Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-05-04
MORE RELIGION NEEDED.

And every man that striveth for the mastery
is temperate in all things.-I. CORINTHIANS,
1x:25.
The duty of moderation and temperance
is everywhere enjoined in the scriptures.
People who run to extremes, even in their
religious zeal, are nowhere commended and
frequently condemned. To keep the appe-
site under subsection and control the pas
ions is esteemed greater virtue than the
most extraordinary personal bravery. AL
though so highly regarded, however, but lit
tie attention seems to be paid to the matter
in these days, and the churches devote their
greatest attention to the cultivation of the
abstract virtues that have but an Indifferent
bearing upon the welfare of mankind, We
are compelled to listen week after week to
learned dispositions upon the beauty of this
or that particular quality of mind or heart,
while practical matters are wholly ignored or
but lightly touched upon. Temperance in
religion is necessary part of goodness. He
who runs to extremes-allows his zeal to get
the better of his Judgment be called
true Christian, for religion is more than a
matter of mere sentiment; it is a conviction
that ought to per :neate the entire heart and
mind of the believer.
The belief that prevails SO extensively that
religion is simply an abstract theory does
much towards obstructing its progress and
| iniuring its usefulness. Men are content
with accepting the doctrines taught from the
pulpit unquestioned, and appear to have
/ but an Indifferent conception of
the essence of true piety. It is this theo-
retical religion, too, that is productive OF
such great harm, and brings Christianity
into 50 much disgrace. We have too much
theoretical and too little practical Christian
ity in the world. Practical Christianity is
becoming wofully scarce commodity, fol
it is too inconvenient to suit the wants o.
the present age. 1t involves something more
than mere profession, for it consists in deeds
in charity and righteousness of conduct
No matter how sincere mans belief in tn
abstract doctrine of the atonement may be
he cannot be a true and acceptable Christian
unless he testifes the faith that is in hin
|
of true morality and religion than tina
: taught to such an extent in the modern pu
pit-justifcatlon by faith. We venture til
: prediction that faith alone never saved
man or made him better in this life. "Fait
without works is dead,'' said the apostl,
yet we hear clergymen every day preach do,
9 trines that lead their hearers to false COZ
ception of the plan of religion, and Undue
d them to belief that all that is necessary i
!. order to secure the divine approval is to a,
: cept the fact that Jesus came into the worl
n to save sinners. Such belief never mac
It a vicious man righteous; such belief wi
8 be of no avail to him when his earthly a.
r counts come to be settled, unless it is accom-
: panied by earnest efforts on behalf of Il
70 right.
70 Common sense in the pulpit is great
10 needed in these days. There is too little
rs it prevailing. Clergymen are content wi
10 oratorical pyrotechn;cs, and gauge their reli
IS ion by the capacity its theories has to ente
j. tain in audience. The details of practie
IS auty-of mans relations to his Fl
IN lows-interest them and c
ne for remark only so far as they can be 9,
n ployed to polish off a fine sentence or ma
st hap adorn some far-fetched illustration.
ey is the most successful pulpit orator "
if breaches the least about religion, and M
it, Partington's definition of church as pls
ty where the gospel is dispensed with has
lc- come verify. The SUNDAY GLOBE regr
re- to enter this condemnation, but the intere
of truth require it. There ought to be
be change. We must have more religion int
Dr. pulpit or the church will continue to gr
I'd. worse and worse until it becomes repros