The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-11


vision of mankind into the world and the ohuroh
that 1t cannot be put aside nor eVaded;
we can only state the fact. Luther said: "Ihe
doctrine of justification by faith is the sign OF a
falling or a standing church" Our Savior said;
"He that believeth and is baptized snail pc
saved, and he that belleveth not snail DC
damned" And so. linked with salvation by the
great head OF the church We must
NO question has s"e ever been 80 Thoroughly and
extensively discussed and investigated as this.
Ii has been laid before the people and explained
with fulness and force never before exampled
In the history OF p0lemc research The results
have been commensurate with the wide relations
of the subject 1t has led to more rational and
scriptural views of conversion and confessions
to Il higher aud juster conception of the freedom
and dignity aud aersonal responsibility OF man
In relation TO his obedience and redemption
under and through the gospel to truer appre-
citation of its symbolic relation to the great re-
demptive act of Christ In his death and resurree-
determination OF Its relation 20 Inc
forgiveness of sins; to popular Investigation
in philoogy, history and theology that have en-
lightened the masses, enlarged their views or d.
vine truth, confirmed their faith and kept alive
In their hearts the great principle OF Protest.
antism-that the Bible, the whole Blole ana
nothing but the Bible is the faith of Christians.
1t has revealed the fact, too, that we have not
been fully and thoroughly true TO this principle:
that our great protesting forefathers in the faith
did not discard all the departures and lnnoVa-
tlons OF popery, and that we still have some
things vital to the unity of the people OF God,
| against which 1t is our duty to continue to pro-
test till they are removed or Abandoned; and
last though not least, it has raised the question
OF raitbfulness In foundations of the Scriptures
from the originals, that not only lays the f0un-
datlOns for zone baptism" in foreign lands, but
for ultimate agreement on this subiee also at
been foremost in this great arguments
Who have elected tine light and supplied the
learning, aud the scholarship, ana demonstrated
the truth, and sustained the agitation, and
effected the progress that has been made in THIS
widefeid of our religious life2 The volume OF
thfs power has been steadily growing, the little
streams have been pouring In from Thousand
mills. Quietly they have been gathering into
swelling river. Enthusiastically they are moving
in their combined strength out into wide valleys
and fertile plains, and soOnthe greatness and
blesseduess of the overflow shall be seen and
felt throughout ChristendOm. Lot us not falter
In work.
Fifth have referred TO fai;hfulness In trans
latng, IN connection with the baptisn'al contro-
versy, but this Is not all. DO we not remem0er
that IL of the earliest abors OF the great life
OF Alexander Campbell, to publish revised
version of the New Testament II has
not been beyond the memory OF many
here. We remember TOO, now IL
was regarded "Impious," ,'saeraligious,'"
ton was exhausted to denounce ana damn the
man who dared to do this deed. The book itself
was declared unworthy TO live. and, with
prayers and on Blended knees, one good man
prepared his faggots and kindled his IRE and
with inquIsitOrial tongs gave it to the flames.
Verify he thought he was doing Gods service
and sending up sweet incense in the tmnlolatIOnl
We pity his ignorance, but DO not despise him.
Doubtless he was "a very conscientious man, and
right loyal to the Creed and the teaching Of his
party How could the poor man know any bet
teri Standing abreast of present facts on this
subject, can scarcely believe that in half
century the world of sentiment can have been
so revolutionized Look at the picture of that
cody old man fifty years ago. with his faggots
and tOng5 aud helpless victiDl-CampbelPs un
conscious little duOdeoImo revision Of the
New Testament going forth olemnly
f nad rrayeruyd ouS 30 0n 4aa t. b sRS
rergiOusly fashionable, quite ready to burn the
author also; aud then turn TO that other picture,
han, octV, yfFb
enthusiasm OF an army of crusaders, all day long
the streets of New York were well nigh block
AIDED by eager men and women. and boys and
girls pressing forward to catch the first copy of
the recent revision of the same work. called for
by the sentiment-yes, the changed Christian
sentiment of the age, and executed by the first
scholars of the day and of nearly every evan
geliCal denomination. both of the old and the
new world. Truly, "some labor, and others en-
ter into their labor" John Nv, 38J But is the
work yet done; Is the full idea Yet reaiz edf Is
the whole WORT OF God fully translated9 As In
the reformation of Luther, some proper protests
were left unmade. So here, some words are left
untranstated aud our work Is yet left us unac-
eompshed. Let lis give thanks for what ia
done, but do not let US forget OF neglect what re-
mains.
SIXTH am only selecting points for illustra
ton, and will advert to only more 1t is
the idea of substituting for ereeds and
fessions of faith which have proved to be divis-
ive. simple confession of faith in 'the Christ,
the Son of the living God" with grateful sur
render of Ourselves to his authority and trust
full acceptance of his gracious promises. And
this is proposed as the practical work of the
ministry III converting the world and editying
the church, and also, as the simple seriptural
basis of Christian union. Asa creed, it is shorter
than that miscalled the Apostles, aud as a basig
of union 1t ia so catholic thai all who accept
Jesus in His divine fullness of nature aud oihce,
and are willing to bow to His authority IN every
express command ana established precedent OF
His word, eau readily understand and heartily
acceptit. IL is so large that there is room for
eyer-lnereasng growth IN knowledge and
in grace; open, that the simplest son
or daughter of faith may enter and find peace;
and so efficacious that ali may triumph through
it's power In the ineffable fulness of the exalted
Head tho personal Emmanuel the Goldman,
there are heights and depths, and lengths and
breadths, past all finding out, ample for the
sublimest reach of the intellect, and the loftiest
alteration of the heart, and in its conditions Of
life aud service. simplicity and posriyeness of
example and precept that the wayfarng man
need not misunderstood or stumble at Il com
prehends the ground of our Justification; the
agency and means OF our sanctIfcation. and the
power and place of our gorification, and this ia
the SCOPE and compass of all our essential need
OF help. we have been preaching this simple,
great idea of Christ for a long time, but we have
not given 1t fullnoss of growth and victory. IL
is germ that needs other soil. ana warmer
suns and purer watering than we nave hitherto
the virtue the wisdom nGs 0 aud dp"n the ne
largeness of Christian love. which are
required for its propagation. We hold IT as vet,
l fear, too much as a theory. We hamper 1t. 1
fear, too much by OutgrOwths of opinion and
ecclesiastical small clothes. II we hope to
unite the Christian world on this platform, we
must stand heart and soul upon it ourselves.
Ii is divine leaven. indeed even thOBgh preached
out OF envy. and we think we many signs OF
its influence upon the age Let us be true to it,
large enough. and spirited enough. and free
enough to rightly represent it, and sooner than
we know, perhaps, 1t will break forth like the
power of the sun on the frosts of winter, and o
harmony in variety, beautiful as the blended
colors of the rainbow will spread itself like the
life and freshness of spring, over all the dscord
and discomfort of our long winter of sectarian-
ism. We have the lde Let us give it the CON
dltions of growth.
Brethren. have recalled to you in this i'm
perfect sketch some of the great ideas for which,
for more than half century, many
noble and devoted men and women have been
c0ntendtng. In looking over the wide fields of
the struggle appreciate, with YOU, the high
place which your great State holds In the work,
and rejoice with you, in fullest sympathy, in
this memorial festival. YOU meet to-day under
the eyes of a mighty cloud Of witnesses the pio-
neer heroes, who have gone before you in labor