The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-11-20
Central 4resbgtrrlan.
RICHMOND, Va, NOVEMBER 20, 1867
Truth and FalsehoOd.

1t is not enough to dwell upon the
glorious fact that Christ has died for US,
We must go on to say, "Yea, rather he
is risen again, and ever liveth to make
intercession for us" The priestly office
of Christ in heaven, and his sprinkhng
the blood upon the holy places for per
petual memorial before God, should pre-
occupy the place into which human
priest and human memorial would fam
intrude themselves.
Next to the importance of holding
"the whole counsel of God, is the inn
portance of the manner in which we hold
it. If mere truth were as ominipOtent
as we sometimes say, then every commu-
nifty that has Bible ought to have been
converted long ago. The fact is that
truth taught coldly, or held carelessly,
is not true at all. Men put together the
statement and the emotion, and, although
one be true, the compound is wretchedly
false. We read to our people without
effect that speech of Paul at which Felix
trembled, and that other, which nearly
persuaded Agrippa to be a Christian,
chiefly because we who read them are
wanting in Paul's fervor and Paul's con-
victions. Then the truth not only does
no good, but actually does harm; for it
will cause the old words that were felt to
be so dry, to fall upon the ear in future
with deadening associations, however
earnest and heartfelt the tones in which
they may then BE breathed. So true is
it that he that is not with Christ is against
him.
Again, we require to have truth stated
in its due proportions. As we'll expect
a man to enjoy health, if you hang him
up by the heels, as hope that system
of truth will be eficacious in which
the least important element takes the
place due to the most vital. But how
are supplemented people to reduce all
doctrines to their proper relations with
each other? Scripture has discovered a
beautiful and easy way out of this diff
Guilty, difficulty which is greatly felt
by those who are expected to occupy the
same half hour, whether they speak of
the healing of Bartim@us or the cruci6x-
ion of the Lord. The Bible groups all
its teaching around living Person; and
as we fix our eyes, not on dogmas, but
on His beloved countenance, We see them
all arrange themselves in perfect harmony
around our true Teacher. "In him are
hid are all the treasures of wisdom aud
knowledge; and this say lest any man
should beguile you with enticing words.
Truth is dead truth, and cannot assert it
self with power, words are merely words,
and neither quick nor powerful and dog
mas are di$jointed members without CO
hesion or symmetry, unless they be vi
talised, animated, and systematised by
Him who is preeminently 1.-The Word of
God"
See how these three principles are ex-
empli6ed in the grand story of the Re
formation. Everyphilosopher was laugh
ing at the Papal pretensions, and very
few of them laughed louder than some of
the Popes themselves; yet Rome did not
tremble nor unsheath her "sword of
sharpness. Had Luther merely said
masses are deceit, transubstantiatiOn is a
fable, indulgencies are refuge of lies,
he would only have failed as signally as
hundreds more; but because he went on
to say, Faith a0W save you, the love of
God operating through Christ IS efica-
cious; therefore the false Church was
shaken to its base. And, again, Luther
was thoroughly in earnest, ''ike thunder, y
as some one says, willing to 90, for this
doctrine, among devils as numerous as
tiles upon the houses. And, finally, Luz
Their spoke far less about mere dogmas
than about that adorable and inefable
One who has kindled all fragid doctrine
into fire, even as he touches the noun
tains and they smoke.
Now, all this is not only wholesome
doctrine, but also very full of comfort
We cannot all master the subtleties Of
of logic, nor can ministers ever hope to
train average congregations, or Sunday
scholars, or families, in the way to over
turn heretics. But we can drop here
and there the seed of some fine truth,
which will rise up and pre0ccupy the
ground, and leave no room for the false
hoods to insinuate themselves instead
a church whose members are sound in
the whole faith and earnest in Christian
practice, is not a church in which griev-
Gus wolves are likely to effect much
havoc.