Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-04-19

work receives the approval of all special
lists in the line of patristic lore"
The document sheds new light upon sub
jects of Church government and ritual that
have been in dispute. While it is MOTTO
be estimated as a sacred book or as ground
work for claim of inspiration, it is a
commentary and an expository document
of doctrines and teachings and customs, in
tended to light the path Of Christian be-
levers. In the very first lines it plants
itself upon that massive and Interchangeable
code of right, the sermon on the mount,
and anchors itself in the Decalogue In
the second chapter it sets its seal, by direct
condemnation, upon certain infamies that
were common among the heather
nations, and are by no means I'M
known to-day. 1t advises against Ger
tain weaknesses of temper and van
tiles, superstitions and defects to which
men are prone; as hasty anger, contention,
foul-mouthedness, mystery-searching, muir
muring, avarice, hate, hypocrisy, empty
speaking, reviling, the double-tongue, vac
illation and boastfulness and thus sets up
a code of peace, m0desty, gentleness,
thoughtfulness, manliness and right-doing
no man can assail.
Such broad teachings as these distinguish
the document:
Become not one who for taking
stretches out the hands, but for giving
draws them in"
"Thou shalt not turn away the needy"
Chou shalt hate every hypocrisy"
Thou shalt not desire division, but
shalt make peace between those who con-
tend"
"Thou shalt Judge Justly; thou shalt
not respect persons in convicting for trans
gressions."
THY speech shall not be false, nor
empty, but filled with doing"
Let thine aims sweat in thy hands,
until thou knowest to whom thou shouldst
give"
Upon purely doctrinal questions such as
baptism, it does not take such strict con-
Germ as some modern churchmen do, and in
reference to that assumption of regalia
permits of varied forms, and should lead
to the abandonment of such strictness as
now not infrequently amounts to cruelty
1t certainly comes to this day as a voice
from the early days declaring a high
moral code that the most liberal can ac-
cept, and yet that no rigid religionist can
deem lacking in doctrinal orthodoxy.
Upon the material doctrinal forms and OBJ
seryances of the Church, except as to the
Eucharist, baptism, and Sunday" mot
Sabbath observance, it does not throw
much new light, and these will not so
much interest the non-believer in Christ
ian doctrine. But to the devout Christian
it brings confirmation and strength as to
several things deemed essentials-thus
baptismal forms are defined, Wednesdays
and Fridays appear to be advised for fast
ing, prayer in its simplest form is directed
three times each day, and the Sacrament of
the Supper is to be administered on the
first day of each week, that is the " Lords
Day" mention of the Seventh Day" be-
ing apparently scrupulously avoided, and
the command to assemble for worship re-
lating only to the first day"
The Chicago Inter Ocean, remarking
upon the discovery of the Ms, notes that
the Teachings" are devoted to the adj
yocacy of moral and strictly spiritual ideas
common to all churches and to all philos-
Ophies, and this secular Journal makes
bold to add that John Calvin and the
most advanced liberal of our day would
find nothing to quarrel over in this old
manuscript. 1t is not too much to hope
that the modern church will adopt this
Teaching Its spirit should pervade the
utterances of the pulpit Of all creeds and
languages"