Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-01-30

The Rev. DR.. Thomas, of Chicago,
is one of the few very eminent di-
vines of the Methodist church Of to-
day. In these times of a wonderful
stirring up among ministers occupy
ing positions of note in this country
and in Europe, it is. perhaps, well to
lay before our readers some of the
recent declarations of eminent di-
vines on vital topics. DR.. Thomas
has preache d, in year past, some of
the most remarkable sermons. We
quote little at length from two of
them.
First from his sermon preached in
the Centenary Church at Chicago. on
the 9th inst, we take the following /:
"But you say: Whist will then be-
come of churches, our sects? Our
churches! All! there's the rub. Not
Jesus Christ, but our church, and our
pet creed. Poor thing. Poor thing.
What . pity If 1t should die J! Save
your creed, whether you save sinners
or not. Insist on Q thousand defini-
tions about God, and Jesus Christ
and the Trinity, and the Bible, aud
future punishment; save these defini-
tions; save your creed,-bring 1t In
out of the cold wind like q shivering
little lamb In March, and wrap it up
tenderly In warm blanket, and pour
down q little warm milk-save these
things if you drive the whole sensible
world to infidelity in doing it. Now
I say the unbelief Of our time 10 not
half 90 much against tho great truths
Of religion - against the man-made
dogmas about religion. And what
the churches should do 10 to cxalt re-
ligion itself, and call the people to its
Joy, and beauty, and work, call them
away from sin to Righteousness.
What difference does it make wheth-
er . man believes in an endless hell or
mott he be . good man? !? II he love the
sermon on the Mount, and will live by
it; IL he believe the twelfth chapter OF
Romans or the thirteenth Of Corinth.
ians, and live by them; suppose that
he don't believe that the world was
made In six days or that Jonsh
was swallowed by the whale
What Of it? What has that to do
with . good life? Let him believe
what hs csp,-that 10, what he thinks
true. 30 long - mankind are drawn
to the life and experiences Of relig-
ion, we need not worry about their
beliefs; but II they fail Of these, all
their 1ne-spun orthodoxy will be OF
very little value to themselves or to
others.
Another thing. Think the church.
es should hasten to confess that We
are ell fnite-just beginning-and
that all these questions that relate to
God and the future are too great for
our full comprehension; that, In fact
after all our boastAd knowledge, We
really know very little about them
Let us confess that it 10 not necessary
for the purposes Of . good life that
weshould know everything. Then
let rs have our schools Of theology
and our creeds and definitions II We
choose, and our churches and ouI
speculations about all these points
but let rs get over the folly Of quar-
reling about them, and refusing Y
Fellowship with those who differ
from up. Let Us be done with thl
folly and even wickedness OF makiuf
doorway out Of oil our definition
and dogmas through which soul
must pass to reach the ever-presen
God. Let US put away our narrow
ness and prejudice and be brothers II
q common love and . common cause
Let there be broader personal lib
erty Of opinion. Let It not be though
Q crime tor man to hold and exures
an honest conviction. Lot there IS I
frank, open honesty In the puIpii
Let all unite In the active duties 3
doing good. Let us think more 8
conduct and less OF creed, and Their
are few 30 skepucal as to even oueu
tion the truth and beauty of such
religion. I verify believe that thou
sands in this city would gladly com,
into the churches could they com
with their honest convictions, sn,
not be asked to believe what the,
cannot believe, nor be blamed for be
ilieving what they honestly think