The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-06-30
For THE CENTRAL PREsBYTERIA,
SPIRITUAL RELIGION.

| $50, this only have found, that God hath made
man upright; but they have sought out many inven-
tons'
So spake the author of the book of Eccle-
siastes The world presents as great a vari-
ETY. of religion as of any other production.
Every nation, tribe, and class, has some pc
culiar taste, that leads to the cultivation of
a faith and worship peculiar to ITSELF -
The religious tendency manifests its power
in its symbols. The cruel rites of ancient,
oriental heathenism may be seen in history,
strongly contrasted with the beautiful forms
of the Grecian mythology; and the hideous
idols of the modern Hindoo or Chinese tenn
pie, is equally removed from the picturesque
worship of Papal Rome. But leaving out
of view these more glaring contrasts, We find
in our own Protestant communities the same
tendency to diversity the outward express
| sion of common faith, the same disposition
of the unsanctitied human heart w follow lUs
own selfish dictates, rather than submit i'm
plicitly to the Spirit and Word of God
The great duty that seems to have been
assigned by Providence to the Presbyterian
Church, is to inculcate spiritual Christian
ity upon those who come under her influence;
and we would endeavor to illustrate this
| spiritual mission in such manner as to i'm
press upon our readers the solemn obliga-
tions connected with it.
We understand by Spiritual Christianity,
that kind of religious doctrine and practice
which the Redeemer himself exemplifed in
his own words and actions. The devout
readers of the New Testament cannot fail to
be impressed with the elevation, purity, and
warmth of the sentiments which he so earn
estly uttered and enforced. We certainly
concur in the astonishment and admiration
of the Jews, who declared that "Never man
spake like this man." But the force and
beauty of his instructions are more easily
understood than defined. We can more
readily point out the negative than the posi-
tive characteristics of his ministry.
l. Our Lord did not address himself ex-
clusively to the intelligence of his hearers
He did not present the truths of religion as
an intellectual exercise, or as mere food for
abstract meditation. "The words that /
speak unto you, they are spirit and they are
life" The appeal was made Immediately to
both the reason and the conscience, the judg.
ment and the affections; and the use for
which his instructions were designed, was
evidently to call into prompt exercise the
spirit of obedience. "Follow thou me, y
was the earnest command that accompanied
his life-giving words.
We may see therefore that a eoid5 5-rumi-
mating orthodoxy, that would sit down under
the droppings of the sanctuary, as one might
listen to lecture on some theme in specula-
tive philosophy, cannot correspond with the
demands of q spiritual religion. And here,
we fear, is the practical error of many of
the more intelligent in our churches at this
day. The intellectual entertainment is the
chief attraction of the hour and place Of
worship. They feel little interest in the
prayers of Gods people. They participate
coldly, or not at all, in the offering of melo-
dious praise. The explication, the hand
ling, and illustration of the subject selected
by the preacher, attract their critical atten
ton, and they are rewarded for their atten'
dance according to the success with which
the task is performed. Such persons are
attached to the particular church with which
they are connected, by the feast OF reason II
supplies, irrespective of its pure worship OF
its Scriptural discipline.
They are, perhaps, rigidly orthodox, but
alas it is not the living, loving othodoxJ
: that shines from the cross.
/. 2. Again, our Saviour's words were no
exclusively addressed to the emotional ma
ture of man. A calm solemnity and ten