The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-08-15
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generally, Is just now aeiiated by an inou;ry
into the moral character Of the most couspie.
uous preacher Of the age. ReserTine ali ex.
precision Of opinion on the merits Of llle case
for another time, we have q serious sermon
70 deliver, at leasta great inference to draw.
in the midst Of the melancholy proceedings
The relations into which pastor Is brought
with members Of his focl, and the power he
possesses when be has inspired them with
strong personal affection for him Ms 4 man,
place him in circumstances demanding The
utmost circumspection and discretion. The
establishment Of such relations hetweenn q pns-
tor and his flock as shall secure for him tbat
intimacy which ought to exist only in the do.
mestie circle, is an esil Of fearful tendency
and unspeakable danger. Ministers are cen
surable in high degree who encourage their
people, men or women, 10 come to them with
family matters or secret sores. Some men
are themselves gossips, and delight TO get and
give all they can Of social news, and the more
secret, the richer the prize. They encourage
relations when their earH should be deaf to
everything approaching the scandal. An iu-
dicious pastors discourage familiarity on the
part Of their people, especially Of ihe female
denomination.
For this way lies the danger. A silly wo-
man, pious perhaps, but very soft and shallow,
hears the stirring words Of her eloquent pas-
tor; is reused, warmed, soothed, exalted.
shethinks edited, and straightwsy she believes
him to be the man sent TO do her good She
goes to his study 70 tell him sos--how much
enjoyment she finds in his words; or she
writes him letter and pours OUT her littIe
soulful Of twaddle about her gratitude for
what her dear pastor has done fol her, how
she lis lifted up by his instructions how
she loves him as friend given to be her guide
and comfort, and 80 on, more and worse,
running into a mawEish sentimensality, sick.
ening man-worship, disgusting to every sensi-
BILE person, but very nectar TO vain, worldly
preacher, wins seeks only 10 make his hearers
"feel good Such people never 10 10 their
pastor to ask s'what they must do 10 be saw
edY" Il lis to tell how good they feel how
he is 'exalting themr filling them with joy,
peace and love- We cannot go into partic.
ulars without offending the tastes % every
reader. We make onr meaning plain. We
wish to be understood as saying that what
worldly preachers and sentimental women call
Communion Of soul'' and 'skindred spirits
mutual help and nholy sympathy and
words in the same strain, is not religion Is
not even religious. It Is ofthe earth, earthy.
II is ..carnal, conceived in sin Iii simply
the lower nature, the human passion of one
creature toward another. God Is not in Il.
God never led man or woman TO desire
forbidden fruit. sIet no man say when he
is tempted, ! am tempted of God = every
man, when he is tempted, Is drawn away Of
his own lust and enficed. Then sslnst, when
it hath conceived, il bringeth forth sin, when
it is finished, bringeth forth DEATH Il isin
| Immediate connection with these divine teach
ings that the inspired writer goes on to say
Wherefore lay aside all filthiness and super
auity Of naughtiness, and receive With meek
ness the engrafted Word, which sable to save
your souls. I"
These are the truths that underlie all moral
character. They condemn everything that Is
earthly and sensual, and forbid the delusion
that sinful passion has divine origin Ii IL
a travesty Of the gospel to hold that this
s'yearning after an affinity which sacrifices
the obligation Of society, family and honor, Is
anything even akin to love. Il Is an insultto
every pure emotion that human or tlisiaic ma
ture ever feels, to call this guilty passion by
the sacred name Of love. Lust Is not love.
Desire is not love. Love is Of God. God Is
love. Love is to be gratified, for all Il wants
is lovely, pure and bringht. II never seeks
anything else 1t binds the family and soci-
ETY. and all the good in golden chains Of unre
affection. But il never inspired a sinful de-
| sire 10 a human breast. No woman Is drawn
to another woman 8 husband by love.
A man who is adrawnn toward woman
whom he has no right to love, woman
ssdrawn'' 10 a man whom she has no right ID
love, may be more sure than L they heard 4
voice out ofthe skies telling them 50 that they
are not adrawn', BY divine grace, or q holy
purpose, or any good motive whatever. The
devil has hold Of the rope that draws.
Religion Is not passion. LISA principle.
Religion does not consist IN feeling. Religion
is the intelligent belief Of truth that leads to
I right doing the very meaning Of tho word i
ssbinding or drawing back 10 God receiving
such views as constrain the soul 10 OBEY God.
He who adopts views or has feelings which
lead him to do wrong, to covet another mans
house or his wife or anything that Is his. i
not n religions man. He nav he 4 nr;arf nj