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

and work and words and fo and death and .ssus.ec
the facts Nth Goo sDS tho
preaching that are to restore our waning Christian
bath must be vital with these facts The Holy Spirit Is
men 10 look for His must fall into line with M:
stand in our theology ana IN Ss
not merely Is He who died for our ofienses put a.
the who again for our ,oy anu VINO
IT, IL possbIe TO- present ali these facts theological
philosophy elaborate and beautiful system mar
dom is made SAFE fact accomplished ages since 70
which look back in our gratitude Ior hi
And there is truth IN the presentation. divine PM
losophy permeaes the Gospel system and 1t IS pr,vi
lege aud pleasure apprehendi but, IN rsen, ~ -
o, iSe GOSPEL +: in the cruced but living Redeemer
withdrawn Indeed for the time from our sight oat a.,
wavs present with His people, and coming ct length 70
,afs Us TO- Himself These simple wondereas truths
possessing the hearts OF men, bringing the miSster
living human friendships are 51sSs,, oar .oca
theories with intellectual satsfaction-we go nome 70
families and friends and rest content In e savos
of Men In personal faith and snus present h hS ~
the faith Of Others we shall have gospel 70 Snsf God
and the wisdom OF God" is the theology OF the New
Testament II there any theology WI VIII lu,csra
Indications here ana there aucng us that simpler
presentation Of the Gospel facts ore anu oay
upon In religious instruction. ana u ~ sucn
is ever welcOmc--as cold water D a tn sty soul.
sANCrIFIED CHRI nA LIFE.
But next TO the Sayior Himself IL influence anu power
must stand the exhibition Of the Gospel which Is maze
in a sanctihed Christian life. The public presentation
OF The Gospel In its more simple and persuasive forms
can scarcely prove effective. except as supplemented
and sustained by the experience ana lives OF en WaS
of the power Of the Gospel BY such fruits IL must pe
SIM of Righteousness the world must be enlightened:
Hence Gospel diffusion is not cnleny WORK Oh pupi.
preaching or OF formal instruction, but OF Cnrsuam
ha 90 hid three measures OF meal,
and its efficiency will depend upon Us quahy tno
question therefore esc w reaa for the
highest influence of religion IN the land Inc suDecSe
conditions vary In its substantial nature true religion
forever the samethe subjecton OF the beart anu e
to the Will Of God But religious s aG aaS des
Of goodness which prevails In the church 40 grea
extent that style OF Christian me Is ehnio a"a
raj thought and culture: Each branch Of the
Church has It's own type and character ana ns
good for dfrereA Religious culture at one Tune
tends to emotional az e%peesee be
intensely subjective and personal or outward ana dea
onstave SO the outward activity may 'eaa not HnY
to direct religious labor, Tor the anus an
q truth and the ." 1Ssse
Christian character is genuine and always desirable tho
Other not All T., man nas
ally as he WILL Indeed. in degree these different
determined by the individual constitutions. and the
Church is enriched in the varied exhibition But above
all these Is general drt when gives cnaracer u tho
period and TO the sect
EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE.
The churches OF our connection and Of tho Puritan
family generally to have been passing through
period Of intensely subjective emotional experience;
for long time such experiences were required In our
Church as a test Of conversion and we have not yet
laid aside the habit Of expecting IN children
The applicant for membership IN the Fhurch was
formerly looked upon with Apprehension VINO couia
not speak OF days and weeks or inward strugge VIII
doubt and and despair horror OF great darkness
and the subsequent regou lie was regarded as nope
full in proportion TO the intensity OF emotional expe
fiences attending it, In special circles wnere tno So
called higher life has been an object OF pursuit. anu nope
full attainment the characteristic OF the higher STATE
has been an exalted condition of the religious senslDi-
Then the prevalent conception OF tne religious le
f has Tmpa ~ and but Of the
subjective and retrospective character The In
auirer for the way o sava' . esnni uu Of
the Christian life and the perpetuaton OF such
experience as evidence OF growin ana progres u.s.
leave greatly out OF mind ana even To dsparagc the
ethical moral element In the Christian fe Religion
experience has been held mp; religion as righteous
has not been 80 distinctly pressed Tho pursuit
and attainment Of emotional conditions have been zee
favored the pursuit of true and honest character mas
been regarded with less avor There has Deea Ten
dency religious thought to set up an opposition
between morality and religion, without the destined
apprehension and announcement that the niora,
ity thus discountenanced Is merely an outside ana
formal morality which does NOT feach inc neart'
Has not the opinion been current mat inc uherehee pe
tween the Christian and the sinner Is tha the one mas
renowned sin and the other has not. but that inc
Christian Is in exercise OF piety or faith which Is
not righteousness but which takes the place OF rrht-
and this is what tho sinner acksf There mas
been general liberation of immortality AS consistent
with religion, but has there not been failure to pre-,
sent rei giOn consisting III true righteousness !
Not long since, Leading religious paper containtu
an article by prominet Congregational minister tne
pon OF which was that the SayiOrs answer 10 an H.
Qulrer, If thou wilt enter into e keep the cohan-
ments" ironca and not direct ana si, tai.
and not by keeping the commandments But Is II not
Scripture doctrine that faith without works Is JUST as
dead works without faith that genuine ialth that
which works through love- and that IN every nation he
that feareth God and wOrketh righteousness is ac-
copied with Him."
RELIGION LOSING ITS INTENSITY.
This exaaton Of pety above integrity, OF faith above
obedience the experiences OF religion above the d
ties of religion. not been without Its consequences
in Christian society mere allusion to some OF these
IA ali that can be afforded One Of these Is that the
emotional experience ITSELF whatever its significance,
e e. 10 a Great extent failing In the churches.
Religion is losing its intensity, ana In some sense
inent to promote feeling prove in the end fail
ure. The emotion will come into the thought ana the
action when left to take care % dr feeling e e
ing result must DO depression and dscouragement Ana
esnc Is attained that Is sought for it is liable to be
poor imitation, and not the genuine experiences.
and supernea minds and these superficial
and those who enjoy them become nndaly prominent
stable character at discount and the selfconscious
and the interpretive become our standard.oearers.
Still again revival Of religion proves to be superb
c1a wave OF feeling which passes over the community
and sweeps through the land giving result not at all
effort put forth. The movement OF feeling is what
was desired; the inadequate result Is depiored.
But is there not ground to apprehepd that we have
experienced grayer result than any or all OF them
Have we not held up false standard OF character
which has tended to depreciation OF genuine good
and honesty, and hence weakened the hold OF the
nave the widespread Immortality Of our
times the failure OF honor and honesty
in high places and in low. We are sometimes led to
donuI whether enough righteous can be found TO
save the Republic. Perhaps our apprehension is un-
duly excited In the OF ElUah aud the Lord
have reserved to Himself the required 1000 who have
moi bowed the knee to Baa But to the
most hopeful view the outlook is dishearten-
could encounter and suppress; but the wide