, 1874-10-11


"ss under the sa1ne circumstances. Ho vii
| give moro attention to his conduct, which hs.
toeu we'll described as thrce-1 -1ourths OF ife thar
to his speculative opinions. which get moro tios
than they deserve il they eogrpes the remalnins
ona-fourth- II from no other motive than tht
one which Invariably governs tenefccut reac
tions, the coming Christian viii feel obliged te
elevate old-fashioned morality, eyen If 1t Is the
morality Of tbs heathen sagee, at tho risk OF
depressing the theology of Chrietian meta
physlcians. Lie s1' g1eat and good reforu,e.s
he Will resolve TINT things shall be changed,
even if some things should l,aye to be sacrificed.
Luther bonoanod the necessity OF leaving be-
hind some valuable elements Of conservatism
when lo broke with Rome. His wife startled
him one day By asking what had become
Of the devotional a,dor they used to enjoy in
the old Church. Their prayers Lad fallen
OF, md their piet; had ua1ed cold. Bu,
these are the pheuou1ona Of religious progress
We presume, and the coming Christian must tale
his share Of them. His new departure, how
ever. 60 far from imperiling any religious drtv
OF spiritual exercise that ho holds dear, will only
make then1 moro precioas, because more eatis-
factory. HIS reform is III the direction OF re-
GgioUs duty aud moral fidelity. He drops from
the cloualand OF incom2sehonsiDle polen,;cs TO
tho la1d-p2n OF common scnEo and COMMON life,
Ho will avoid the rocE upon which his predaces-
aor split and pus the mora! obligation upon the
motive Of self-respect, and the highest interest
to both the individ duaf and the community rather
than upon the horror OF something inconceiy.
s5ie that is going to happen to us in tho next
world II To do not graduate in metaphysical
theology in this. he will repudiAte the "re-
lgion Of vulgar hope and fenr," and substitute
the religion Of unsel6sh obligation He will be
more anxious to make this state OF existence
comfortable than to make rhe next Inaccessible.
He will go about doing good, and being good
In his ordinary a7ocations, instead Of contenting
himself with the pulmonary Christianity Of the
pulpit, or the fu1ntnary sapplications Of the
But while he will atee- clea1 OF the Cnarybdia
# systematic theology on one hand, he Eill on
he Other keep = star,, lookout for the Scyl1a 0,
,ocia! g11sh. He will insist upon tho common
ar Of the Lhr!.tian constitution. which rea,1rea
he minister Of an undaGIed religion to be the
husband Of only one wife. He will see nothing
n Christian morals to warrant mcn in having
Is many vivez Is he ''lovea," provided be does
lot marry thent Ho win make En- equal dtstri- |
'ution Of his wrath between the nnle and the |
emale offender.
The coming Christian will bs temperate in all |
hin5s. and abstain from those thincH which do |
ot ngree with him, whether me2ts OF drink. forma
{ Wora1lp or articles OF fa;tll- He rfil have no |
anaticisma, whether e1egetic1 OF social. It will
los be necessary for him to find chapter and |
erss for his virtues before feeling their obliaa-
ion, or to pledge himself to total atatiuence
I order to prevent his giving way to excess. He
III bo moderate in his promises, lest he should
One abort in his performances He will keen
Il points of his fortress equally we'll defended.
'at' in concentrating his vigilanco upon one.
10 enemy find al the rest exposed. He will in
alge sparlngly In ice water, and not at all in
hlsky, IS beverage, but may 1mbibe mod
:ately Of good lager. seeing that 1t quenches the
'irst, promotes Drawn, and arrests the tendency
American attenuation. Ee Mill uss. a. not
'uHing tho enjoyments Of life, resortine to the
eatre for his diversion. and the churcf. for his
nsolahon, insisting that ths methods OF
drawing shall be legitimate in both places.
Q viii follow his master to the social fes-
Eltisa, and follow his example whils thero.
sin8 superior to it's temptations. partaldns r.
,nally Of it& "best ~ine," and retiring st i |
asonahlo hour from its ''nunc and dancing, .
Ha viii turn, not dsaf ear, but dizesin,- ,
astne M, to tha dissorattsa Il 4o;aaeA. Il Will
I'm IN df4&endnm h him a.$,na1.rA H.. .,1... :