Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-07-12
sACRED HISTORY,

FooSCLUnED FRoN LAST SUNDAYS APPEAI4.l
Nations vaguely admit that there is 8
God, to whom they aseribe their vietO-
Ties, and whom they expect their KingE
aud Presidents occasionally to mention
with reverentisl sir; while they walk il
the ways Of oppression, rspine, selfish
ness, and unholy ambition. Individual
imagine that il is enough to "do the re-
liglon," by punetual attendance in full
dress at the church, one day in seven, &c
hear the Preacher ply what they regard
IS his peculiar trade; but to recognize
the fact that God actually lives, by obey
ing the laws Of Deity, loving their neigh
Dor as themselves, forgiving their enc
mics, feeding the hungry and clothing
the naked, RETAINING from unfair advsn-
tRges in trading, living and toiliDg foI
others more than for themselves, doing
unto others that which they would wish
these to do unto them, eeasingstO make
profit out Of the needs and distTesses OF
Others and Of the country,-these are
modes OF recognition Of the Divine Pres
snce which they decline to recognize as
IN any degree necesssry-tO themselves,
1t least, if not to ether men.
S0it is that true Religion, the true and
real service Of the Temple dies out, and
L. succeeded by formulas and eeremo-
zies and shows; that rites are regarded
rs sufficient for salvation, or, al least, as
enough by way Of precaution and that
8 false Prophet in the pulpit, profession
81 singers from theatres and operas ia
the choirs, curtained and cushioned
pews, and fuIl-dress and vanity, with
listless inattentiOn, have succeeded to
the simple worship OF the Apostles, and
OF the prosecuted in the catscombs OF
Rome, and to the conscientious and con-
slant performance Of duty.
Strange, indeed, how little Influence
the creed has on the conducts Let US,
TO exsmplify this, borrow somewhat that
we have read:
4" When the old sophists aud wisdom
lovers had ceased 70 make men wise as
Socrates, dutiful IS Cato, hopeful as
Plato, and the world had cast Of the old
skin OF belief, and had cOntrived no
other in its place, there arose the Star OF
Bethlehem. The Persisns looked for q
Hero Redeemer, the Romans for Marcel
lus, the Hebrews for an anointed, con-
guering King; but only the shepherds
OF the hills sang the true KiRg-Hvmu
when be came. The expected Conquerer
was but Martyr; and he delivered his
disciples for ten generations to fire,
sword, torture and temptation. I come
not 10 bring peace upon the EARTH ne
said, but the sword , and the footsteps
Of Christianity, il all except its earliest
centuries, have been followed by rivers
OF blood. Terror spread bis wings over
this Church, till the Old Roman Eagle
tore him from his place, and Christianity
sat on the throne Of the West and Esst.
Now, surely, the promised reign of uni
versal love hath come Read the record
of Christian philosophy, the condensed
code Of Christian law and practice
work no thicker than your thumb, yet
fan q wisdom, power, charity, and the
service Of perfect freedom the new law
Of Love, Mercy and federation the
ending and repeal Of the law Of Fear.
Hath that reign come? Read the
story Of the first CHRISTIAN Emperor, and
shut the book. The Christians are no
better than the Heatheus nay, they are
Heathens still. Julian, called the Apos-
tate, s tolerant philosopher, thought so
too, as he few on his feet horse from
Britain to the throne Of the BosphOrus,
through the thick German forests, TO re-
iastste the old bishop.
When these forests also sent out
their coDquerers, and the first Rome fell
before them, and chaos came again, an
other bold hand restored the Empire
and the Church. The Barbarian world
took I'd Christianity with their swords.
Do the swords bring the reign Of peace 4?
Read the story Of that Emperor and Of
his successors, and shut the book again.
"The foremost Christian Priest him
self becomes 8 king, with ali the courtly
appendages Of Pride and Power. The
world was then cast in the feudaI mould /:
the Pope became a Suzerain of spiritual
msDOrs, and bis priestly military, sta
toned like the eOnstables 10 every Town
ship, beTded 10 mOnastic garrisOns, were
enlisted for life, and served him well.
The success was too great, and the con-
oueror was too secure. Was there peace
ia Christendom Read the history OF
any ten years OF those centuries, and
shut the book again. There was spirit
ual peace, that Is, single creed but,
ike the elder Romans, the Popes ere
ated 3 Solitude, and called it peace.
HTben another king Of Thought arose,
q king OF another Stamp,-LUPHER, and
erected q rival Republic. Then began
The great Christian Civil Wars, with
Their msrtyEdoms and massscres. At
lsst the two Camps divided Europe be-
tween then, snd thesword was shesthed;
but there was no real peace the war OF