Smyrna times., 1859-05-05
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
lis Importance, and The Duty Of Christians in
relation TO ii.

Mr.. EDIToR In looking over tie produc-
tions of an able and distinguished Divine, my |
eyes fell upon the following, being portisn of
a Sermon delivered in bcha Of the American !
Sunday School Union, which may be consider
ed as important in reference to the Church
The true Christian spirit being so fully set
firth, induces a request from me of their inser-
tioa in your paper, hoping cv' ry one who may
read them will individually Consider aud Apply
the truths here uttered
You have only to look carefully, and you will
perceive bepeicent, evangelical influence in
the reaction OF this Sunday School Union upon
Its own managers and patrons, overpaying
thousand fold all It's sacrifices and tolls There
is in this work self.culture aud disc pline fine.
ly preparing the Church for its milenial state.
While the American Church is essentially
spostolic, yet formally it is a nOvelty--a new
development of ecclesiastical life, under new
influences of popular aud cVl freedom. 1t is
yet emphatically an the days of its YOUTH"
and demands the peculiar culture of childhood.
Its dangers are the peculiar dangers of youth;
bora of It's intense egolism. its ambition, its
warm and UnreStrain,d impulses. Our very
freedom in religion tends TO foster rank grOwths
of ecclesiastical leeutiOusnesS, bringing forth
fruit in the bgoted arrogance of inqusiiorial
opinion. This bOasted Catholic tOlera tiUn en-
COurages an intense religious sectaransm,
whose charities are measured 10y IT. creeds, and
whose ethical sympathes are no broader than
its theological agreements.
Lit us not be misunderstood here, as object
ing to Christian secIs. An honest love OF de-
nomination is unqucstionably good thing~-al-
together in harmony With Gods laws in crea-
tion. From the flowers Of the field to the
grand systems of the armament, all classified
orders of life are emblems OF these Christian
sects, with their specific differences.
And the same law is patent in former religi-
Gus dispensations. Under the common theocra
cy, the various tribes Of Israel went forth, each
with Its own leader, and bearing its own ban
ner aud that generous emulation between the
champions of Judah aud Reuben and Cad, as to
which should plant banner first on the walls
OF the conquered cities OF Canaan, was the
secre: of the strength and glory of the old He
brew name. And we would emulate this spirit
in our militant Christianity. We give thanks
10 God that, for the exercise OF all constitutions
ally different tastes aud udgment in minor
things. there is space aud sphere IN our Anne.
rlcan Zion. and We would no more change all
these healthtul and happy christian sects into
one compelled composite OF denomination, than
we would transform all our sweet homes, with
their seperate boards and ireside, into one
broad partsocracy OF socialism, or consolidate
all The seperate and shining worlds of Astrono-
my into the huge bulk of one siaress continent
A warm, genial, generous love of denOmina-
tion is gOodly and graceful thing: neverthe-
less, there is a thing called seclariansm, which
is of another shape aud other spirit. Zeal for
forms of faith, consistency, christian fidelity,
81. i
ance, treason to God and man, self-wiled, per-
scouting, inquisitural bIgotry we call it-bOrn
Of little minds, of shrivelled hearts, of 6enight-
ed consciences, coniounding large things with
small things, false issues with real issues, the
contour OF the shadow with the composite of
the subs ance, the pumes of the sOldIery with
the spolls of the conquest. the music OF the
march with the shock of the battle-a spirit
loving a church more than Christ, inspiring the
strife Of armed men for the seamless robe oi
Jesus-the b;ckering of Rabbi and Priest
about Mint and Auise and Cumin, while the
heavenly fire pales Gods golden altars.-
Aud thus, like all foul growths in a virgin soil
is likely to thrive in The heart of the young
church, under our grand Catholic liberty.
Now, il is just IN its powerful tendency tC
repress this spirit that your Association reacts
So beneficially on the church itself. This type
influence of a society which gathers all Chris
tian sects in common effort 10 give a common
Gospel to a common world.
Here is the philosophy and the foundation Of
true Christian union not that false show O
union that parades its professions Of
brotherhood only as a pleasant interlude to
fierce, pull pit uncha rita b 'eness-the chlvalrOui
salute of the knights Of the old Tourney, ere
they ley lance III rest and rush into baItle--the
shaun courtesy of resolutions Of Christian union
exchanged on our outside platforms at stopping
places OF the great church road, while in each
separate ecclesiastica car there is bazoned The
placard that no traveller s allowed TO stand or
the platform when the train is moving--nOi
this transparent hypocrisy, which may self.de-
celve preacher, but which the people under.
stand and desplse a shallowness and sha-
dow-bul that true Catholic union, not indeed
In form, but in spirit, in purpose, in labor, in
affecliJn, 10 heart-that old Pauline brotherly
kindness, which respecting all opinions loves
meanwhile all men, subordinating all minor
differences 10 the reach and play of glorious
common effort, believing with Christ, that Sa-
tan's house is not divided, and so bidding every
man God speed who is casting out devIl-this
is the noble Christian brotherhood in a great
work which your Society fosters. 1t brings the
whole Ecclesiastal life under The power of the
great law Of Compromises Jaw under which
by blending Of things specifically different, into
lovely combinations, God works out in nature
and in man his grandest phenomena--a law pro-
ducng all fair things in Nature, from the low
cst uaIon of simple elements into composites OF
beauty and power-the atmosphere, the oceu n
the rocky mountain, the huge bulk of EARTH
up to the complex harmony Of composites, s,--thC
blending Of mountain and river and sweet pas
toral vale, into one fair landsca pe--the ming
ling in the flowers leaf, the rainbow's arch
the sunset heavens, of various md distinct col
ors, in one aspect Of beauty-the concord o.
musical sounds of different compass and powe
into one grand and rich harmony--Ihe adjust
ment of forces distinct and seemingly antogo
nistic, into The vast resultant motions of tbt
astronomy Of the universe a law Of compro
misses. work. as we'll morally all great things
Ia Man. the recinrncnI snfleninG of all menin