Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-04-18
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ManlY Christianity.

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There is nothing of which the world stands
in greater need to-day than Q manly type Of
Christianity. We have too much of the apol-
ogetic, polished, daiettante style of preaching
and practice and too little of the bold, fearless
and manly style. Wealth, ease and fashion
and freedom from prosecution have produced
a stunted and effeminate Christianity, which is
barely able to maintain itself against the in-
sdlous lntidellties and scepticisms of the age
and unless we can have something healthier,
stronger and better the progress and civiliza-
ton of the race mast stand still or make very
slow advances. We want, and must have, a
type of Christianity which in the face of dan
ger and surrounded by open or concealed enc
mics can stand as rock, unshaken and secure
We want, and must have a type of Christian
manliness in the pulpit aud in the pew which
shall not be afraid to call the Scribes and Phar-
isees OF our generation hypocrites and whited
sepuchres; that can take scourge of cords
and drive out of the Christian temples of the
land, and especially of this city, the traders in
politics, religion and morals who have made.
or are trying to make, the Lord house den
Of thieves In one-half the churches of our
city the wealth, and not the moral purity of
life or the Christian experience, is the ladder
by which men attain to eminent position in the
Church. And the doctrine and preaching must
conform In great measure to the lives and
character of the men thus elevated And if
ministers shall so far forget themselves as to
utter severe truths against sins and sinners, as
We have sometimes heard them, they don't
proceed very far until they have let their con-
gregations know that they are not the persons
meant. These are the men who enter the
ministry as they would enter any other pro-
fession, and not from that high sense of duty
inspired by the Holy Spirit aud 40 intense love
for the souls OF men. Who can conceive of
Paul and Peter and Stephen, of Huss and
Wycklife and Knoz, of Wesley and Whitfield
and Spurgeon by the cut Of their coats or the
trim of their hair, or by the salary, large or
small which they received as ministers or pas
tors? They might have been little of stature,
deformed ugly and unconth in manner and ap-
pearance, but they did grand and a noble
work for God and humanity, and the Church
and the world to-day measure them only by the
Godward standard. They were manly men do
ing manly work for Jesus, and their monu-
ments stand prominently forth in all the earth.
And who can doubt that God has set those
men and others like them all along the path
way OF the ages, to show to the world what is
the true type of Christian manliness. We re-
main stunted and tiny because we do not imi-
tate the higher standards. Our models are too
little and too mean, they stand on too low a
plane and we cannot rise above them. But ii
the Kingdoms of our Lord and Of his Christ it
must be by means of manly Christianity.
The Lord Jesus Christ called and ordained
men to preach His Gospel, net because of their
superior power OF speech or glibness of tongue,
but because the PRONUNCIATION of His truth de-
mands manly vigor, robust thought and un-
compromising fidelity to Himself and to His
message, "Go and speak unto them all the
words of this life which command thee be
not dismayed at their faces, lest ! confound
thee before them; be not afraid of their faces
for am with thee to deliver thee, saith the
Lord This is the command and authority of
God to His prophets and apostles and His min
listers in all ages, and the world knows very lit
tie about any other, save those who have
counted not their lives dear unto them" that
they might bear this message of truth and sal
walton to the ends of the earth. Had Jesus
Christ designed to tlace women in the pulpit,
He could have found them as good and faith
full and true in Jerusalem eighteen hundred
yearsago as 10 London or New York to-day !;
and we may add also, that there are as good
women here and now as there were then and
there. and they are doing noble work In their
way for the Master.
We find that in the spiritual and Church
life as in domestic and social life there are two
kinds of work, an outside aud an inside, a
manly and vigorous work and a womanly,
tender and gentle woik-a work of the head
and a work of the heart and neither can u
surp the place of the other nor perform each
others work so well. The sword of the Spirit
requires manly arm to WELD it, and manly
brow must wear the helmet of salvation and a
firm hand grasp the shield Of faith, else the
principalities and powers, and the spiritual
wickednesses 10 high places against which the
Church of Christ has to contend, will surely
conouer But who can watch over the sick
and wounded in this strife, smooth the pillows
and comfort the hearts OF the dying, nourish
and support the weary aud heavy laden, and
inspire hope and faith and courage in the faint.
ING ones and those who are ready to perish.
like woman? This is woman's true mission,
and right grandly are thousands of them to.
day throughout Christendom doing this work.
But it is Just as true 10 spiritual as in physical
conflicts that the fighting must be done by men
bold. courageous and strong, and women must
stand aside, Each can help and sdccor the
other in his or her sphere and who shall de-
ny that many battle, both physical and spirit
ual. has been won as truly by the prayers and
tears and sighs aud groans of Christian moth
ers, wives and sisters, as by the sturdy arms
and brave hearts Of husbands, brothers and
sons? And had We fewer fashionable women
and more praying women 10 the Church to- day
we should have a slurdier class of minister.
and manlier Christianity. The Gospel Of
the Lord Jesus Christ is first pure, then peace
able. It first ploughs up the taow ground oil
the human soul and then sends the waters o.
salvation flowing into 1t, 50 that the good seed
Of the kingdom may be Dourished and pros.
pered. Christ preaching was a pattern Of
manliness; but it had in it also all the eviden,
ces and elements Of woman tenderness anG