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

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
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 skeptics Especially in the matter of Ameri-
can slavery there is, in the position of the
church, dereliction from duty rs monstrous as
it is mourntul and the question now before us
is, Does the existence of these evils make Chris
tianity Il 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 exhortations
of n Paul or a Cephas has Christianity pre-
sented or claimed to present to the world the
spectacle of Il perfect community of snless 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
tianity, in subduing the soul rs in converting
the world still finds its fittest emblem the mus
tard seed of the parable. The children of God,
like the children of men, advance to maturity
by n natural though often imperceptible in.
crease and large growth in grace lies be-
tween him whom the Bible terms "babe in
| Christ y and him who has reached the full
| stature of Christian manhood. And here in the
| cuturng 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.
ceive training and instruction in the science OF
n higher and heavenly Gie--the hospital where
the soul enfeebled and dsordered by SIM may
| gain health under the remedial agencies ap
pointed by the great Physician; and just as the
prolonged illness OF the patient who neglects to
use the remedies is no proof against their eff
cacv, 10 the feeble faith and weak virtue of the
Christian, whO through ignorance or inatten.
| ton, neglects the "means OF grace" are NJ
valid impeachments of the sanctfying power Of
| Christianity
| In this aspect of the mission of the church
the existence of impertection and wrong within
its pale is evidently no proof that it is failing 10
its design II it be true that those of its mem
bers who to an honest profession add an earnest
practice Of the prccepts of Christianity are
made more humble or holy thereby, then the
church is certainly fulfilling one grand object
of its organization, and Christianity is in thin
respect no failure.
The inquiry here is narrowed down to 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 godlincss in the land. He, however
who honestly seeks to know tho truth in the
case, may form no very uncertain judgment Of
the efficiency Of the church by comparing it,
position on great moral and reform question,
with the position Of the masses of unconyerted
men, and by noticing its influence upon the
character of the nations amongst whom it ex
lists in most purity.
Even in anti-slavery sentiment the American
church, with all its culpable ignorance and
time-servng is far in advance of the masses
that bend ut the beck Of the great political
leaders OF the North. and many Of its best min.
listers hold prominent place amidst the sternest
and purest friends Of human freedom. The
history Of civilization and the historical dcyel-
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 at its affairs
Without pallating for a moment the "sns
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 !, published in the Era OF September 4,
has been delayed by tho and protractcd illness