New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-28
CURRENT RELIGIOUS OPINION.

Tho theolugians are all tho time asking. How
must God deal with usi L. ho a Father, aud is his
nature love or il lie Governor, and IS Ills nature
iusticef Can lie forgive as lie will or must lie re-
ouire satisfaction 60 his violated law for every
oncncoi Very important questions are these ana
they must 10 very carefully considered in construct
Ing "A theodicy But fortunately. the construction OF
q theodicY Is OF very great practical impor-
tance We sot over against II n very important
practical word. and that IL Repentance Few know
or care what theodicy IL. Everybody knows, and
il il important fol- everybody to care WHAT repent
nnre is The first question for each OF us 70 answer
ia not, How must God deal with us' but, How must
,ye deal with cod IL Is not, Is lie Father n
Gcvornorf IL Is. VIII We 10 tlial and obedient:
We publish not few articles on tho philosophy OF
theology; aud in these subjects 10 ARC Interested.
But We are thousand times more Interested that
mon should repent and be converted than thar they
,houd get hold of Just the theory OF tho atOnement
or of tho failure state which bcst pleasos US.
,core OF different theories on tre subjects man
may tako into Heaven with him only ono lno OF
conduct In tho matter oil repentance VIII save him
There ia no scripture which says le must hold TO
dynamic inspiration; but there IL passage which
saws, with an emphasis on tho auxiliary 10 must
la boru again" Does the Church preach with
suflicent energy this Must"t II is Its first bust
ness to preach II. II it breaches 1t wisely 1t will
get hearers, and then disciple. Arc our churches
finding that this its message Is Needed We feel
like raising tho question whether those denomlna-
tions which are taking the most interest In theo!og,
cal discussions Just now are also most earnest aud
successfu not only the mission fold but also at
home ia 20 presenting the duty OF repentance that
souls shall be converted. No New Theology or
theology SUCCESSFUL
practical work of bringing souls into allegiance to
God far ahead OF its efforts to correct thor theories
OF beIief.LThe Independent.
We hays had OF late served to us In the wit"
columns Of tho secular press tho antics IN prayer OF
several chaplains OF Leglslaturesj certainly tho
things prayed for wero incOngruous enough TO pro-
woke public mrth. They were decided hits ut i'm
mense evils; but who suffers most the politicians
and their practices or tho cause OF religion through
it's ordained representatives Smattness In Ets Is
not generally conceded to bo n qualification or tho
mnisterial Office. though IL has been nearly the
whole furniture Of some preachers OF the last few
years III the theory had been adopted as o doc
trno of the Church that man Is an animal reared OF
his hind legs, then we might look Tor some inspired
monkeys but rs the Church has made no denver
anccs ON thus subject and the old doctrine prevails
that man 10 made Ia tho Image OF Godr IL would DO
better for ministers In every station 10 oonnuct
themselves with some reference to their divine
origin ami especially their calling Nothing can be
gained but the contempt OF the men reDuked, anu
great humiliation to the friends OF religion. besides
unspeakabio dishonor 10 God. In the fashlon OF
chaplains using the throne Of God to show up rot-
ical rascality. 1t is cowardy thing 10 attack men
with ones eyes shut and face .uplifted TO Heaven,
and at time when the worst of men would think
IL sacrilegous TO reply IL woulo be more conso-
nant with Christian Intuitons to gather up ie0isla-
tive sins ia one and ask God TO forgive them as
sins than 10 describe and emphasize them into
huge Joke 10 be laid tho mercy amid respon-
siye filters f,om the hoarcrs.-lTho Presbyterian.
True religion has suffered far moro harm from tho
ambitious folly of host Of cell. constituted cham
puns, than from oil tho attacks of It's open foes.
One OF the most ridiculous of these, one Of sthe
latest, Is Boy. Orator and Boy-Lecturer of Elgh-
teen. and Philosopheal Champion against A the
reached Us, When churches engage such "cham-
ponsD and .thereby>seoIn to make Christianity re-
sponsiblo for all the nonsense and selfconceit dis
played by them. 1t is no wonder that men VINO
know what long years OF study, what maturity OF
thought, are required to treat iptelllgently such
subjects as the aPre- Historic Ages" eTho kela;
and disgusted. The idea of a spoiled boy Of eigh-
teen being set up to explain thom and to do so n tho
namo Of religion Tho congregation that allows
a great guilt, becomes stumbling BLOCK In T the
way OF the truth which 1t Processes to uphold, Inc
sooner the Christian Church rids issS q al fSSpi
from to need of any defonders-rrhe Morsvtan.' !.