The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-05-19
RICHMOND, VA, WEDNESDAY, MAY 10. 1880

strives mainly to add what As better.
1t does not carp, it costructs; it does
not suspest, but sustains; it does not
worry, it works does not waste the
past. but awaits the future. In all true
praying, therefore, for the prosperity
which depends upon unity of counsel
and effort, there must be remembrance
of the many hindering imperfections that
are to be removed, as we'll as of the many
desirable results that are to be attained
3, The third and last element which
needs now to be mentioned, as entering
essentially into the idea of Church pros
perlty, is its free and steady outqroeUth.
Besides soundess of doctrine, besides
wisely y-considered unitedness of action.
there must be propagating spread. In
these respects the life of the Church re-
sembles that of healthy human BODY ::
it must have good blood coursing through
ITS veins. and also sympathetic organs
whose blending activities are busy in
maintaining, each in its appropriate place,
the full measure Of their common vitality:
but it must also refuse to live for itself
alone, by seeking timely contact with
others, and by showing itself in all di-
rectlons member of the greater body
of mankind. Isolation stiles. A re-
cIuse Church is none. She is bound to
extend her warmest hand to every sister
Church, the integrity of whose scriptural
standards and the devotedness of whose
scrlpturaE spirit are akin to her own, and
with these if she can, or without them if
she must, is under obligations to proclaim
hpr ord To oil fho n u
very purposes of her existence is, to ex-
pend in behalf of the myriads outside of
her pale those immense treasures of
which she is the responsible steward
indeed otherwise, she has almost no
adequate apology for existing at all.
And hence, in both Testaments the nu-
merous predictions to this end. Hence,
especially, the importance which has
been attached, and with. such eminent
reason to Christ's ascension command.
whose utterance was almost Immediate
ly followed by such an exhibition of
the missionary zeal as gave no rest to
apostles and evangeists until they. had
set an example of heroic obedience which
the lapse of time has served only to
time.
Beyond all question, the Church, when
scripturally viewed, is that one institu-
tion for which mankind ought to be more
grateful than for all others combined:
In sense that is far from being merely
hgurative, she presents continued in
carnation of the Lord of glory she both
personates and illustrates Him, by per-
Petuating His visibility; she is He, as
bride is her husband But how can she
verify herself to be all this, unless. like
the Head with whom she is identified
she takes into the embracing of bound
less love the entire family which she is
HIS arm to serve and save? And. in
proportion as this arm is shortened. in
the same proportion does it become shriv-
eled; to lose, by and by, its unused
strength altogether in a paralysis for
which there is no remedy except the
shameful remedy Of death In word
her unceasing outgrowth of activity for
Christ is but another expression for in
dicatlng her extending growth towards
the perfection of Christs own bene6-
cence and in the advancing degrees of
this heavenly benefcence are to be
traced the corresponding degrees of her
earthly prosperity. For she prospers
only when she spiritually lives; She thus
ives only when she graciously acts and
she acts In entire trueness to her lofty
character, onl y when she is prepared with
those feet of swiftness which shall carry
her. burdened with the care of all souls
around the habitable earth.