New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-17
CURRENT RELIGIOUS OPINION

Words are not things; and it is common mistake
to cOnfound them. Mr. FrOudes statement thab
evangelical phrases ring untrue IN the mocerh ear
has certain amount Of truth in It. We are al
ways wearing words ont they are often used so
inccssantly and iiIppantly that they ring untrue
after tmeor ccasU 70 ring at all In politics. lor
example confederate" rebel ana disOyal'
had all the deuunciatOry value rung out of them
several years ago. Let any body try them on with
a Northern audience If he DOUBTS II. Now these
were good words with crushing denuncatory
value until they were spoiled by too FREQUENT and
very careless use At tins time political orator
who Is skilful would carefully impress the same
ideas on his hearers minds by the use OF different
terms 1T IS Just so IN reIgion no ruin oi Ehla7t
IS bound up with the English words commonly en-,
plOyed TO express lt. A fool may spoil the word
salvation FOR some cars by ms way OF hteratlnR
IL. IL will como to "ring untrue" in the ears If
manly bows and womany girls It will TO
carry its precious freight of spiritual meaning TO
their minds and hearts. II strong ILLUSTRATION,
but II has often happencd we fear 1t Is happening
every day. But the doctrine of salvation can he
Taught in other words and so taught II Will be As
dear and wnsomc rs 10 ever was in the old dress
This ringing untrue Is one OF the perlls OF words
aud phrases and Il most important consideration in
teaching religion-which one does not teach by
merely repeating sounds, but by conveying ideas to
human minds The Methodist
The Bible contains many divine commands which
we are not 30 obey-such az that by Moses to the
sons OF I.egi: Stay every man his brother, and
every man his companion, and every man his neigh
Dor and Christ's: " He that hath none let him
sell ms cloak and huy sword" The reason rs,
that tho Bible is not primarily yoiIme OF com
mands. nor a condensed and symmetuc treatise OF
theology nor system OF morals; but an ample
generous aud various volume designed to teach
spiritual truth largcly-one might almost say
mainly-by Illustration and example. 1t Is col
lection OF siX-and-sNty separate books. IN Their
composition extending through more thdn hlteen
hundred years. the earliest cOcval with the dawn
of history the last written N the height OF Roman
mower and civilization. Two elements-the divine
ami human-obV Ousy enter into all of them: God
being behind all. promoting all and inspiring All;
man THINKING and whiting all apparently WIN
more on less of the totaity and yerbaty OF DIVINE
inspiration. rs the necessities oi ne gwen case
might require. That a. 1t Is perfectly conceivable
that much lover intensity Of supernatural super
vision aid suffice TO insure ana certify the
essential accuracy and value of the narrative OF
the Book Of Ruth than would be adequate to the
cxtr1-huinau prophecies OF Isaiah or the magut-
cent untoldings of the Apocalypse The Congre-
gaticnalist.
Christian faith is all evolved ont of the words
Our Father This Father has NOT left Ills children
ignorant of HIS viii lie uas explained II TO mem
by the mouth of inspired interpreters. lie has not
hidden himself: He has come down 10 mens under
standings and 10 the touch of their affections IN
the human life of the one IN whom lie ta3er-
naccd. God manifest m the flesh lie has not Ielt
the future an unknown land; toS-envelopcd II IS,
but through tine fog the shores can he seen, and
from them messages have been lronFht b@ck re-
yealue the glory OF a continent where there rs 10
night OF mystery. and no sea 10 breed sorrow
storms. lie offers Himself as the saviour ana
Uelper of men, lifting of from all penltcnt souls
the burden of rcmOrSe for the past and giving them
nope and inspiration and strength ana guidance
for future living. MS Crecd OF NHliT, lhhltS 1T
cords with educated human reason. II there Is u
God. his Is THAT reason might expect oI INN. II
accords with rational moral sense. II He IS worthy
OF HIS childrens reverence and love. something OF
this helpful sympathy He would surely anold Ills
Children The Christian Union.
Free-thnkcrs would, indeed, be astOnished TO
find The modern theories OF Mil, Darwin. Maudsey,
Tyndall IiuXicy Carpenter. Lewrs aud Others an
ticipatcd and fully discussed ~ the mustv OLD
black letter tones Of such writer's DunS Scotus,
A bert the Glrnt, st Thomas Auuluds. ana other
moua>t tic scr hes The all-absOrDIng topic OF
modern free Thought is the nature OF Life: over
this unsolvcu riddle the} puzzle and perpleX them
selves intcTOgating sphinx that SITS IN silence
and answers them never wOru. Men are nova |
duvs moi content to lie 81 on the knees CT mild
mystery but are like Children crying for the
B pht and with no language. but 4 CRY, pttuldut,
fr.tful desire to know what 10 Is not gwen unto
man to know. What Is LlteY Is Lire worth
living such the questions n-n keep repeat |
i'm, and vail not he satisfied with fine wOrts % the
Mosaic cosmogouy. Behold, It ~ very good Let !
then 20 back to the master minds OF the mlddlc !
ase>. AMI they VIII cease uouoll2g ~ .L'soIS os !
let them heed the warning words OF the watehiul |
Father OF Cnri, teudom and they VIII mud rest ana
peace. - The Catholic telegraph
The Subjects upon which ministers frequently dis
cour,c are not such as especially interest Their poo
pie. Ihs themes that occupy Their thoughts sug-
a.str,I hy their reading ana spccuatons ale often
a,oye the comprehension OF their hearers and are !
not the case the amount OF time gwen 10 the study
of these subjects forces them To -uch nasty Prep
urafiou of then diecOurscs On other themes that
thay become 80 un form IN character and 80 ueVold
az nil freshness of illustration and practical applca-
ton that they amount to nothing more than
unnuotOnons reltrrltiou Of u lew familiar trnths
which the people grow weary of H,aluB. Ihis Is
one reason why some ministers tal oil success thc
blame of which rests wholly GA tLensclves.-lIhe
Baptist Weekly.