St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1874-03-20

organization which represents God
holiness and authority; it is d" not
say the ONLY good organization, but the
one which is practically shown to have
most influence. If it is below your
standard in any thing, come III and
make it better. An organized army,
though imperfectly trained, Is more
effective for steady warfare than twice
as mauv sharpshooters. Most of YOU
hold to your political party. | suppose.
| 1t certainly is not because that party -,
whichever it may he. is uncorrnpt. or
ideally perfect, or even up t" your
private standard. | do not believe any
one would say that this church has Il
| Cameron. Il Chandler OF Yarmouth
among its chief men. or Il Ben Butler
/ for its leader: that its appointees are
/ like Casey and simmons and Murphy /:
/ that when il proposes Il exclamation, IL
puts on its committee such characters
as Boss Shepherd" of the Washington
City Ring, and Harry Genet. now abroad
.on account of his health. and some
small operations in forging. and Sheriff
Brennan. vino has been in Jail for letting
Genet escape: these are on the COM
mittce having charge of an centennial
Exposition. If the mere necessity for
an organization holds you to the Re-
publican party in spite of such company,
! am not ashamed to bid Nou join this
church in spite of its impeiicctiOns.
But, Nou say, there is to" great di
Ncr>itN of opinion among religious sectS.
to" little that is positively settled i'll
their crrcdS. for me to he confident that
Iat firm l, | at
me read To Won Il few words | S;iw the
other day: they We're written 10y u man
VIII" knew whereof he Spake. I'VE
have no hesitation in saving that the
church has reformed its creed and life
and manners. a. rapidly as the bar has
reformed lis laws. or medicine its theO-
Ilc>. or home its customs. or government
it> liberty. Newspapers when rrproach
IN" the church. are iorgctiul that they
have contendcd for Il generation and
have NOT vet defined and fixed single
great Ir"liticIl truth 81 that il can he
finally removed truIn the arena of de
bate. Have statesmen been ANY more
successful in Interpreting the cou>tilu-
tiom than the cl"i"Imcu in interpreting
The Scriptures With lac question of
Nonan> paiI III the government dis
unctlN before them since the time of
Plato. Two thousand Years before Christ.
have they learned the length and
breadth of suffrage m"Ic exactly than
the churches The mode and extent of
~I!N atiun
My friends. 81 long a. divine truths
arc mingled with human trailticS. YOU
must not Wait for Il perfect theology
before l"u will hc saved. any more than
tor Il perfect paper before Nou read the
new :. Il perfect government before Nou
seek it, Protection. Let me say one
Nord about the creed al this church and
pulpit. 1t i simply this: Thou shalt
love the Lord thy tod with all thv
iIcart and soul and mind and strength.
and Thou shalt love thy ucighbur as
myself. " | understand it. our >rv-
"ral Articles at faith are but tine draw
my ont OF these two wIrut commands f.
mclt>. lmrlm /" preach n~tiling which
does not lead To- thu acceptance and
practice of these. on may think |
come short in making this plain:
know do. Yet hclic\r me. have but
on" puIp"~c. I" win You thus to love
Gud and loIu fellow men. All the NaIi- p
"u> ASPECTS OF truth which present. /
are hat parts of this. the whole duty al
man. but helps to it, attainment and /
waning against refusing il. or might
put il H. Paul did. | determined to
know nothing among you bur Christ
and him rruciticd. 1t i the same. :
I hrl>t. the only one who has ever
shown H. how God loves and can he
loved. VIII" is ON uciglIh"r: Criciiicd. -
I hat We may appl"ach cod in perfect
love without f,al. and may learn Ia lay
down "nr lives f"I til" brethren. !
Know thai IN the depths OF y"ur hearts
YOU want tli. spirit and this life.