The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-03-13

III IS phase oil the vulgar VIII OF the
present age TO trayesty Puritanisn, If the
truth only was left, though its members
were distorted, we might wait until by their
own force they would straighten them
selves. But lies must be gagged, and their
falseness made visible in the sunlight
Puritanism has the right belonging to all
living organisms, especially if they have
existed through two centuries of active
being, TO explain the secrets, motions and
directions OF its own being. Purltanism
had an undertOne beneath its formulated
theological opinions that must be taught as
keynote ere music can be rendered.
Doctflnal statements usually come after u
cooling process has taken place in religious
life. Religious fervor first cuols ere 1t is
crystahGtd, and while the rystals hold the
real image the Original fires glow not with
in. But formulated doctrines are the only
means we have to preserve anything real of
The life preceding, and Of shat life by which
thew could only nave come into being,
"Puritans were differentiated from those
OF their times not by diyeTsing doctrines,
Tor their doctrines were those also of the
best realm, hut by spiritual temper and
moral tone, which must be appreciated ere
we interpret. The mastering principle and
passion OF their being was an ever.present
sense OF the nearnesss of God to the soul
perhaps the distinctive sign of that near
ness TO God was the abiding idea OF the
Judge and SearCher of all hearts, G0d's
judicial relations seem oitener on the sur
face in their experiences than His love.
This conception gave TO them constant
horror of sin, recalling the shuddering OF
the patriarch, o, my soul! come not thou
into their secret Hence their convictions
could stand the strain of martyrdom. No
other conception of God and of our relations
| 10 His will. Our modern love.sick senti.
mentality would hardly bear TO give doll
to the flames, because having no deep sense
of sin as conspiracy against God, it would
see no need OF even this sacrifice.
This Puritan tone can be discerned in
the books of its time. In the first pages oil
Bunyan's Pilgrims Progress, What shall
do to be saved? stands on almost every
paragraph until the wicket-gate is reached
and TO reach this was the direct aim and
purpose of their lives. But they thought
more about salvation from the power of sir
and present triumph III the grace OF God
than about ultimate safety from the con
domination of the wicked; and this is true
of every genuine Christian.
"The Great doctrines which have beer
the lines that have separated these heroes
from the multitudes cannot be interpreted
fairly out from under their native skies anC
sunshine. We must ask. what grew on
OF these doctrines? or of what are they TN
product? In this case we can find answer
to both questions in the men who Tough
for and gained and gloritied tn,
name of Puritan. Gods sovereignty
and election and eilectusl calling
and perseverance to the end that begat il
the Purtans no spiritual pride. They hell
them as the opponents of their Own ute
unworthiness, of helplessness and absolute
dependence realized in their deepest con
seriousness. Organic life increases by tn
selection, unconsciously from its surround
ings of the elements that take form II
growth. So did the Puritans, in the gres
day of their suilerings and glory, grow
towards a life beyond, Their beliefs con
tanned truths whose fruitfulness came ou
in their devoted lives. These dreadful
, creeds, the 'raw.head and bloody bones o
many who revile. become so OH no othe
I conceivable theory than the ability 4
many corrupt minds to pervert the utter
ances of the pureinto Il vileness never con
, oelved ol These are the people who dea
} in double.meanings, and see poison /
, what the best of the world have fed upor
. and grown thereby into manhood of whic
, the world was not worthy. "-Phlladelphi
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