New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-10-03
NEEDED PHASES OF CHRISTIANITY.

NEEDED PHASES OF CHRISTIANITY
THR CHARACTER ESSENTIAL TO THE RELIGION WHICH
SHALL TAKE STRONG HOLD OF THE AMERICAN
HEART-GosPEL POWER AND ITS MANIFESTO
TIoNs-THE DUTIES OF MAN TO MAN AND MAN
To GoD-THE DUTIES OF THE RIcH-THI AMERI-
CANS PEOPLE QUICK To RESPOND TO THE CALL
OF DUTY.
BY President J. II. Fairehld D. d., Of Oberlin, Ohio.
The problem proposed was manifestly not
Intended to fundamental one, nor one attempting
70 consider adaptation Of Christianity IN Its essen
tal and permanent clements transform human char
aoter aud inspire the human heart with its promises
and hopes We are not to inquire whether there Is
better gospel than that which we have received some
result OF modern science or philosophy which we
may hold forth the hope of our country
ana of mankind in place OF the glorious Cos
bel of tho blessed God" No inspired apostle, angel
from Heaven, has brought another message and If
there had we could not receive him. Human nature
and human want forever the same and the same
great truth OF sin and the Savior Is Heavens provision
for There is not the beginning OF an indi
cation the Gospel antiQuated that the world
In its advancement needs some new thing There are
no evidences that the Gospel has lost power with men,
or that any wisdom but the foOishness of preaching"
can permanently command their attention as meeting
their religious nature.
But the Gospel is many sided 1t addresses the rea-
son. the affections and the purposes OF men, Its truths,
combinatops and adaptations, as many and various as
The phases human life and experience Each age has
tts own wants weakness and its strength its
tendencies and thought, and feeling and action The
gospel Christ in It's funess OF grace ana truth comes
IN AZ every point proves itself to be the power OF
God unto salvation" II supplements 1.ads, every cry
weakness, energies every righteous tendency ana
ytalizes every movement; and II IS because or THIS
funess of provision and Of adaptation that II Is not
only left behind in the advancement OF human
necessary impulse TO all substantial progress.
religion limited in its ideas relates 10 single phase OF
belongs
society aud must be sloughed on IN order TO advance
impulse and motive to all improvements. The human
forms which Gospel truth is embodied must some
tunes give way-must yield TO Others which may give
higher efficiency TO The saving power OF the TRUTH and IL
is the business of the Church OF God in whose keeping
great movements OF thought and life, and give sucn
shape 70 all gospel of tho S ia OF the ehnrc
ut any time Is ts response 10 every suc emergency III
sad of CHRISTIAN labor The poweressnes
cicnt churches OF the East lies not simply In the fsct
error but in the added fact that the truth thus held
not brought TO bear as working force IN moa,
practical thought and life, existing as formal
and society together fallen into decay In western
Chnstendom different result Is witnessed; chris,
society by constant adjustment and adaptation 10 the
new cGnditionshOa e sn,pe from" mt bv para
form but providental and effective, extending nnay
TO the entire body Of the churches
NEW MANIFESTATIONS OF GOSPEL POWER.
tits perhaps true that there is always OCCASION more
or ,ess marked for effort in direction for some new
manifestation of Gospel power. 1t may be that the
Church is never to the privilege Of settling down
into any uniform and established order OF experience
ana OF labor Perhaps conditions Of vitality in the
Church itself are such that He who walks the midst
of the seven golden candlestcks must ever and anon
break a new seal sound new trumpet pour
ont another vial, TO save His people from
lives of sefindugence and stagnaton. But whatever
the occasion prUvdeDtal purpose the TACT remains
that Church called from time 10 time TO put forth
enterprise, or 70 arouse itself TO
arrest impending danger Every such call requires
new tally and new experiences gives new
oohing Is certain than that CHRISTIAN thus adj
usted existing exgencies must take the strongest
hold upon the hearts OF men, must move most pro
foundly both the Church and the world.
Let us understand toe, that such an adjustment 10
the emergency is no superficial work. involving merely
formal char stated sermon now ana tben Oh epe
c topic. discussion OF II here aud tbere III chufch
ga herings with timely references TO II In current iera
iess to do with the work. But religious In0vement
which shape society," which shall avert Threatened
Danger or secure a needed blessing must become the
teacher Of thought and OF progress must prove tue
and 10 tho acceptance OF the Christian lie WIN tne way
ward and the worldly. Not that the new DUTY ana the
new view of truth can under any conditions TAKE the
place of the old gospel. IL must come as new
nncstion or illustration OF Gospel TRUTH and depends
for It's power upon the motives which the Gospel Iur
osbes in ali ages But the new truth 10 elevated IN dg
ny and Importance being wrought upon tse OosPei
system, and the Gospel itself taxes new h9au upGn Io
hearts of men by Working out in TINS new cnannei nc
Is no true friend OF the Gospel VINO shInks from pIsc
neal application OF its principles and ts power IA any
oyeucnt required for the advancement 9I numaL Wo'
Ssre FROM tho idea that reliTion VIII s""" -" ""''S