The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-12-22
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Let US continue our consideration of this
question, and from different point of view.
In broader survey we shall perhaps find
that which will assist our inquiry.
The earliest mastering impulses of the soul
are selfish; the later impulses, as God gets
the mastery, are generous, because the mas
terng God is loving. The first religion OF the
individual is a selfish religion, its spring and
stimulus is the hope OF acquiring some per-
sonal advantage, or Of avoiding some personal
disadvantage; sometimes its outlook is towards
certain rewards in this life, banking privileges,
patronage across the counter or marriage and
social position; generally it contemplates the
rewards and punishments of the future life.
1t is shelter from impending wrath; it an
swers the question, "What must l DO to be
saved ?" But afterwards, IL development con-
tinues comes the question which Paul put out
OF much intense religious experience Lord
what will thou have me to do?"
What is thus true of the Individual has
been very obviously true OF the church. The
anxiety of the earlier christian concerned his
salvation in the world to come; bis religious
effort was addressed chiefly to bis own per-
sonal sanctifcation, and 10 that of his breth-
rem in the church. While the church in its
earlier stages is thus engaged, it Is necessarily
centred in itself; it fosters assiduously its Owp
life, and keeps itself separate from the profan-
knowledge and in the power of the spirit it
essays greater things than these ; it is moved by
the presence of the Almighty to do in gen.
erous and self foIgettul way the will of the
Almighty. Ir reaches out a helping hand to
the sheep that are not OF that fold; nay, IL
goes itself forth to seek them; and that it may
go forth the more easily 1t throws down the
walls that are around it, or leaps over them,
ignoring them. So when the church has left
behind its days of infancy, and has attained
the stature of spiritual manhood, it finds it
self in the world, and something of the world
in its own heart. 1t regards the little en-
closure which bounded the wanderings Of Its
first untutored steps, as wise provision for
its safety in its earlier days, but as no limita-
tion to the courageous and generous impulses
of its maturity.
Still following our inquiry let US consider,
i'll the third place, the influence of personal
manners and tastes upon the church. Has
the habit OF personal confession, and of inter-
dependence OF soul upon soul in the commit
nion of the earlier church been able to with
stand the individualizing influence of civiliza-
tion; or should it be made to withstand those
influences. You know that it is only the
rude uncivilized classes of men who sleep In
huts, without doors. The barbarian has lit
tie regard Tor privacy. He cares for no Sc
crets. He holds all things in common with
tations comes also some perception of the
privilege OF silence, and Of choosing ones own
rOmpanions and confdants. But for some
time yet will the latch string hang out at the
door. and every one will have the run OF bis
neielbor's house, and familiar acquaintance
with his household secrets-not as a privi-
lege of friendship, but as one OF the rights Of
man.
As civilization advances there springs up
~T xIac n,alp of axtnn
ing even to all personal appointments anu to
things with which the person Is intimately
associated. The latch-string is then drawn
in. Every mans house becomes his castle;
and if there is skeleton in his closet the
door need not be closed. Apparel becomes
personal apparel, each having his own; and
the family dish, open to every greedy hand, Is
supplemented by the more private plate
Thus have sprung up in gradual growth all
the ordinary delicacies and proprieties OF our
common lite. They are the product OF civili-
zatlon, which-as if dimly discovering that
man is the temple Of God-hedges his person
about with certain invisible barriers, making
every man king.
Now, the inward life feels even more d.
rectly the influence of civilization. The soul
of man also learns to build home of its own
and to live in it privately. It learns to hold
its deepest experiences in sacred silence, ex-
Ccpt - pcISOudl SouuuiuS Hlcuusuip may uu>
lock the lips. 1t learns to shrink from the
official contessor, whether he be church-prlest
or only church member; and II it discloses
itself at all it is only at the bidding of perso-
nal confidence and affection.
The religion of the primitive man is In
very slight degree private aud PERSONAL
Chiefly it is a matter Of public policy, affect
ing the prosperity of his tribe or nation. His
religious sentiment is simply presentiment
of fear that the gods may send calamity to
his people, or that they may not prosper him
then, is mainly public religion; it consists
in public offerings by which prosperity may
be purchased from the gods. And ii, upon
his own personal account, he makes votive
or propiliatory offering, he disposes it in
public place.
When afterwards the private and persona!
nature Of religion is partially apprehended
its exercises still continue for long time to
be formal and occasional. And it is clearly
true that the occasional, infrequent exercises
of the soul in matters Of high concern, is like
ly to be subject for selEgratulation. and so
may make one garrulous; whereas habitual
intercourse with serious and solemn themes,
begets humility and-silence. This also is to
be noted; while religion is in any degree for
NAL, that is, while it is ritualistic, creedal or
in any other sense arbitrary, it must be in the
SAINT ueSTSG SUPERFICIAL, duu It's SuTidC6 tx
periences will roll down in unconstrained
eaves-droppngs upon the next mans terri
tory. But when at last religion is understood
to be habitual attention to Gods whisper in
the soul, its real abiding place is seen to be,
not upon the lips in solemn forms of words,
but in the sculs inner sanctuary; and respect
is gwen to its sacred retirement. .r
Thus as advancing culture at once narrows
and deepens the hospitality of the home, 1t
IL x1o h<e. .ol..x Il
the heart. 1t maybe easy for the uncivilized
men to expose the dearest secrets of his soul
to the inspection of the first conner; but moth
ing is so difficult to him who has learned to
respect the sacredness of private experience.
need say no more to show that as in the
progress of civilization man is outwardly indl.
vidualized from the mass of humanity, and
respect is given to the dignity of his person,
so also his in ward life is set apart In sacred
privacy.
Has the church been able to withstand this
mysterious but potent influence? Answer,
you who are in the church. 10 the tact of
church fellowship an open sesame to your
heart OF hearts? Will you freely open 10 your
brother or sister in the church the story OF
your religious experiences, your struggles,
your aspirations, your failures and your VIC
tories? Will you ask your church brother,
taken at random, to help you in your peculiar
temptations; will you depend especially upon
him to comfort you and build you up? Is it
not, then, very obvious that the changes
which timeihas wrought in personal manners
and customs have greatly modified the fuDc-
tions Of church-membership? Is the church
| in fact at this time close union OF individu-
| ais segregated apart from the world?
We cannot, if we would, avoid the conclu-
| sion that the apostolic church would be an
anachronsm in the cbristendom of to-day.
This conclusion is clearly established by these
three considerations. ~ The antagonism
between the church and the world Is now q
thing OF the past, for the inundating flow o.
Christianity has swallowed up the pool which
once contained it all. (2.) The increase of the
Holy Spirit in the church has driven it forth
from its hiding to give wide sympathy and
loving service to the world without. And (3.)
| By the teachings of civilization man has
learned to give certain sacred respect to his
own religious experience and to that OF his
| neighbor.
And in fact the apostolic church no longer
exists, save as the sapling exists in the wide
| spreading tree. Through all the artificial re-
straints imposed upon it to keep 1t down to
| its first condition. it has worked upward
and outward, grdled indeed and cheek
| ed by the bands put about u 10 keep u YOUNG
| growing nevertheless. and assuming new
| forms as the centuries have rolled on.
The child is father oil the man, put only II
/ be he nermitted to grow to manhood. The
;ntention Of the church authorities has been
mnmistakeabe to dwarf the church to its ear
liest relations; the apostolic ideal, because
| APOSTOLIC, has oermastered the teachings OF
| experience; but nature and the growth OF ma
| ture must have way, for its way is Gods. The
| efforts of the church in resistance of its own