The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-07-19
Integrity and Emotion.


vinity of Christianity which is most
palpatle and convincing, is reflected
from the lives of those vino represent
it, in the form of integrity and feel
ing. These are in fact the poles of
Christian character, around which all
its strength and graces center. In
tegrity may indeed exist in those
who lack piety, but 1t is more or less
remotely derived from Christian in
fluence. There has been, and proba-
bly, still is, such thing as integrity
entirely apart from the light of reve-
latiOn, but 1t is exceedingly rare. 1t
is the mission of Christianity to pro-
duce integrity. 1t demands truth,
honesty and Justice as conditions Of
its reception, and in no case and in
no degree does II Justify any compro.
mise of these principles. The in,li-
vidual, the family and the state, must
he constituted in harmony with these
principles, or Christianity will wage
against them perpetual warfare
This integrity is derived from no
mechanical balancing of motive or
anticipation Of remote advantage, but
from an apprehension that truth and
justice are in harmony with the char
acter and will of God, and a cheerful
acceptance of them, as in His sight
and from allegiance to Him. Such
integrity does not derive its sanction
from the will of majorities. nor relax
under the force of prevalent evil. 1t
is its own witness, because all men
feel the force of temptation, and in
stinctively attribute to invincible in
tegrity, divine origin and alliance.
The other and most convincing evil
dence which Christianity offers. is its
power to purify, exalt and control
mans emotions. Feeling is not re.
Ilgion, for men feel intensely and in
a wide range without it, but it has
the power to transform and regulate
feeling as nothing else can. Educa-
tiOn may to some degree modify and
discipline the emotions, but only su.
perticially. Christianity gOes at once
to the very core of being, probes
mans heart, and thus casts its salt
into the fountain Of feeling. Mans
strongest emotions are desire of praise
dread of death, and remorse. The
mystery of his existence, the keen
sense OF right and wrong, the vanity
0fearthly acquisitions, and the yearn-
ing for immortality, are facts and ex.
periences that produce strong and
conflicting emotions. These feelings
make breach in his soul which can.
not be fortified against the approach
of Christianity, and are a mighty
presumption in its favor. It's abid.
ing authorization is, that it offers
the only palliative to this chaotic
and hopeless condition of man. Else,
his existence is an enigma, his life a
farce, and his death a sad tragedy.
The Gospel appeals chiefly to mans
feelings. The sense of responsibility
to God, the consciousness of guilt,
the exercise of repentance, the sur.
render to God, and the sense of par.
don, are but successive stages of feel.
ing. Christianity eradicates all i'm.
pure, malevOlent and repining feel
ings, and produces love, fellowship
and resignation to the will of God.
But religion is not only emotional in
its nature and operation, but brings
all mans emotions under its control,
Anger. instead of an unmanageable
frenzy, becomes an even and rational
force. Despair is ayerted. ambition
is directed to worthy ends. Joy be-
comes constant guest. and peace
reigns. We should not attempt or
desire to suppress religious emotion,
so that it is genuine and persistent.
In a recent class-meeting, all but two
spoke without apparent feeling. One
of these was an illiterate young man,
but full of the Holy Ghost. The
other was blind man. These two
had more influence than twenty 9th.
ers who spoke. for they gave evidence
of a secret spiritual power operating
in them. That refinement of religi.
Gus taste, now so common, which
frOwns upon all indications of feel
ing, Is a device of Satan, the spirit
of the world, and one of the worst
enemies that Christianity has ever
encountered, because it destroys its
chief means of making Itself felt in
society. When the very stones might
cry out at the inroads of sin, or the
saving grace of Christ, Christians are
told that 1t is unbec0ming to weep or
shout! All religious experience and
prayer must be uttered in an unim.
passiOned way, or some delicate soul
will be offended. and a response is
now previously out of taste in some
Methodist churches Man is consti-
f,,N kO fonI onI - o.,n.oo.