Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-10-12
Sunday School children. The gospel
is preached to the Methodist in about
thirty languages.
A MORE THOUGHTFUL CHRIS
TIANITY.
Extract From "a Sermon Preached
nc Central Church, Chicago,
Sunday, October o, 1881, by
David Swing.

The manliness Of The current theol-
ogy is best seen in tho fact that it
seeks such great ends as righteous
ness and real happiness. Old theol-
ogy sought merely answers TO inqui-
ries, regardless OF tho value Of the
inquiry or answer. The application
of doctrine to the welfare Of man
was the last thing to be considered.
This was not a strange fact, Tor
what politics there was always
overlooked the people. In tho
glory OF all the old systems, from
Plato to Calvin and Hobbies, IL was
most certain that the people would
90 hungry and barefoot and ignorant
aud enslaved. Amid such forms Of
intellectual work theology performed
its task, aud did not often trouble
itself about man on this side OF the
grave. A great change has come, and
that common people which once stood
in rags and Ignorance, waiting for
death to usher them into an eternal
state has gradually climbed upward
until their elegant homes ill the cities,
the villages, aud the fields, their chill
dren I'll the learned professions
and reach manhood TO become law
makers, Presidents. What made the
common people meet with such a
transformation wasa philosophy which
gradually taught the greatness Of this
life. the greatness of its pursuits and
happiness, and thus the greatness Of
the possible career Of every man and
woman and little child. Eternity did
not fade, but earth became the mas
sive vestibule Of the final temple. In
the old philosophy heaven was to be
approached through bondage and rags.
Man was to die as a worm that he
might wake as an angel; but the new
thought made this world the sweet
springtime of the amazing summer
beyond, and under this new teaching
society began to fling away its marks
Of degradation and to combine the
grandeur Of eternity with the grandeur
of earth. Theology was compelled TO
kiss the extended scepter Of the new
truth and to exalt the doctrines which
should lead the multitude toward the
m9stoflight and Of virtue. In the
ecution OF this new sympathy for the
people it has been peacefully led to
widen its definitions and say any def
milton OF the atonement will do that
shall make the heart feel that it has q
powerful friend able and willing to
lead it to God; any definition of in
SEPARATION will answer that will lead
man to say of the Bible: This is the
hottest Of all volumes; any deination
OF Jesus will answer that shall cause
the multitude to love Him more than
all the great ones Of earth, and to
fall in gratitude aud love at His feet;
and any conception of the eternal
world will be adequate that shall leave
active the judgment bar Of a God who
hates sin and loves righteousness. AS
in the higher politics of to-day, all
men are drawn nearer by a study Of
the welfare of all, from the highest to
the lowest, aud out Of this common
interest are evolved principles of vast
breadth, SO out ofthe common wants
Of society, men Of thought'are pressed
nearer together, and there arise
Christian doctrines as great as the
continent or the world. And if in
these days Of transition the multitude
Of Christians is declining, it is posi-
bic that the Church is laying the deep
foundation Of a Zion to come, upon
which mountain will be seen as never
before IN such beauty a TRANSPORTED
Christ.
The greater thoughtfulness of the
modern Christianity is not chilling its
heart. The death Of fanaticism does
not resolve worship into ice. Fanati-
cism lisa false emotion, a disease, and
not a normal action of the heart.
When such a mania dies, true emotion
springs into life, and therefore, in this
age Of a most thoughtful faith we see
that religion has become more than
ever associated with the richest senti-
ments. The affairs are bedecked with
flowers, the most impressive music is
sought, the pulpit has asked literature
and poetry to help it away from the
dry augmentation Of yesterday, the
tears Of charity and friendship, and Of
love Of the living and memory Of the
dead, fall into the sanctuary; and
could that natchless one called tho
Christ live and die in this era, not a
few, but millions, would weep around
His cross; not one only would come
with spices for His embalmment, but
a loving Church Of many names and
forming a great multitude would come
to His burial with the grander offer
ings of gratitude and love and a life