The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-17

chasten."
But, If these things be so, how perilous Is our
condition! To ourselves, possibly we may hear
the Lord, as He walketh among the candle
sticks, saying;-"I know thy worke, that thou
ing our rejection. Has It come then
to this, that we are even now in
danger of extinction, as pure and Scriptural
Church Alas the signs OF the times are tear
fully ominous of 1t, seeing that they show the
Church is drifting towards that guilt in which
all that is worth having in Church sinks into
obivion-the deep and awful gulf ofthe Church
III. In such peril, what are we to do, we who
see the evil and fear the danger2
God, in His good providence, has given to our
toned to regard the glory of all liturgies, and
as devotional expression of ScTiptural truth,
unrivalled. This has been a great blessing to
her, in all the vicissitudes through which she
has been called 10 pass. 1t has breasted the tide
of Romanism, ere this, as we'll as ofindIiference
and infdelity. Though Rome might speak from
the pulpit, or heathenish philosophy, or a
barren morality, this has always sounded out a
clear and clarion note of gospel truth. 1t does
so still; and we believe that, under God, it will
eventually drive out all the hooting owls and
unclean birds that now hover about our altars.
The truth that is in 1t will assert its supremacy,
and compel those of "another gospep TO feel
that they are but acting part and that false
part, in using 1t to their ends. To their own
place they must ultimately go, or the liturgy
itself cease to be what 1t is.
But while the truth which Is in the Liturgy
is thus bulwark of defense, we may weaken or
strengthen its effect by the way in which we
use it. The Ritualsts affect unwOnted reverence
In their conduct of public worship, and by its
appeal TO both the eyes and ears of the wor-
| shippers. What can we do to meet them Only
make our service q living service, as 1t was
meant to be, and we want nothing more effec-
tive, at least to an intelligent people. Can in
! toning be halt so impressive as correct and
| spirited reading! Against singsong the plain
J song may easily be pitted; but against manly
and digni6ed delivery, 1T is but pitiful contrl-
| vance. And here we OF the ministry have been,
doubt not, at fault in not giving that power to
! the Liturgy of which believe 1t to be capable.
Let the eXhortation be uttered il real let the
lessons be read as If we felt them TO be Divine
! word; and the prayers be offered with all the
tenderness and JUNCTION OF genuine devotion;
and our service will need nothing to aid its
attractiveness, drawn from the dramatic per-
formance of sensualized worship.
But the people have their responsibility also.
What 'muttering and peeping" do we sometimes
hear for responses that ought TO awaken the
echoes and make the arches ring! Oh feel
ashamed that so noble an instrument as God
has placed in our hands should be used by us
so unskilfully-so unskllfully as often to appear
but the mockeTy of worship. Is not our service
common prayer for people and ministers alike?
Why, then, will not the people assert theirrIght,
and with their loud amens and full-voiced re-
| sponses in every part, whether Confession,
Litany, Greed, or Psalter, make manifest its
| GLORY and beauty" and thus demonstrate that
! 1t needs no additaments from any quarter, much
! less such as they would give as who are now
disturbing our peace"
! believe that the congregational singing of
| Gods praise would also have its weight IN couu-
teracting. these innovations, even as believe
| that much of the church music now in vogue
had its, in bringing them in. On. this, how
ever, cannot enlarge. l will only say that
music is great power-greater than many
| OF us seem to be aware of; and that If
| 1t be of worldly character, and such as
the people have no interest in, save to
| listen to luxuriously as an entertainment, 1t
cannot but have strious influence IN vitlating
devotional taste, and so pre- pairing the way for
! sensuous ritualsm. If the church can be turned
for the time into concert hall or an opera
| house, why may it not be into theatre, for the
| display of religious histrionic performances
! To sing Gods praise with the spirit and With
the understanding" is the sublimest act of
human soul. Why should Christians allow ii to
be taken out of their mouths, only to have its
travesty poured into their ears in a style too
often unbecoming the house OF God, and incon-
gruous with the tone of holy and spiritual
worship? Not such was the Apostles idea OF it,,
| when he exhorted the Ephesians to "speak to
themselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs, singing and making melody in their
| hearts to the Lordn
But most of all, my brethren, if we would
avert this peril, we must stand in QUE lot as
Evangelical Christians, holding the Gospel in its
simplicity. Nothing is so powerful in breaking
down the strongholds of Satanic device as pure
doctrine, truly preached and truly followed.
And of all doctrines none is more powerful
than that, with which we opened oul
discourse, that all law has been fulfilled in
Christ and that now He is the one Justiier Of
! the uDgodly. Jesus Christ-the Reconciler, the
! Lawgiver, the Lord of all-this Is the Palladium
of our strength. If we hold Him in the integrity
of this Gospel, there will be no fear of our
being tossed to and fro by the winds of corrupt
doctrine or practice. And thus holding Him
men will say to US, 1--WE will go with you; for
! we have heard that God is with you;" while the
encouraging word OF Christ Himself will be:-
"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Fathers
good pleasure to give you the kingdom" Let
then, this truth take deeper hold upon us; lei
it take such a hold as will manifest itself in &
growing Christ-like life; and remnant mus
remain of those "who have not bowed the knee
| to Baal." "Be blameless and harmless the sons
OF God without rebuke, in the midst of
crooked and perVerse generation, among whom
ye shine as lights in the world"
| Brethren, the Scriptures tell us that Gin the
last days perilous times shall come, when men
shall be lovers of their own selves, heady, high
| minded; having form of godliness, but deny.
| ing the power thereof" Is there not reason to
fear that ICe have fallen upon such? Are not the
signs of our times both indicative of their
as wellY All the foundations of religious faith
are out of course-men drifting hither and
| thither In search of something besides the
simple truth of God as revealed In His Word,
on which to rest What then, is our duty as
those who know and hold that truth? Its To
abide in the ship, the Ark of Jesus; to look
upon that Ark more steadily, and to cling to il
more earnestly, as a place of refuge, the only
| refuge for a peIishlng world. Make Jesus the
| very life of your life, the thought of your
| thoughts, the iumost centre of all your being,
and you shall stand forever saved yourselves
and made by God the glorious instruments oil
saving others.
WOMAN.