, 1869-08-16
the LETTER AND THE SPIRIT.
sermon OF the Rev. II. n,
Powers.
The Old and Few DspsusationA
Love vs.. Poien.lcs,

Coffnth!ans-"For the letter ktleth, but the spl
g1seth llfc."
The "lettes' "a used here Signifies tha {
Jewish economy or dlspensaton, the "splrts" l.
new. The Law, az enunciated by Moses, w,tno
reference to further revelation, WEE 10 coude,
nation, the Gospel was a message tf delirerau
from condemnation II the former had glo,
owing 10 The majestic hans Of supernatural pow
tha; attended Na proclamation the latter had
greater glorJ Of spiritual blessedness and qsce
do not propose on this occasion to contraat Il
features Of the Jewish and Christian d[spensat1on
The former mad It's important place and stgnl
eance IN the divine economy, though. isolate
naI,on-to deaih. i Thou snals Cot" ia a. 1he as chs
nctsr1sitc Of the Jewish code. Love a +
uewtrR aud inspiring power Is the comuaad!l
:, The "iet,er..' without any forced accommod
son may he taken 70 Stand TO- mere outsarl e,
sst@eni ipe 1Sr Sfnanss sofes
r1tal good that has moulding power over the II
and ls an element Of character. The forme
aoenlEg IL profound sense, killeth; has I
epIres, InIaFss lie, Is In the highest degree p1zct
The mere fact that We are ly,n
eard for The mere .tletles," The eIIeIrals Of II
ltgiop, the forms with which Christianity
cIolhed wish TO impress the importance OF gel
eng at What Is Vital IN our religion, sad maxim
that at all t1mea practical ID our ltrea.
Christianity Is q divine Eift lts great fdnnde
The race Primarily. Christianity does MOI sesE t,
ret M ordinances; 10 enact laws; TO derue th
detalla OF church ua1Re and worshtp; to elaDorat,
articles Of faith and forms Of ceremonial. Thest
are some Of ihe ous~afd phenomena Of Ita exist
ence. Its life lies back OF all these and s not Il
eny wny dependent upon thom FOR lts extstence
Il seeks The recovery Of man nom bis sinful Alle1a
don aEd bondage, The cue OF his spiritual ualAdy
the pnnacaton, expansion, enrichment, and nnn
beati1eauon Of hts whole pRture- To lii lin ont
Q! the slough Of bis norM weakness and degrad >
new and mould after ) heavenly pattern Ais deep
est natuteso make life and Character GoAIike Ia
tie end Proposed II s l!ve-G1ytn2. soul retresh-
ing, comforting IN tne highest degFee. Its whole
does for character and for the actual good Of
man 80 IN lis - a!ms and ioaueIse II gees ns7ond
ceremonial IN shs letter Of 1ts manifestation 1t
proposes to correct tv1ss At Their sou1ce II con-
templates the welfare OF tho whole map In all his
relations, here and hereafter. It prizes nothing.
therefore, that for this purpose, does not inpart
life No forms, no laws, no castons OF service OF
help to the innrm nature, comfort and strength 70
the eoul thAt langutshea and struggles with its
sins and so7pwa Go back Of your naWea. sud
sp,rt ihese: Rhat i does i ii mean: Is pro-
vision made for man, stumbling In bis dartness,
stn-ftruck, crippled, salrowful, needy, and hungry
lU&,tAE J09 Blu rent III uu1ICf
The daIgers Of regarding the letter rather thaa
the spr1t or Christianity are swo-foid There la
danger that the Clergy insist too much upon the
much eonudence IL tie Letter. There viii always
be varieties Of taste and sympathy in matters OF
religion, which are allo wable. and for which the
makes ample prpvlaiop. Indeed, The Gospel is 80
sch IN Its Resources and adsptatsons thai there Is
nothing that Appeals to The Spiritual wants, and
all Inua n q YnO aaU
abilities, the Dost nsthet1c culture, tho most
rhlosophlc disposition, the nicoss regard for all
that Is orderly, dgnned and elaborate IN Its instl
Creeds, articles, ior7nularies Of doctrine and nt-
1als OF service naturally spring Into being from IA
nruenee n r. soms minds these m assume 4nn n1Gpoi-
lons and 81 ympAthles 10 Iayorse syHteDs Of faith,
occupied ID controversies on certain pous OF opn.
q ceremonial or e1pedteut IN eccleaastlcal policy,
here is tendency, on the part Of some, TO prcss
lEduly, In thelr minlatlationst matters which nre
y no neans essential To human interests, 10 the
EXCLUSION Of what Is Of spiritual pfoat and edrAn-
age.
.1eat r1sy be ope'1 attachment 10 matters OF this
tnd, that bis abors shall be mainly concentrated
tpoA The direction mud ma apaRenent OF tu the do
ails OF q cumbersome, intricate and Imposing
sorshIp. f'nestly vestmcnta, the ad0rDUents OF
he sanctuary, Fompons and gorgeous cereUlo-
lia1 nay occupy his enoHs aud Ills tnoughtsL How
rprled With Sin and staggering on the brink OF
DorAl ruln-hoW lille It does TO- disclose the
weetpess and bentEnlty Of ln1uite Love 10 taose
Eho tn.rst for the life dlFnehow little II does 70
trengthen souls for the terrible conalct amid khe
emprations aud sorrnws Of an evil world. Bpd 1t
netn Tor the compautonshns md sancttt.es
IL such presentations o! Christianity
'olated from The liie of The lowly and suffering !
