Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-04-21

NhNto WIN AIsNs 4 hb oihbahb
was very fine. The pastor took for his
text tho words found IN 1st Timothy ii !:
5, @. Some may object TO founding any
Christian doctrine on the words OF the text,
because the epistle has been pronounced
by critics as being, spurious. It's authenti-
city has been questioned in very recent
times by some of our most learned men.
But the writer of the epistle, whoever he
its author, unquestionably represents the
feeling and opinion of the first age of the
church, and the doctrine set forth in the
text is substantially In harmony with that
of the othe' epstles and with the pervad-
ing tenor of the New Testament. There
can be no doubt, therefore, that the doc
trine OF the text is a doctrine Of genuine
aud primitive Christianity. In this doc
trine the grand and prominent idea is that
of mediation, as fulfilled and completed by
the willing sacrifice Of life to religious du-
ty. Man in his highest mood Of thought
aspires TO God. God meets and accepts the
sincere aspirations of man. A mediator is
one who by his life and doctrine, quickens,
facilitates, and fixes, this spiritual inter-
course between the soul and lis Creator.
In the mediatorial office of Christ, first, lie
stands alone. "There is one mediator be-
tween God and man, the man Christ Je-
sus." This can only refer 10 uHrivalled
prominence, not TO exclusive function,
for all higher minds do in fact mediate, be-
tween their less gined fellow creatures and
the great realities of the invisible world.
The sages and poets of heathendom kim
died the FIRST glimmorings Of a religious
life in fierce brutal natures, and made
them capable OF civilization. Moses and
that struck deeper into the heart OF hu-
manly, and prepared it for higher spirit
ual development. On their foundation
Christ erected his church as an universal
and final dispensation, offering to all the
surest medium of access TO the Divine
presence. Secondly, Christ is a human
mediator. The man Christ Jesus. Not a
being from another sphere, an angel, or a
God, but brother from tho bosom of our
own human family, exposed to our temp
tations, touch ed with our griefs, and shar-
ing our affections, who goes in front OF the
host OF immortal spirits-the risen Lord
the sinless captain of our salvation. to
cheer their hearts and guide their steps,
and bear up their prayers 10 the Fathers
throne. Thirdly, he gave himself a ram
som for all. He brings from God gener-
al summons 10 repent, and with that he
conveys through faith a spiritual power 10
shake Off the bondage Of sin, and put on
the freedom Of a new heart and a new life.
lie is deliveIer from the power Of sin
and the fear OF death. This is the end Of
his mediation. This is the redemption
which he has made sure. The history Of
humanity demonstrates the deep cravings
OF the soul OF man, in all ages, afler a
spiritual mediator. The religious senti-
ment abandoned TO merely natural influ-
ences, without the guidance Of some mind
ofprofounder spiritual insight, is ever prone
to diverGe into the opposite extremes of
polytheism and panthcism. We conceive
it TO have beeL the special function OF the
old Hebrew prophecy, in the order Of
Providence, as it still is OF the gospel Of
Christ, TO uphold the mind in just mean
between these extremes. To exclude on
the one hand, material representations and
the other hand TO g K the mind with def
mite faith on God as a person, a conscious
mind-surveying with a moral interest the
voluntary acts OF his creature, man. The
old polytheism was as varied In its aspects
as Nature herself 1t was Nature ia The
plcnitude OF sensuous wealth, projecting
the shadow OF her gorgeous but coarse inn
aGery on the pure expanse OF the Infinite,
not the might and glory of the Infinite
co ming down on nature with resistless
influence to chssten aud spiritualize her
wild energies end humble them in rever-
ent submission TO the law of the Eternal.
Minds in which the moral sense is at all
awakened, or which have any glimpses Of
spiritual insight, cannot rest content Ell
ther in polytheism or pantheism perplex-
ed and confused, they look around for
some guide 10 the highest truth. 1t is in
the clear recognition OF living God, and
OF his personal relations OF authority to-
wards the human race that the power of
religion consists. Religious natures de-
mand something moro Than the bare alb
stractions of reason. They desire some
visible token of the Unseen Presence
something concrete and historical, which
they can lay hold of and distinctly realize
10 the mental eye. In such natures the
want of a mediator is intensely expert
enced they want some one 10 take them
by the hand and lead them up to God, and
give them assurance of his Fatherly COM
passion and Astounding love. Overwhelm-
ed with shame aud remorse, the soul feels
itself shut out from God. How can il gain
access TO him? Christ rises before the
thoughts of the smilten aud downcast PEN
itent-the friend of sinners and the COM
forter of the sorrowing, the perfection OF
holiness-but also the perfection Of love.
Thus Christ offers himself TO the soul as
spiritual medium of approach to God aud
likes its upward gaze. Christ is fitted for
this office of spiritual mediator as a man
not a mere man-but as the ideal of man,
living as no other has ever done in pure
unbroken harmony with the Father, adj
yanced to that point in the order of moral
where God and man are at
one. AS Christ was not God, his genuine
service can never degenerate into idolatry.
Christ was The highest prophet of mono
theism, servant and worshipper of the
universal Father. Neither was he Priest
only by figure and comparison. He does
not interpose 10 prevent our immediate in
tercourse with God but simply conducts
us 10 him. When he has drawn us up 10 his
own height Of vision, aud given us conf
dence TO look in the face Of the Father, he
steps back into the same line with our
selves. and delivers us over to God, that
our souls may henceforth snbsist like his
nyu in liract annfaof with Tho