The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-05-10
NOT QUITE 81 YED.

sGdnudru OF rellSlOn uehanueu Dy OC.
Paul and st. Peter in the apostolic church.
es was not too high. 1t is plain that that
was what they expected of the new con-
verts. 1t is equally plain that the same
Christian character is required at every
mans hands now. Christianity did not
demand more of the ancient world than
it demands to-day.
We may form an idea of the standard
of piety in the apostolic churches by read
ing the epistles addressed to those who
had embraced the new religion. The
thought has occurred to us that it would
appear very homogeneous if one of these
epistles should be addressed to certain
congregations which we have in mind
now.
Let any one single out, as he readily
can, some of the congregations which as
semble every Sabbath at certain churches
in the city or town in which he resides.
and let him suppose that st. Paul had
written to these congregations
Il beseech you therefore, brethren, by the
mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a
living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to Cod which
Is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world, but be
we transformed by the renewing of your mind"
We know what st. Paul meant by this
language, and we know that it was adj
dressed to church whose faith was
spoken of throughout the whole world, 4"
and that the apostle addressed them in
these words, not because they were given
over to worldly mindedness, and he wish
ed to reclaim them, but because their
piety was of such high type that he
knew they would receive what he said in
the proper spirit, and attempt to realise
the ideal which he set before them.
What sense of congruity would there
be in addressing to such a church as you
have in your mind the words addressed
by Paul to the Ephesian Christians:
ITO the saints which are at Ephesus.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ which hath blessed US with all spir-
itual blessings in heavenly places in Christ
that we should be holy and without blame be-
ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy
Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our in
heritance."
Let US call up some of the prominent
figures among the members of this con-
gregation now under consideration, and
imagine in what sense Paul would have
addressed to them the exhortation
Praying always with all prayer and sup
plication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto
with all perseverance and supplication for all
saints"
Or would he have addressed them as
he addressed the Philippians in the second
chapter of that beautiful epistle-
"If there be therefore any consolation in
Christ, if any comfort of love, If any fellowship
of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies-Fulfl
ye my Joy, that ye be like-minded, having the
same love, being ofone accord, of one mind. q.
| Let this mind be in you which was also in
Christ Jesus"
To the Thessalonians he wrote:
Remembering without ceasing your work of
faith, and labor of love. and patience of hope in
our Lord Jesus Christ"
And then he goes on to tell them that
his gospel came not unto them in word
only, but in power, and in the Holy
Ghost, and in much assurance So that
ye were ensamples to all them that be-
lieve in Macedonia and Achaia."
This language is dialect that many
calling themselves Christians do not I'M
derstand at all they attach no meaning
to it; they have had no experience cor
responding to it. They move on a plane
far lower; the spiritual pulse, in fact, is
so feeble that one would not remark its
beating at all.
Now take again the language of Peter,
and try to apply it to the members
Of some of our worldly or fashionable
churches:
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom,
though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye
rejoice with Joy unspeakable and full of glory.
In what sort of spirit would half
dozen members of such congregation,
assembled at card table, receive the ex-
hortation:
But as he which hath called you is holy, so
be ye holy in all manner of conversation .
being redeemed with the precious blood of Christ
as of lamb without blemish and without spot.
What meaning to such men have the
words o! st. John:
Perfect love casteth out fear. . We love