The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-08
SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT.
An Interesting Discourse by Rev James
Mcleod, of Buffalo, N. Y.

An Interesting Discourse by Rev. James
Mcleod, of Buffalo, N. Y.
Rev. James Mcleod, of Buffalo, N. Y, filled
the pulpit of the Second Presbyterian Church,
yesterday morning, addressing large and we'll
interested audience. He discussed the question
of spiritual development, taking for his text
I Corinthians, iii, 2: 81 have fed you with milk
and not with meat, for hitherto we were not
able to bear it; neither yet now ye able" He
said, in brief: One truth which lies on the very
surface of this passage is this: that the word of
God is not alike adapted to all people at the
same time. Paul recognized this fact, and acted
upon it through his ministry. He that to
some people he could only give the elementary
truths of God-"mllk but not meat" How
many of Christ's followers have gone beyond
the infant classl Some people remain there all
their lives, because they have no desire to go
further. Our Lord spoke The word to his disc
pies as they able to bear it, He kept
many things back from them. They needed
more knowledge and more experience before
they could know the whole range of truth. There
is plenty OF food in Gods larder. The deficiency
is on the human, not the divine side. We must
begin with the alphabet. The ladder of knOwl-
edge must have its first round so near the earth
that the infant feet can easily reach 1T. While
il reaches beyond the stars, those who would
climb those gu nlime heights, must begin at the
bottom. But there are heights of knowledge
and holiness also that no Christian can ever
hope to attain. So, too, there are some mysteries
in Christianity and in the Bible that we cannot
understand. religion without mystery must
be false religion, because 1t would De religion
without God, and he is the my stery OF mysteries.
But that does not initiate against the truth of
the Bible I'm nature we know many things are
true, hut they are infinitely beyond our cOmpre-
hension. But the simple truths are all we need
the truth that we are sinners and God is about
to save us; the truth that there is salvation in
Christ These are elementary truths, the milk Of
the word. Let us thank God for that. But
if the soul be in a healthy condition
it will search further than that, The Corin-
thians whom Paul addressed, had not made this
progress, for they were carnal and worldly.
They lacked in spiritual capacity, so that they
there not many Christians now who could see
their own reflection in that old mirror. They
are not yet beyond the elementary principles of
the gospel, They go in year after year, in the
same old rut, and they always remain babes III
Christ. But surely the attainment of a we'll
founded, full, symmetrical Christianity must be
most desired. When we learn the first truths,
it is our duty to profit by them-tO enlarge them.
we must build solid structure IN that Iounda-
tion-Jesus Christ This is the Christians aim
and duty and privilege, and to do this We must
develop our spiritual nature The same law will
hold good in Heaven on earth. We
have no reason to believe that Gods laws
are ever changed. To enjoy the bliss OF heaven
must he i'll perfect accord with the conditions
there. We should, therefore, study and Improve
our minds. If man cannot appreciate the in
tellectual and moral, and the spiritual he is no
condition for heaven The atheist is blind, the
doubter sees trees walking. The things
they deny we understand best. We know that
they are destitute of the requisite spiritual eye
sight. We know that Christianity is true, and
THAT ten thousand intilels canuot convince
that this is NOT True hat, then, is needed to ac-
duire this spiritual life, and what TO increase it,?
l answer to the first that do not need any
more evidence than we have, for it is already
overwhe lining. We do not need miracles to
prove it,urAces never converted any person.
1t is the truth that eOnvinees and converts the
soul me increase nusV pe maue py improving
the heart If the evidences of Chris
tlanity were ten thousand fold strong
er than they are they would not
act whit more consistently
unless other influences work In the heart
and the soni. Not more knowledge but more
heart is needed; not more light but a different
medium through which it may shine. Those
OuJse the spiritual enclosure must attain this
new life before they can enter, and this they can
8Yd kilfH Chsi some n the CHRISTIAN graces can
be INCREASED. We can attain to a high degree of
spiritual knowledge and excellence, but it Is not
essential to attempt to learn everything. We,
as Pr9sDy terians, believe certain things which
are not so clear to others; but there win come
time when we shall see all things alike. Most
of us are dull pupils in tile school of Christ, but
il is our blessed privilege to be industrious stu
dents We have it in our power TO grow out OF
manhood. The milk of the word
is good, and for that we
thankful; but the strong meat will make us
nobler and better TO secure the best results,
we must cultivate the heart as well as the head.
Brethren, let us not be content with merely get
ting into the Kingdom, but let us try TO get hear
the king, whom, although we have not SEEM
love. True, there are MANY things that we can
not understand; bur, blessed be God, what we
do not know shall know in time. What
we lost in the first Adam shah more than re-
gain i'll the second. Now we see through glass
darkly, but then shall see face to face.
DR.. McLeod's sermon made an exceedingly
favorable impression, for it was full of original
thought, strongly expressed He is evidcntly a
pulpit orator OF fine powers, anda gentleman of
excellent literary attachments. HIS personal ap-
pearance is very much in his favor, and he
speaks with fiuency aud force that is seldom
seen.