The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-01-14
THE BOUNDARY LINE.


laymen in the Church We are inclined
to think that this question of worldliness
IN the Church, is the question of the hour.
Others are of engrossing Importance, such
as the prevailing scepticism of the day
the prevailing heterodory of the day; the
Ioa0 standard Of Christian morals: but
these rather spring out of the other. 1t
is true they are all related, and interact
as effect and cause; but love of the
world is perhaps the bottom layer in the
series.
Our correspondent makes the remark
that Members are often heard in the So
clal circle, expressing defiant determi-
nation to do as they please, without re-
gard to the opinions or feelings of their
spiritual adviser" this as to balls, the
theatre, etc.
How often this attitude is takenl And
the idea is, If you press me, will leave
the Church-and go somewhere elsel''
Well, we do not think that rebellious
spirit OF this sort is very valuable in the
Church. We do not believe in numbers.
Now let us imagine Silvanus or Marcus,
or Pudens or Julia, or " the elect ladv
and her children when addressed bv
Peter, or Paul, or John, manifesting this
recalcitrant temper
Or let us indulge another fancy; let us
imagine that Mary "who bestowed much
labor on us" or the daughters of that
elect lady to whom John wrote, whirl-
ing around in the mazes of the German.
Is there anything homogeneous in the sup
position? Or if admonished by Paul
the aged or the aged seer of the Apoca-
lypse, imagine one of them responding to
the Apostle with the menace, that if he
wouldn't let her dance, she would leave
the Church,
We cannot, by any stretch of the i'm
aglnahon, associate these holy men and
women with the ballroom or the green
room. We just feel that they would
be out of place there Why? x Will
anyone who sees no harm in these
things, just tell us aohyP Why does it
seem incongruous 10 conceive of that
Mary whom Jesus loved at one of our
Germans? or as an habituee at the the
atre? Analyse it, and answer, why?
Simply because that atmosphere does
not suit one who has been regenerated by
the Holy Ghost, and whose "life is hid
with Christ in God" Her affections are
of different kind. BE ye holy, for I
am holy Can you associate holiness
with the atmosphere that pervades the
life of our fashionable circles?
Observe the manner in which Paul
writes:
But they which would be rich fall
into temptation and a snare, and into
many foolish and hurtful lusts, which
drown men in destruction and perdition.
For the love of money is the root of all
evil: which while some coveted after.
they have erred from the faith. and
pierced Themselves through qUith mann so,.-
roesS. But thou, o man of God, flee these
things; and follow after righteousness,
goodness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Fight the good fight lay hold on eternal
life. give thee charge in the
sight of God, ETC. What does the Young
man just starting off in the German, un-
derstand about this language?> 1t is alb
Solutely unintelligible to him. Why?
The answer is, 1t is different world.
Or take this Finally, my brethren.
be strong in the Lord, and in the power
of his might. Put on the whole armor
of God, that ye may be able to stand
against the wiles Of the devil. For we
wrestle not against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers.
against the rulers of the darkness of this
world, against wicked spirits in high
places Wherefore take unto YOU the
whole armor of God, that We may be able
to Withstand in the evil day, and having
done all, to stand. Stand, therefore, hay
ing your loins girt about with truth, and
having on the breastplate Of righteous
ness, ct Get. (Read it,
Or Just this IF any man love not the
Il