New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-06-24
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
THE APOSTLES CREED, TESTED BY ENPER a NJ T..
nv CHARLES r. BAKER Octave, PIP. lS3' Ne"-

w
BY CHARLES r. DAKLR oe'aNo' Up 400 w
York: Thomas whitaker
This handsomely printed pamphlet contains a series
of lectures on the Apostles Greed delivered in the
Church of the Messiah Brooklyn. by the rector the
pev Charles r. Baker. The literature of the Creed
already comprises a great library to which theolo-
oions and preachers of every religious communion
have contributed generously of their knowledge ana
faith This new study of the fundamental canon OF
Christian doctrine is remarkable chiefly for the
method employed. The author considers 1t sell
evident that the life is the essential thing IN Chrs-
tianty and aims 10 prove that the Creed Is y no
necessary expression of the experience OF every man
who is really living in the Christ" In these lectures
he takes up the ancient formula sentence bV sen
fence and subjects 1t to the tests of Christian ex
ner;ence Instead of examining, analyzing ana
,,roving each statement of the Creed dogmatlcaly,
no strives to find i'm each believers spiritual expert
ence ground for a complete understanding oil the
,rnth That is to saw the first article expresses the
Christian consciousness of the fatherhood OF Oou
the second the same consciousness of the divine ma
ture revealed the life of humanity; and the mira
the same consciousness of the operation Oh a "lNlhe
agency within the heart working outward Inc
method has the merit of originality ana is applied
with logical skill. The following passage Illus
trates not only the form of argument but the Oer-
alitv and,breadth of the authors views;
Rnt where does the consciousness of the Christian
find the Holy Catholic Church Only IN that large
body of Christ of which these are the dlncIcnU
members SO much is contained IN the conscious
ness of all Christians, however much opposed 10 "
their theories may be. Under an lhis eA'clllai
diversity there is a substantial unity our SENT
ments our aspirations, are the same we use inc
HYMNS of all without thought of the different
sources from which they have come IN our iiym-
nal we have CLEANED from B9ptIsts' McthC0u!91's'
Moravians Unitarans and modern Roman .Catho-
lies In our union for practical beneNolSmces' we
never think of our respective regiments; " men we
are united in ties of domestic love, the DIVISION Inc
disappears he Christian consciousness apsoIutel9
refuses TO accept the limits OF any one OF thtse com
munions as those OF the Church OF Christ In spite
of theories and scriptura and HISTORICAL arguments
10 the contrary, are daily acknowledging as CO.
members of the Christ, and co-hers OF the PROMISES
of God all who are confessed dIsclples OF our
Master and are aspiring after his life, however or
ganized We may hesitate ON account OF our own
theories to acknowledge it il speech. but IN ne we
family tie. The Christian consciousness sees only
the Holy Catholic or Universal Church, which is
the communion of all saints. !: -. ,.,;o,, orr
| am glad that il is this Catholic spirit when our
church cultvates in worship; that 1t does not call
upon us in the narrow spirit OF sect 10 express our
belief i'm any exclusive in our own branch Oh
the Church. much as we love and prize IT'S stately
order its solemn pomp, and its rlch charities Dul
that it teaches Us to say believe III ,ne i1o Sas
Catholic Church" Shame on the man VINO SO uses
the term as to make IL the reverse OF uniNersal
Who il TO hug his own concert IN the SpTit Oh
sectary and 10 deny the true experiences OF IRE III
fellowship with Christians OF other names. Such
has not been the way with the great leaders OF inc
Church. How large and catholic was Jer0lhes
view How far above the petty warnings OF MS
fine was the statement of Hooker our great ecclesl
astical legist who acknOw lodged that the IrcsDy-
terion Church OF Geneva had all the marks of true
church although unsuited to the people OF Eng
land! How free from rancor or naIloNhess Is tnc
invitation to the communion contained IN our
PRAYER Book aye who do truly and earnestly re-
pent you of yOur SINS and are IN love ana chaTity
with your neighbors, and intend to lead new NE
following the commandments OF G"H anu e mi irtS
from hencefOrth IN his holy ways; draw near WIN
faith and take this holy sacrament TO your COM
fort How small must be his sense OF htneSs VINO
after that can limit his administration OF the rite TO
those who have confessed the CHRIST according 10
Protestant Episcopal forms. In that grand ana
lofty collect which we read after the communion
are these words, We most heartily thank thee
almighty and everything Cod that we are very
members incorporate in the mystical BODY OF thy
Son. which is the blessed company OF al lai4,i
people Here We have an authoritative dehhtloin
by our own church. of what in its Judgment conStl,
tntes the Holy Catholic Church ylz.,-the blessed
company of all faithful people. What laIgeieSs OF
mind! What farsigl ted wisdom Let us he true to
our SYMBOLS and never define the Church OF Christ
as ANYTHING less than that. Let all faithful people
he one in the Christ as he is with the Father,
and the Father with him. Then shall the world ac-
knowledge the divinity of our religion
Mr. Baker is a scholarly writer as well as an ear
nest and effective preacher and his literary work is
not without positive merits If his lectures fail to
render the Creed either credible or more intel
lrible. he only shares the fate of Bishop Pearson
and a host of writers who have sought TO simplify
the faith of the Ap0storcal Church. The Catechisn
of the Church with which Mr. Baker is connected
contains curious Illustration of this method IN the
explanation of the Lords Prayer Probably nine
out of ten children, who are taught to answer the
question What des,Test thou of God in this
prayer - are hopelessly confused by the very
labored and intricate expansion of prayer which
is itself model of simplicity The Apostles Greed
suffers in the same way whenever commentators
and thcologians overload It with explanation.