The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-01
BEDFORD AVENUE REFORMED CHURCH.
Liberal W.. Iniberal Religion-Sermcn
by Rev. DIR. Porter.

by Rev. DR.. Porter.
Yesterday morning Rev. Z. s. Porter, D. D..
preached discourse In the Bedford avenue Re-
formed church. Brooklyn, on Liberal and nlberal
Theology which is one of the chief topics that Is
now being discussed in the pulpit and in the pew.
His text was taken from Ephesians, iv., 13-15-
"But speaking the truth In love, may grow up
into him in ali things, which is the head, even
Christi &c. He said that Christianity should be
regarded as the complete expression OF all that
was necessary to human salvation, which he de-
fined to be system OF doctrines resting
In absolute authority and illustrated by the
life OF Christ, who taught not dognias valu-
able only as opinions, but principles
OF vital and unchanging efficacy. Christianity is
complete IN Christ but 1t is not yet complete in
the ChurGn. The principles OF the Gospel admit OF
no improvement. but conformity to them has not
yet been realized among the followers OF Jesus as
q collective whole. The divine ideal or what the
Church should and might be was set forth in the
text. There was unity Of faith, all holding essen
Jesus Christ as q personal Saviour and growing
toto more faith and resemblance OF Him; there
was STABILITY in maintanlng the truth against St
the truth by speech and deed IN such spirit OF
love that gainsayers might be silenced and the
lmpeDitent converted. Dr. Porter then proceeded
TO ask why there were so many varieties or
creed and such foolish and wicked CONTRADICTIONS
the same Bible, and, in answering the query, said
that there was universal disposition among men
TO shape their religions TO suit their characters.
formulated creeds often becoming fortresses OF
moral oblIquty; that diver sites OIL inteHectual
power would account for variations In the views
which men took OF the Christian system, but that
the chief cause OF the many VARIATIONS OF religious
faith WITHIN the domain OF Chrlstend0m was the
proximity to one-deaism. The speaker, In elaD'
Grating TINS portion OF the discourse, gave an In
terestng summary OF the ruling IDEAS OF the dinel,
ent branches OF the Christian Church. Still
another cause OF diversity was the fondness Ior
human partisanship. He then passed on 10 con-
sider the singular classification OF religions into
what were named liberal ana illIDeral.
There WAS he thought, certain KIND
OF lliberality, both Of thought and feeling,
among evangelical bodies which mad driven many
Off into doubt or positive unDelieL Inc Calvin1s.
tic bodies, whose standards OF iaith we're broad
and catholic, had always some among them who
made the hardest things TO be understood the most
divine my steres they had put forward as the most
necessary 10 be beheyed-whicn was q departure
from the spirit OF the Gospel There was also an
ullperahty among evangelical Christians which
snowvi tseli IN being mere sttckler for word or
ssee PuIases. IL was an iiioerai spirit which re-
Iuseu 70 take any account OF the spirit and con-
uuct " men or bodies OF men who might not adopt
precisely Inc same creed la the same words with
OtheIS 1hrstlans ought TO exercise charity In all
/ proposed terms OF communion not found In the
Gospel But on the contrary, he contended that a
religion which depended and maintained tae Bible
as the supreme RUE OF latin and practice was not
iliiDera. hauOnallsm IN all It's forms assailed
that book, while liberalism OF various sorts per-
verted 1t 10 Justify It's own prec0nceived opinions
conscientious tut charitable persistence In