The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-01

Among the topics which this week command
the attention of the religious press is that OF
the Christian life, upon which the Christian
Union has some advice for beginners. 1t as
sures all such that the act by which the soul
first apprehends Christ as personal Saviour
must be repeated every moment to retain Him
as such Saviour. But in his effort to prove
that the Christian life corresponds with the
natural life in its gradual development the
editor belittles the doctrine of instant regener-
alton. "a person believes that he has ex-
perienced change of heart and looks to find
himself" new creature sat once" says Mr.
Beecher; 'but to his dismay he finds the
same old self, hardly changed whit" Now,
the Scriptures teach that he who is born of
God is "a new creature" in Christ Jesus, and
the evidence of this new birth is the Divine
Spirit Witnessing with the human spirit
And no man can have this witness within
him without being from the first moment
of it's entrance into his heart
new creature To every birth, whether natu
raj or spiritual, there is an ante-natal period
as well as a subsequent growth. And as soon
as Christ is formed within man he is neces-
sarily new man, and not "the same old
self" for he has the life eternal within him
which q moment before he had not. 1t is
therefore proper and Scriptural for every con-
verted person to 'look to find himself new
creature" from and after the very moment he
has received the evidence of the new birth.
The development of the new life and growth
in grace follows. And here the convert needs
the momentary faith which the Union recon-
mends, and which now comes so readily and
easily that the young Christian can believe
without any apparent effort of his mind or
will.
The Methodist lays it's tribute of respect
upon the grave of the liberator Of Africa
Livingstone-whose life twill long be remem-
bered as one of rare and unsefsh consecra-
ton to the highest good of his fellow men,"
The Methodist also hopes to see the proposed
Pan Presbyterian council an accomplished
fact and thinks it will lead also to q Pan
Methodist council, which the editor has long
advocated. This Journal has a timely and
well considered article also on 1.-The Day Of
Opportunity -meaning thereby the crisis in
every mans life when he is called upon to
decide for Christ or against Him. '.There are
points in human experience" it says, ''beyond
which it is next to impossible to make
change" 1t therefore advises taking the tide
of conviction and salvation at its food.
The Baptist Weekly controverts the hide
pendenfs arguments in favor of taxing church
property and thinks the State might, with
equal propriety, tax philanthropic individual
or society for the drinking fountains they erect
and keep in repair for the benefit of the thirsty
wayfarer The Weekly has also an article on
revivals, in which it expresses the fear that
''too often insufficient and selfish motives are
the inspiration of work which ought to be
prosecuted with the purest and highest mo-
tives." And churches, it thinks, cannot es-
cape the temptation of unworthy motives.
The Independent deprecates the Congressional
Judiciary Committees bill DISTINGUISHING the
women of Utah, and thinks the act is not only
un-American but thoroughly French. Con-
gress has the same right to disfranchise one
class of citizens as another. 1t should there
fore disfranchise the too-much-married men
as well as the polygamous women. On the
topic of REVEALS which seems to be favorite
one with all the religious papers this week,
the Independent says very truly that ''when
number of believers unite together in a new
and real conservation of themselves to the
work of their Master revival has already
begun" 1t does not, however, admit that
revival of religion is purely result Of human
volition, or any more so, indeed, than the
growing of corn or the turning of mill wheel.
The Observer thinks nothing is now needed
to insure the union of the Reformed and Pres
byterian churches save more love. The pre-
liminaries have been considered on both sides.
Church and State has an argument indirectly
in favor Of Bishop Cummins' schismatic acts,
since it labors to prove, and does SO very
clearly to neutrality-suspicious., that canonlcal
irregularity or church discipline cannot inval-
idate episcopal orders or destroy the apostolic
succession. 1t, however, regards rival Epis-
copal Church as an unmixed evil.
The Je,oish Messenger thinks the failure of
missionaries to the Jews in Jerusalem should
be enough to deter any society or individual
from continuing such an apparently hopeless
task. Treating of creeds, it thinks the true test
of creed is its working power.
On the question Of long or short pastorntes
DR.. Talmage, in the Christian at Work, thinks
minister ought to stay in place till he gets
done and has nothing more to say or do,
whether it takes three months or twenty-five
years.
The Eeemdn's journal has an i'll tempered
article on the goddess schools, to which it
charges all the social, political and other
crimes Of society. 1t contrasts the present
time with period forty years ago, very much,
of course, to the disparagement OF to-day. All
its talk about the importance of religious
education for the children Of the State resolves
itself into Catholic education-a thing which
the majority of the people Of this State have
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