, 1877-03-05

to clilnbup and revisit the stars, that was tux
task difficult for humanity. Up to the rocl
other than bis own. That organization csllei
the Church is greatly the combining Of good
Christ-1ike hearts into an effort that wakes uI
the surrounding multitude, and shall ever repeat
to them the plcadlngs Of the Son Of Man. AS N
army is often summoned, either by old Grccvt
to hurl back the destroyer Aerxes, or BY En-
gland aud Europe tochcck tie hero OF Austerlitz
the man of destiny, SO tue Church IL an army ot
Gods children called in from every state and
hamlet to move against a Zoe mighter than ans
General Of ancient or modern name: But taere
is this difference: the army OF the Lord carries
no flashing bayonet or thirsty sword, but it eur.
ries q great white banner of love, and instead oi
hing1ng iron death ut its enemies it chants to
them everywhere the promise and free offer Of
eternal life.
It is not possible that Christianity or any form
of Righteousness would ever mold society we're
there no organized effort to teach its truths and
persuade the heart to aocept them. Other in
stitutcs, like iternture and the arts md liberty,
could progress better, for these the soul natu-
rally loves, and would at last, rs by instinct.
come upon them; but as for religion, man jour
neys away from it rather than toward it, and
needs all the holy voices Of time and eternity to
cry out, "come back, come back!"
But besides the relation OF the Church to
those without its PALE IL sustains valuable rcla-
tious to those in whose souls the divine fame
has been kindled. To join the Church Is COM
mitment Of self to path, and hcnca the act
helps the will and the heart in all subsequent
days and years. Furnishing ut once religious
occupation for the new convert, 1t prevents his
soul from becoming that empty house into
which, after bad spirit had been cast out seven
other spirits entered and settled down in its
vacant rooms. A~Church OF any name, If it
holds the cardinal Christian ideas. will be to q
man OF gifted and active brain,-the channel OF
his new life. aud the impulse of to-day aud to-
morrow. Take away from the lawyer, or
statesman or editor, or Physician,, his
large profession, and set him aside to
idlcness or to an aitn'ess career: and you
have ruined utterly noble mind. The
powers Of VIC brain must have channel along
which it can pour all its waters, clear ndlaugn-
ing or Deep Hence all noble minds born into
this world must hasten to find path, and there
all their kinds Of flowers will spring up, and
there they can run without wcariucss, and walk
aud not faint
Thus the Church, be its name Baptist, or
Methodist, or Episcopal, becomes the channel
into which the religious spirit NAV pour all its
buried riches Of thought or sentiment, and
they give back power to the givcr, and then pass
onward to bless the broad family vt man. The
Church blcsscs those within and those without,
as the rose blcsscs first the hand that rears it,
and then gives its fragrance to the roaming
winds.
II the philosophy OF the Church be tr.lc, then
meetings OF revival and unorganized services,
however largely they may be attended and how
ever many names may be enrolled as those of
persons converted, cannot, for 4 moment, super
scle the organized forms OF worship; for, after
the powerful reyiyalists have passed away, TAX
ing with them their grand song and exciting
discourse, the converted svul will be like
Crusoc Oil his islarl, unlessit hasten to fling it.
self into some Church whose soug, and service,
and duties, and cheer, aud love run through the
whole year, and through all the years oi life.
1t is not a glutton's feast which man needs, but
daily bread. Indeed, tAusc revival meetings, SO
popular in our day, will become great evil
should they ever conceal from the public, or
from converted men, the intrinsic truth OF the
temples where God and Christ are WOrshlpeu,
more calmly, indeed, but in power and beauty
which Sow like percnnia! spring: II theltlncrant
revival can arouse the organized Church to new
activity and can abolish scctar:an iueaa, tnen II
can be full partner In religious work, but,
should 1t rob the Church Of public SUPPORT and
lore It would no Longer possess anE good that
could atone for this evil. The theory OF the
great connections EGoutu be that al the new
life among saints and sinners should be gath
cred up by the churches, TO be fashioned into
good shape aud to be hcld ever ready Tor the
wants Of society. AS the great ranstorm III the
mountains is gathered up by thousand little
streams, and by these borne to rivers which
[c~ LOT watering . naIion, anu LOT bearing lts
commerce, SO gu Tue Mooo5 UT "t.leIu I s.o1lls
III tne mountains must pe satuc1ea up u. lasL
IN tile channels OF INC tharcn, or Lhelc "lli nc
no commerce OF rcilgloa anu NO ue1as f1ca Ill
annu2l nafVcsI'
Let Us not complain that the Church is un-
able to convcrt I'll the world or all Of its special
nation or city. While it could and should do
more than it achieves, yet it surpasses all
other institutes in its devotion to the outside
world. Inventions, and the arts, and litcra-
ture run outward ouly when profit invites.
The railways reach out toward the mountains
mt fr11u q desire to reform men, but because