New-York tribune., 1874-03-09


s1SS: seSSs lro% rom Sc" THIS ' Oc%%aHdmeHs Sn sss%.
religion so rch in s ritual YET 80 solemn so sustcre
in It's simplicity But ss we study ITS spirit we sha
law OF God is in ono sense only another clause OF the
first and many OF the be nterpre ters have
whether both ought not to be taken as one think
this is special statute. Idoatry and faith In many
Gods are not by any means the same thing ldo w9r 3
heather world and we shall open of the most fruit
full chapters in the reg ious history OF mankind II we
understanding. when find in every age before ChIss
not only the rudest savaRes but tne most refod poo
Gehasing themselves with such worship. now man
could change dead matter into deity. ldolatry Is
moral corruption OF deeper truth. We can know uou
pure spirits 1t Is the necessary bidding OF the human
heart 20 utter its thoughts and cravings IN some ou
ence and life of God with the visible sign The pagans
began with worship Of the heavenly bodies but tns
worship Of vague mpersonal power could not sdtls
the craving for nearer object Then the sacred
groves and temples which gave local babtatlon ana
images of stone and wood Many OF the wiser minds saw
IN the idols more than picture or FORM II you aSn
the Brahmin, he will tell you that he does not Wofsn
the image but the divine presence wnh S ~ ~ a. to
10 the people such dstictons are impossible anu Is "
rounded 6y dolators. often lapsed INTO idol worship.
Hence the statute was given in such stern
has been questioned whether are 10 take IL ela!
We know that Moses made brazen serpent ana luaV III
the temple there were figures OF cherubim BUT tne o
seryance Of this law WAS most striking OutNdIu
Of the Hebrew religion Even the lI Of the law
copied from any worldly form. Looking al INC , Iam
a
ms one Of the local statutes of the Hebrew religion than
ms belonging to our code don't know that Chris
church. l cannot. therefore, agree with those WHO
charge the Roman communion WIN ,inned
such things. While therefore, we cannot take tne
Hebrew law in this literal sense, II Is Tor tms
very reason that wo know its deeper sgnlucatoh
II YOU follow my sketch OF the origin OF image worship,
YOU will perceive that 1t IL corruption OF anluaea
image with the spiritual being who is the only Object OF
our worship that it is superstition IN It's very root iho
falsehOOd stands above and hides the tutn II We So
there NAV be q Christian idOlatry as well as Pagan
idolatry. You may think l mean the Roman Oainoito
onr onesded Protestant ey wonder at though
il was the solitary fasehoOd of the age Roinanism Is
only great example of tendency inherent in human
naure and therefore existing in all forms OF human
worship. Examine some OF its most striking features;
Take, for instance that winch our most adVahteu
churchmen have recognized as its worst ldOaty tne
worship Of Mary and the saints. Although not eleNateu
INTO article Of faith IL Is almost so ID realty ~ Was
found in the old Greek Church. and grew from the
Ignorant devotion those. who, in the days when the
wanted to turn something nearer. ldhe
the mass. You are amazed that they
Cbrst's real body. You Will lind 1t came from the sen
sua fancy which ages before the doctrine OF ta
in the bread and wine Ask Latin priest what he pc
eves and he will tell you, the Bramin does mat nc
adores the divine presence in the Host put n9t te o
itself. But what is 1t 10 tue worsIlper who KNOWS
nothing of these scholastic nceesi III the elanGi
makes them far anxious for the prlesy service
than for the real devotion Where Is the difference be-
God into material and cOrpOreal presence
Read Christian history with the same eyes as heathen
history and you will that each OF It's traditions
has been q covered truth. Let none think that am
wanting in for the outward forms OF our re-
lgon The spirit which underLes hallows them 1nero
are those who worship instead of the living Christ their
wooden or stony idols OF d0clline GOOd men nave
held these views of the mass and We may love thef
pietv in spite of their opinions 1t Is that We are to
know where the real line lies between spiritual worship
aud tie untrue worship. We may not accept the luOI-
atry OF Roman Church, but may nurse the error
out of which 1t grew me saciainenls oi |1iS1 @ are M
salowed means OF grace III we use them ~ ldltn we
shall receive their divine gilt IRON HIM VINO is
present with by the communion OF His spirit with our
souls. That presence IL IN u.s. W1le we regard these
con secrated elements with sacred feehng, We worship
wolves the fancy OF the doater we go 10 he taDle OF
the holy communion thinking OF any othef pres.
ence than this IN our hearts or beieyhg q, @ tnat
prestly cOnsecratlOn gives any iurther eincacy
To these creatures Of bread and wine We shall Just IN
that degree turn right reverence 10 Hun unto the
worship Of the image ana is eHtct VIII DC 10 1850 he
real purpose OF the Sacrament aud change our life of
communion with Him into this narrow ACT ~ VIII
make us think less Of our duties. 1t is the same with
every rite Of worship. II We bring our children TO
BAPTISM and fancy some magic work wrought
upon the infant by the water we shall Just IN that de-
cree conception OF 1t as an entrance INTO e
of holy growth Are there not TOO many among US VINO
have held that unbptzed infant is in peril of saliva
tion4 We have seen under the mask OF reverence
usages idOatrOus any in the Roman Church; doc
trines of real presence and pnestY aDSOluliOn' an
coming from the appealing to the fancy without ths
knowledge the charms OF music from grand ceTe-
monies which dazzle the into fasehOOd 30 dOldIy
crep in upon them Therefore urge tins upon you as
worthy OF your deepest re1ectOn lrepeat tnls Jaw OF
God which we are to obey with faith purer ana
stronger than that OF the sraelte Let tlat be hXod
within u.s. as the supreme law OF our hearts and II VIII
make all worship pure and beautiful II will teach Us
religion not of fancy OF scky sentiment 10 VIII maze
lie sacrameuts as He gave them dark riddles
of the schools aids communion with Him. IL
Will make members Of His body because we are
parakers Of His spirit IL VIII make ours reasonable
and give us pure and uudedled religion and Chris
tian life.