Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-01-18
RELIGIOUS WEATHER-COCKS.

Henceforth be no more children, tossed to
and fro, and carried about with every wind of
doctrine. -EPHEsIANs Iv:l4.
Stability is one of the chief requisites OF
an earnest Christian life Without it there
Is no hope for progressive, active labor in
the cause of religion. 1t is essential that
men should not only have thorough under
TESS, but to know that they are right, and be
capable of defending their position against
all corners. An ignorant Christian, or one
liable to sudden changes of conviction, not
only brings disgrace upon himself, but on
the cause of religion. When he reaches
that stage of existence in which he has NO
permanent convictions, and does not care OF
know upon what basis to defend himself OF
his profession, he had better abandon all
idea of being reckoned as a Christian, and
relegate the defense of the cause to a more
intelligent and appreciative quarter.
There is too much varlableness among
professors of religion. Few seem to have
the capacity for resisting winds of doctrine,
and hence we find that every new ism that
| obtains a passing notoriety finds its Chief
support among the members of the churches.
| There appears to be an inherent mental
weakness-a proreness to take up with what
ever is novel or OUtre in theory-amone
| those who attach themselves to the churches
Apparently not satisfied with plain religious
| truths, or not thoroughly convinced of the
reality of religion, they switch off into de-
vious paths, and become mere weather
vanes, thrown hither and thither By
| every breeze that arises. There appears to
be no sort of permanency in sources where
We are justified in lookirg for it. Nothing
should be more permanent than the central
ideas of religion. They are popularity sup
posed to concern not only the WE'LL being 0!
humanity in this world but also in the
world to come, and yet nothing seems to be
more ephemeral than these ideas. Men TO-
day defend what they construe to be vita
truths tomorrow they combat them with
oil the vigor OF which they are capable.
It is very evident that what the church
most needs in this materialistic age is deer
conviction Of the verify of the doctrines tc
which it holds. There is too little sincerity
and consequently too little stability in the
doctrines espoused by the church. There is
manifest need for little stalwartism in
religion as we'll as in politics. need that
will continue to grow for years 10 come until
the church shall anchor itself fixedly in de-
tense of what the scriptures teach. In some
respects it is too intoerant and, in others
too liberal. 1t is intolerant in defense OF
mere matters of Dogma it is too liberal in
overlooking ofenses against the moral code
| 1t is regarded rs mortal offeuse to dispute
| the divine inspiration of creed, yet it is
thought TO be proper-or ct any rate excusa-
ble-to violate the sanctity of the social re-
| lations. More strictness in some respects
and more iberality in others would cordace
largely to the growth and prosperity of the
! church, and we hope ID see revival Of gen.
uine religion-a religion of essentials rather
than of non-esentials-a strict adhesion to
those doctrines that are vital to good morality