hrtsl a1e oi the letter. To test SATISFIED with |
A stnilst e,Tor e1ts1s where ecclesiastical en- |
ctnep,a OF uIasea n1e 90 INTERRUPTED and pses4ed
3 TO initiate against the spirit Of the Gospel !
he very Organization Of churches Implies the eS-
Of lawa. 'he Institution Of usaGes and
ecclesiastical government These things n1e NO. |
essnry, but ther aim and innaence should be |
cncneent But even where they are Intended TO !
c in harmony With the Gospel, and to Xeca1e its
oily cnas II ta stil roa sihle sometimes 10 con-
rue thea, to be SO s1ayishy sul,eervicut to them
sed for Bad purposes Instead Of good. No doubt
lie Church couIcmpla,es IN her appointments,
.eks TO promote tho blessed kingdom Of her LorL
nd IN this lIghs-hcF oenevolcnf Intentions
hat she commands must be interpreted It
clingtng TO the spirit IN thA regard, and not TO
le letter, however. that her ministers ahAl DO
lie work to which they are called Ia the Church
i'd service, Of Christ II Is foll5 70 waste that
the letter which ought to be devoted to tho
tnl lrtercsts OF souls and the Masters honor
he whole creation Rtoans and traralls In pain 10.
ether under the CurAe OF Sin noA Of Innuu1eFrd
Fils. The cry of tho poor and oppressed, and
u-sick and wretchcsl, goes up 10 tho Lord OF
auaoth. For what is the Rlnt1o1s Gospel given:
situations established. II It werc not for tue re-
,fesJ OF uan-for his present md everlasting
clfale: How anomalous. how sad: how denior,
10 Enforcement OF nero tochncal1t1es which
10, Ignoring The beneyolent Spirit OF the Gospel,
-eescs sone little Formally with the concern
ent, aud the parn1e, and the authority vhlca
,lenn interests Of our h1tnanltyi Let a mat |
no tccua 10 appreciate tho hUR1st meaning OF
nristiRnlsy, II DO sympathizta with the. agontes
.sed, and 1d Who sees Whst might be acconpllshe',
the glorious Gospel a. the son o. God eoald %
ought with inspiring poFcf 70 hungIJ heafs
e attitude and endcavots OF those Who with furt-
IL c.amor eIat sone Insignificant forlunlhtJ 10
e place Of fundamental principles who filter
FAY their strength and lime 10 beating tae ar
ith uRtIcas tcholosuc definitions and egAl inter
.cta'lons, and who seek victory 10 me alhttIasJ
I'd cruel endorsement OF verbal technlcalitie.
i'd shame There IN no ll1e here, nothing en-
'usngiug TO tho hopes OF the philanthropisl noth.
~ cheering TO the heart Of charity. nothing that
,unen.ls single Cnriahan virtue. or speaks pf
Irratny with the spirit and cross Of Chrtst-
no that Is terribly IN earnest III reference to the
Ehest weaTe q nj. Ecs ;, "no teas has
nh wrrtcheduess: who that beho.dH the white
piendors and the celestial bcat,tudcs to which
ne s tbins ,hss he does God sesiss eV
retslrg the mere letter IN such "iae that Chr1st
ccncealet. his Kingdom misunderstood and his
lnstet that We to illustrate, In lowttuess AMI
nmilIty. Arrogance OF Assertion and authority |
te in.u,lcu to thia an we're better tor him who
uts stumbling plock In the way OF ChE.sts III
10 ones deliberately. that mttlsIone we're hung |
trout his neck and that be rcre drowned IN Inc
eptn OF ne go The discipline o. sae Cn1ssn a s
based Another way by which the letter Is min !
s.cred rather than the 1plrit Is through the forms
i dry and hasd and unnutHt,oos Theology.
1ue character md government They rec man
Imply In bis relation 70 an unrcsentaR and awtu!
LOUD. LchtniDes and thunder ale around the
hTune ateve. The Christianity which they en-:
leayor to iDcucate Is mechanical. theological
ysten, in which the heart OF Christ Is absent
Prohibitions, commands, polcu1lcal dissertations
IN q broken law and human deprAyity and help
essncss, aud the horror Of q terrible doom-;hta
be power Of the cross, the JOY OF chAnty the lore
ave, the riches Of The divine Eraee and the glory
md coilqoertne Ehl,st, they do not seem to grasp
cr appreciate or teach 1t Is but one aspect Of the
truth which they portEay--ths Eloomy BideEuotA
en.nx In It's fI-1E OF md life, ana The iutare.
Hope, JOY IA!tnI aspiration, not born In t1e1!
They arc OF The letter enenys ana
XII ins;tsd q making sl,Ee. They lead To ssaai7
Bet il there Is danger that the ministry OF INC
Gospel be that Of the letter. there IS dAose1 'oA
It be thus received.
In ali matters that pertain to the sonl ani SPIT.
itnnf things thert Is strnu2 teIptnssor 70 resi- n
what Is vlRinlc And external. To accept tne oris-
paty statements OF Christian doctrine, TO eESaTe
In 1he routine OF pleasant service TO acqnle N
attachment 10 certa.n ttme-honore1 and aallo4ed
for purposes Of religion, Il not task from which
man, OF good Intentions greatly shrink. bnt 70
cic win evil WITHIN. to be pure and true and de-
Voted 10 Christ Ia secret 70 tive the LIE tnAs In the
midst of sin and temptation aud care, takes hold
on God, and cyeJ day 10 spprohcna tnc sszniu,-
and reet the austere requirements