christ and his apostles Bending to the
great law of progress and development seen
everywhere under Gods government, Chris
tanity, in subduing the soul as in converting
the world. still finds its fttest emblem the mus.
tard seed of the parable. The children of God
like the children of men, advance to maturity
by natural though often imperceptble in.
crease, and II large growth in grace lies be-
tween him whom the Bible terms "babe in
Christ and him who has reached the full
stature of Christian manhood And here in the
culturing of this growth, we find the first OBJ
ject for which the church was organized 1t is
the school in which the young convert may re-
ccive training and instruction in the science of
a higher and heavenly liie-the hospital where
the soul, enteebled and disordered by sin, may
gain health under the remedial agencies ap-
pointed by the great Physician; and Just as the
prolonged illness or the patient who neglects TO
use the remedies is no proof against their eff
cacy, 80 the feeble faith and weak virtue of the
Christian who, through ignorance or inattcn.
ton, neglects the means of grace" are nc
valid impeachments of the sanctifying power OF
Christianity.
| the existence Of imperfcction and wrong within
its pale is evidently no proof that it is failing il
its design. II it be true that those Of its mem
bers who to an honest profession add an earnes
practice of the prccepts of Christianity arc
made more humble or holy thereby, then thu
church is certainly fulfilling one grand objec,
of its organization, and Christianity is in thin
respect no failure.
| Tho ;no,,,ry bara L., a
| question of fact, and would be properly an
swered by an appeal to statistics; but no cen
sus number rcgenerates souls or tells the exact
increase of godlness in the land. He, however
who honestly seeks to know the truth in the
case, may form no very uncertain judgment o.
the efficiency of the church by comparing it
position on great moral and reform questions
with the position Of the masses Of unconyerted
men, and by noticing its influence upon thu
character of the nations amongst whom it ex
lists in most purity.
Even in anti-savery sentiment the American
church, with all its culpable ignorance and
time-serving, is far in advance of the masses
that bend mt the beck of the great political
leaders OF the North and many Of its best min
listers hold prominent place amidst the sternesl
and purest friends Of human freedom. The
history Of civilization, and the historical dcvel
opment Of the great principles Of humanity and
right are triumphant proofs of the living and
divine energy of that Christianity which, even
in its darkest days, has confessedly been the
nurse, the alma mater, Of liberty and law.
1t is but fair to remark that much--nay,
most-of the wrong charged against the church
Of Christ should be placed to the account Of the
false and hypocritical members who, too often,
gain place and power ut its affairs.
Without paifiuting for moment the ssins
of the church." justice requires the remark
that the seemingly slow growth Of religion in
the church does not lie with more force against
This article, which should Immediately have fol-
lowed No l. published In the Era of September 4,
has been delayed by tho severe and protracted illness