Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1867-12-17
Communicated.
NO. VI.
The Truth Shall Make you Free. john
vii-32
communicated.

nance OF the human neart to be COM
strained to believe certain things. to
have the limits of thought circum-
scribed by any fixed, Interchangeable
BODY OF mysterious, objective truth;
this natural repugnance, like some
other tendencies natural through stu,
makes il all the more advisable and
expedient 10 give little more atton-
uon to this subject. Ny greatest help
INTO y heartfelt interest IN this sub~
iect il the readers integrity of pur-
pose. To one as strictly honest in
what he believes as what he does, this
subject will not be merely glanced at
as something in which be has little or
no concern. but will receive that
quick and earnest attention from him
which he is wont TO give to any oths
err highly important matter, domestic
or political. And, why Should not
one be as conscientious aoon twnat
he believes as about what he docs r
Moral or religious conduct Is alto
gether determined by the moral or
religious truths that are the only
! guides to this conduct. From the
truths in the head, or what are sup
posed to be truths, the whole moral
conductr eceives its character that
is, if an integrity of heart pays the
proper respect TO, and has sincere
| love for truth. When outward NOR,
al action does not correspond to the
moral truths dwelling within the
man. then there is, beyond all doubt,
dishonesty in the heart, And, by par
ity ofreason. when Indifference admits
into the mind any thing purporting
to be truth without that close inspec>
ton which integrity of heart will
surely give, why, the consequent
carelessness displayed in the moral
conduct evinces the same indwelling
dishonesty. This word dishonesty
may sound rather too accusative at
first, but little thodght viii defend
its use.
The soul of man being made after
the image of God, can never consci-
entiously disconnect religious truths
and religious conduct, but must ever
look upon them as holding the rela-
Ton of cause and effect. Careful to
live uprightly, we will be as careful
to believe rightly. Not only partic-
ular in accepting this or that thing
to be true, when by chance offered to
US, but we will be moved TO set out
on diligent search for truth, that we
may be certified that we do indeed
live the life that rewards the immor>
tai soul with eternal happiness. Es-
sentiGl truth, as we have seen, en-
braces that which must be belieued,
and that which must be done The
inner man must use the one, the outer
man must practice the other. The
first includes "the mysteries of the
faith, and all essential moral truth
which is summed up in the first and
great commandment, and the second
which is like untoit." The latter in
cludes the outward acts of worship.
accompanied, of course by the inner
mans devotion the inner devotion
must have the outward expression, or
there is no worship. God requires
that We shall worship him before me-,
therefore the necessity of the outward
expression. Also under this latter
head, are the outward acts in the adj
ministrstion of the two sacrements
baptism and the supper of the Lord.
water must be used in the one, bread
and wine IN the other. These two
sacraments are necessary unto saliva
ton wherever they may be h.d-ne.
cessary, because the soul absolutely
requires the grace which God hs.
seen ut to convey TO man 0nlv thro'
or by means of these two sacraments
Then again under this latter head
we have the laying of hands. the me-
yesSary mode Of admission into the
ministry OF Christ's Church. phe
tact OF no other mode having ever
been used by the Church establishe.
the necessity of this mode. God hav.
ing ordained it, all others are hereby
excluded An over much religion,
enthusiasm is apt to give all the mind
ana all the heart to the truth IA If ia
Jesus, TO the vital neglect the of truth
as II is IN essential outward acts. Not
only by positive institution but bv
nature, God has declared the neces.;>
ty OF certain outward acts in the
Christian religion. In the preserva-
ton OF any society nature herself ha,
ordained the necessity Of Sonas ont
ward acts, whatever they may be. II
TO be discovered by man these act
may differ as experience teaches man
the expediency of changing them
But suppose the formation Of the So
cietyto be Gods work, and not man =
their omnlsciensc needing no helm
from experience, will surely fix upon
those acts which best serve the mr.,
pose OF preserving this society Of Di.
VINE origin ofpreserving it through.
out all Tune as it gives to this world
It's changing external, whether by
way OF progression or retrogression.
SINCE God has designed that His soci.
lety the Church, should continue in
It's identity until time lost itself in the
ocean OF eternity, it stands TO reason
thaC those outward acts which nature
mas necessltated unto this end, would
come from Himself especially so.
Since lhelr discovery is far above the
wisdom OF man: We by no means un.
dervaiCs or do despite to religious
truths proper, by paying such high.
Yet due regard to the external acts Of
our religion. Indeed, We truly and
wisely honor the former by so doing
since neglect Of the latter makes +
impossible to retain or preserve that
religious truth whose use by tho snnj
IS necessary unto our beng fl tor
Heaven, even for Gods imm.d;.ta
presence. As we neglect the erIer~
nal ac'S winch come from God, so do
we loose Inc truth which the inner
man must practice. The experience
u Tue last hundred years has taught
truth-loving souls this sad lesson =
The outward acts or forms are tho