The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-06-30

| der perSuaSlVeneSS perVaueu NO preachihS'
"The entrance of thy word giveth light. .
And this was eminently so with the personal
ministry of the Son of God. 1t was in
structiOn that he impaired. Not the flash
ing, dazzling, scorching flame. of the thun-
derbolt; but the warm, cheering, vivifying
illumination of spiritual truth gently flowing
| from it's source.
With many persons religion is an excite
ment. 1t is associated in their minds with
scenes of agitation, and they estimate reli-
gious services in proportion to the effort that
is made to arouse the emotions by artificial
means. But against this view we confident
ly appeal to the manner in which Christ him
self conducted such services. His parallels
were very different from that clamorous de-
camation which some so much admire
They we're designed to implant an active
principle of piety in the soul, and not to
kindle a transitory excitement in the popu-
lar mind And Christian energy, not ner-
vous agitation, was the legitimate result of
his ministry.
3. In the third place, our Saviour did
not preach a religion of taste. By this, we
mean that he did not lay any stress upon
beauty of ceremonial, or attractive decora-
tions. He said nothing about architecture,
drapery, or ornament. He did not enjoin
an impressive ritual in general worship, or
in the sacraments. In what attitudes, or
with what accompaniment Baptism or the
Lords Supper were to be administered and
received, never appears in his instructions.
These always pertain to the spirit and not
to the form. Volumes of truth are conveyed
by his silence alone.
And yet, how many of his professed fol-
lowers pursue a different course? Affairs,
vestments, paintings, symbolical designs,
and musical representations are favorite
theories. The Church, the sacraments, and
the priest hood, clothed with magnifcence
and every external grace, occupy the fore
ground of the picture, whilst judgment, mer-
cy, and faith are thrust into the shade. Norris
this tendency of the times altogether unfelt in
our own communion. Many of our people,
sensible that something is wanting, and not
knowing what that something is, imagine
that greater degree of artificial impress
siveness is necessary to render our services
more attractive to the world. In some re-
spects this may be true. Perhaps religious
decorum may require some amendment of our
directory of worship. But we think the er-
ror of the times is decidedly tending too far
in that direction. Why should we desire to
have the Lords Supper administered in
style invented by man? Why invest bap-
tism, or any other religious service with ex-
ternal circumstances which the imagination
would suggest? A devout faith seems to
say that the original simplicity was more i'm
s~e'J. = h@~~>- ~"- -thH dornrattods- -aft.-z-
The great want which we SO seriously revA,
is not so much want of ornament or exter-
nal scenery impressive to the senses, as
want of spiritual accord with the truth itself.
A mind charged with spiritual truth, and
heart flowing with heavenly affections, will
be satisfied with 'sthe law of the Lord, and
those simple ordinances by which it is made
known. Such worshipper will find the
plain country church, with its decent Chris
tian forms, and precious privileges, fully
equal in his eyes to the most elaborate struc-
ture and the most splendid ritual that human
will ll-worship ever devised.
j. A. w.