Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1860-11-21
Muscular Christianity.

DS'-S'N ehaS VIC O1 muscle
will fight more valiant and stronger
battle with the passions and p:ejudces of
men. we believe that Sd,,a mems IN Sono
eorpore applies to parsons as well as to par
ishioners, and that saints bodies as we'll
as sinners are none the worse for an hour
at the dumb bells or the weights.
We have been led to this subject by
meeting in the gymnasium, as a regular
attendant, leading and eloquent divine
OF this city. He swings the dumb bell in
a manner that few even of the adopts can
approach. He is feet of foot on the track,
and scores his half mile in belt time. He
climbs the ladder; goes through the bars ;
walks the treacherous tight-rope, Ia
biondin in fine, develops his muscle with
all the ardor and interest of the Youngest
tyro. Possibly Mr.. PecksnifF or my lady
Potiphar, who attend church quite pune
tlliously, may sneer at our rev erend friend
OF the strong arm and chest, and if they
knew who he was would drop their reli-
gious patronage; therefore, we shall not
crafty their curiosity by mentioning his
name, at the risk of lessening the number
of his flock.
But, seriously, are the sinners the only
ShSo w NONCiOp Vic lTdult, ny
Ivigorating exercises? Shall the sheer
gambol oil day upon the hillside, and the
sheppard lazily doze in the sun ? Must
he wage his great warfare with the enemy
Of mankind, tied down with the inpedi.
menta of an enervated and wasting body
Does he not by avigorous physical regimen
during the week bring to his pulpit fresh
stock OF strength, n new activity and vigcr,
q genial and kindly christianity, which
shall commend itself to all men, at all
times, and at all places Are not half the
sins of the day the result of lazy, puny,
good for.nothing body?
We verify believe that if all our minis.
ters would cultivate their muscle" there
would be less need for voyages to Europe,
less bronchitis and dyspepsia, and coun'
tenances as white as the neck cloths be-
low them that we should have better
sermons OF q Sabbath sermons with more
of the milk of human kindness in them,
and clad with new force and power,
which would at once seize upon and hold
captive that most deceatful of all things,
the heart that religion would be stripped
of all that Chadbandism which, if not a
reality, at least has the outward seeming.
Were not the twelve better fishers of men
because of their previous occupation We
cannot picture Paul with the bronchitis
or dyspepsia or making lo3g annual plea
sure trips over into Europe for his health.
But one man, miserable Eutychus, slept
under his preaching, and he fell out of a
window in consequence. Of the eight
Greek fathers, who have come down to us
as the leaders but Ambrose, Athanasius
and Augustine? They were strong and
robust, and admirably adopted for the un-
compromising fight they waged with the
Byzantine heather.
We hope more Of our ministers will
devote attention to tho body as we'll as
the spirit. A good heart in GOOD body
is, in our opinion, much better sacrifice
than good heart in miserable body.
A certain admixture of innocent animal
life with the spiritual, will infuse a vigor
into it which the midnight oil shall not
waste. We may question the propriety
of Peter Cartwright's stopping his sermon
at. filthy to fog on insulting rowdy, or
the Allegheny minister W 40 pounded the
grace of God into the Methodist minister
fogging blacksmith bu, we really think
q little more musclr in the pulpit would
lsure less sleepy heads in the audience,
and that the physical Zion conduces
largely to the growth and importance of
the spiritual Zion.
1t has too long been the notion that
physical strength and spiritual sanctity
are incompatible. The days of those
feeble young saints are numbered. "The
good die first" because the good too often
have poor stomachs and lungs. We are
of the opinion that many may fear "God
and walk thousand miles in thonsand
hours" and that he will fear God all the
better for it. We welcome the advent of
Kingsley with his stout Anyas Leigh,
Beecher with his sinewy arm, Chaplin with
his dyspepsia-defying frame, and our
Chicago divine swinging his hundred
pound dumb.bell. - Chicago journal.