The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-23

the plain historic facts that Jesus Christ suffer
ed under Pontius PLATE, was cruciied, dead. and
buried for man; that is all that is said about the
great sacrifice on Calvary. On the subjects of
inspiration and predestnation the creed is abso-
lutely silent Their minds are not to be troubled
with Westminster and Augsburg confessions
and the Thirty nine Articles The church recog-
nzes the fact that the faith was once and for
ever delivered to the church. and that it cannot
be changed or added to by any human being,
whether claiming infallibiity or not. She is
not nervous afraid, for she is not tied down to
any man-made creed or human statement of
divine truth One who believes her creed can
believe just as much or just as little else as he
pleases
Her liturgy. too is q great safeguard as
is her Christian year These keep the faith
ever before the people, and the faith in
its true proportion and historical perspective.
Her clergy can preach as much or as little doc
tine as they see fit for her creed and formuarles
are perpetual preachers of ''all things neces-
sary to salvation" They are not kept on the
defensive against man; they are not under the
necessity of engaging IN that Christian like bust
ness-"heresy-hunti The foundations they
know to be sure. ard they are not easily dis
turbed. If the Bible itself should be DESTROYED
they would have the church which cannot per-
lsh. the creed and the sacraments-"al things
necessary to salvation" This confidence this
sense OF security, give the true churchmen the
calmness and tolerance which were so noticea-
BILE in Farrar. Let run over history for two
or three hundred years-especially since Roman
ism was cast off by the church--and call
to mind the men who have lived and
died in the communion of the English Church
lie Will lind In many, very many of Them a GER
tain temper of mind a reasonableness, a non
prosecuting spirit, largeness of vision and an
indifference to many things which seemed of
great Importance to those who were not church
men. 1t is enough to mention their names
Ridley, Latimer, Fuller, Herbert, Barrow,
Tillotson, Stillingfeet, Kerr Bennett, Taylor,
Morrison, Stanley, Robertson Arnold, and, now,
Farrar. These men are in many respects alike;
and the only environment common to all was the
church In which they were reared. And wasn't
the result grandl OF course the church has had
unworthy sons, But her influence is wholesome
and her tendencies are right. With all due re-
spect to other Christians, do not think that
Farrar would have turned out SO we'll had his
religious training been different.
The church recognizes the law Of diversity in
unity. 1T men who driven from other
churches, nay from Christianity itself, by the
narrowness and hardness of human creeds, and
because they themselves can no longer believe in
the fire and birthstone hell, and because they
cannot but admire Parker and Claiming, would
but cast in their lot with the church which re-
quires of them absolutely nothing, but ''to deal
justly love mercy, and walk humbly before their
God" and ito believe the articles of the Chris
tian faith as contained in the Apostles Creed"
they would find the rest for their souls, which
they SO much crave.