, 1877-01-14

l. 10 tic Editor of The Tribune.
CHICAGO, Jan: 13.-Beforc Mr.. Moody leaves
this city for another field Of usefulness, would
like to have him explain or reconcile one cxam-
pic OF Christ set forth in the thirteenth chap
ter OF John, that no litcralist who teaches that
the present version OF the Bible is in every par
ticnar the inspired word of God, and that what
/ soever God requires Of man that man is to do,
even to seeming inpossibilitics (such as Ct Be &c
perfect, as your Father III Heaven is perfect y
has ever undertaken to explain or reconcile con-
sistcntly with his literal theory. Yet 1t is Of
itself Of the most simple, direct acts or les
sons Christ taught while here on earth, and
| in these days OF pride and arrogance would
| do more to put ourselves In harmony with tho
| spirit Of Christ than any other one agency TINT
| could be made use Of. You recollcct at tho last
feast Of the Passover that Christ attended,
'taftcr supper He took a towel nnd girt1cd Him.
self, after that poi,reth water into basin, and
began to wash the Disciples feet, and to wipe
them with the towel whcrcwith He was girlcd."
After He had gone through the ceremony, He
inquired Of the disciples, Know &c what I have
done to you! Yc call me Master, and LORD, and
yc say we'll, for SO AM !. If l, then, your Lord
ought to wash one anotler's feet, for have
given you an example, that ye should
do as have done to you." Then, the blessing
promised, III sc know these things, happy are
&c if ye do thenl.'
Now, especially, why do not these Lattcr-Day
Saints, who have their faces set toward the
New Jerusalem, and arc waiting and watch
ing" Tor Christ's second appearing, put them
selves in sympathy with Him, and show forth to
the world His disciples are not above their
lorda The lesson is not hypothetical or diff
cult to perform. You do not hayc to anticipate
His meaning, Us you do for authority iu one OF
the saGra1l'cnts you celebrate (where He took
little children into His arms, and blessed them,
aud said oi such is the Kingdom Of Heaven y.
or claim tho rite as substitution forcircumcsion,
which only included onc-l1a1f ot the
iiniantile: race. Neither do you literalists
in performing this Christian grace (of
1cet-washins) have to subrcrt any OF the laws Of
science in paving Of the streets Of the New Jc-
rusale1n with gold, or overcome the laws Of
grayltation in trlnslating Enoc1l bodily.
Mr. Moody will not explain by saying all our
disciples humility But, 4 Be yc doers Of tic
Word, and not hearers only: .dcceiying your
ownselyes nJames, l., 22) This is what Christ
wants OF His disciples. 1t is not enough to say,
WHICH IS necdu 9 op tho bo a H. dG Kind dhof
IN argument would this be if in the morning
mother should say to her little son, "Jolnny!
wash your face, and forhim to answer, Mother,
you know i love You dearly, and am irving every
Spirit, humility and such like, it is not neccs- |
sary for INC to do that which is ncedful for tic |
body. l understand the philosophy of the |
thing, and lore you just is much as could do
il washed my 1acc''9 Neither is the apology |
sufficient for not initiating our Lord III tllis |
ordinance, to say if Christ had intended |
to pcrpetuate the custom other cyangclists !
beside John would have recorded the less on.
Who would presume to deny the power of such |
important you might say Fundamentally truths
as the following, because they are only record
ed once in the Bible: Matt, f., 33-ss Thou
shalt not forcswcar thysclf." Psalms, cxxxix.,
IL" Man is fearfully a,ld wonderfully made-''
Isaiah, 1yii., LIS n and lofty Quo that in
l.abitcth eternity" Hebrews, l., 8, Christ,
Who being the brightness Of His glory, and
the express image OF His person." Hebrews,
vi, 1. s. and 6, For it Is impossible for those
who were once enlightened, and have tasted Of
the heavenly gift, and we're made partakcrs Of
the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good
Word Of God, and the powers Of the world to
come, If they shall fall away to renew them
again unto repentance, seeing they cruelty the
Son oi God afresh. and put him to open shatne.n
No! Not! let us rather follow this lesson OF |
Christ. "l4ct your communication be yca, yea
and nay, nag, for What is more than this is not
mcet.''
If Mr. Moody does not see fit to explain, per-
f.aps his successor III the Chicago Avenue
Church, who has recently established Bible
class in the First Congregational Church. will
ronsent to cn1ightcn one who is
SEEKING LIGHT