The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-10-15

trines for peace, is just as bad as to Sacrlhcf
them for ease or safety but if the truth
could have been sacrificed for either ease OF
personal safety, the church would never have
had its martyrs.
But if controversy be necessary, it should
ever be conducted in Christian spirit
And in order to this, in the first place, let
every man who calls himself a Christian, lay
aside that morbid sensibility, which rises
into anger, when any part of his creed is
questioned, even in a moderate manner; let
every Christian be willing to have his princi-
Piles questioned, and brought to the scrip
tural test, whilst there are other Christians
who differ from him: and in the second place,
let those engaged in controversy, remember
that they are not contending for their own
honor, but for the honor and cause of God:
aud let all pride of talents aud love of victo'
ry, be kept down in religious disputation.-
Were these plain rules observed--and would
Christians, with mutual regard to the rights
of conscience, bring forward their differences,
and discuss them in the fear of God; such a
course might lay true foundation for the
peace of the church; and afford prospect
of removing from it whatever errors may at
present exist; and of fulfilling that cheering
prophecy, that "the watchmen of Zion shall
see eye to eye"
In the third place, I would observe, that
it is the duty of all Christians to diacounte-
nance a proselytiziug spirit. This is per-
haps one of the greatest evils that can enter
the church. By proselytizing spirit, l
mean that spirit which substitutes the love of
party for the love of church, and maintains
the interests of that party on the principles
of mere human policy. Such spirit in the
church is much like party spirit in the state.
1t is thought, indeed, that some degree of
party spirit is useful in free governments;
but when it passes its proper limits, all men
are convinced of its ruinous tendency. 1t
Injuries the morals; it fills the land with SIAN
der and falSehood; and often throws suspi-
cion on the best characters in the nation.
Now whatever effects the spirit of party
may produce on the state, the spirit of pros
elytism will produce in the church-with
perhaps this difference, that religion creates
more intense feelings in the mind than even
politics. How disastrous, then, must the
consequences be, when the spirit of prOSelyt-
ISM affects even small part of the church,
A few men, of even moderate talents, de-
voted to this employment, may do more in
Jury, and produce more unseemlinesS in the
house of God, than ten times their number
of inGdels, though of the most distinguished
talents.
In the fourth place, I would observe, that
the institutions which have lately arisen in
the church have received less attention than,
from their Importance, they deserve. These
institutions are numerous, comprehendlng,
among others Bible Societies, Sunday
Schools, Tract Societies, Concerts of Pray
er, and Missionary and Education Societies,
on an extended scale. These, in their united
influence, form most important machinery
for the propagation of the truth. The church
had existed for near eighteen centuries, with
out these institutions; and yet, when they
came into view, they appeared to have so
much of the Christian spirit, and were SO
we'll calculated to embody, and carry for
ward, all the principles of the gospel, that
we wondered the church should ever have
been without them.
The manner in which these institutions
arose, also deserves attention. They evil
IDENTIFY came not by the will of man, nor by
human device, but by the interposition of
God. The first movement in reference to a
Bible Society, was petty attempt to supply
with the Scriptures, few destitute families
in poor neighborhood and out of this arose
the Bible Society, which now overShadows
Christendom, and sends its blessing to the
ends of the world. The prime movers in the
scheme intended no such thing. They were
the first to wonder at what they had done ;
or rather to exclaim,-" What hath God
wrought ?" Similar remarks might be ap-
piled to most of the other institutions. In
deed, in their origin and progress, We have
more than sufficient evidence to convince the
Christian-we have almost enough to con-
vince the infdel-that these institutions are
from God. say we have almost evidence
enough to convince the infdel; and l believe
1 may add with safety, that infielity has
been greatly confounded, by these new ap
pearances in the church.
But it is a matter of both surprise and re
gret, that what has been sufficient to con
found infdelity has not been sufficient tc
awaken the whole church of God. Some
parts of the church, indeed, seem to be alive
on the subject; but with US, Ito our shame
and humiliation be it spoken professors o
religion are generally asleep. Perhaps
then, the first thing incumbent on us is I,
spread the knowledge of these institution
and their operations, as extensively as pos
sible. For when they become fully known
they must, and will, in some measure, form
a test of Christian character. They have S
much of the Christian spirit, that all VIII
love the gospel will love them, and ever,