Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-07-03

pure and spiritual, to those desires and
emotions which some men would persuade
us are only dreams He ennobles our nu-
turc by revealing its grandest capacities,
aud calling forth immortal powers of love
and thought and action.
Not less assuring is the doctrine of
Christ concerning Il future life. He does
not speak of precious hopes and beautiful
analOgies. He lifts the curtain of the
grave, and shows Us the vistas of endless
life. He speaks of heavenly things as one
who has descended CAT of heaven and
knows where of he speaks.
3. Accusing Christ thus as one Master
in thought receiving ON his authority the
vital truths OF religion, we find ourselves
in possession OF Il reasonable, satisfying
and moral faith, which stands the test of
experience, ana bee ONES more clear and
firm the longer we live in it. Even if our
faith ut first were forced to rest upon the
simple ipsc diUit of Christ, it would re-
celve an eVer-grOwlng strength from man
itold resources Accept these doctrines of
Christ, and they place as instantly in
harmonious relation to the universe. And
if we live in these doctrines we find that
they bear the test of practice, bringing us
into moral peace and JOY and power.
And now what are the practical conclu-
siOns to be drawn from this view of Chris
tianty? How is it to affect our thinking
and speaking and acting
| First, since Christianity begins With
personal relation to Christ ought not our
| first and greatest care to be- by patient and
earnest study, truly and deeply to appre-
bend his person and character Too often
are we in danger of regarding him as Il
mere ideal, persOnitication. theological
mechanism. Let us beware of any system
which would rob us of his real humanity
| for upon that rests his divinity. Let us
draw near to his humanity, for in that his
divinity is revealed. Let us beware, above
all, of attempting to limit his work by any
one theory, or figure of speech. or set OF
phrases. We can not bound Christ with
a theory or exhaust him in Il word,
He stands not in this or that al
tar-niche of the great cathedral of
Christendom lit by the dim lamp which
piOus hands have swung before him, but
high above all, in the blended radiance of
the eternal sunshine.
Secondly let us never make, nor suffer
to he made any separation between the
person of Christ and his doctrine The
more glorious and beautiful he appears to
US, the more potent Is the claim of his
teachings upon our implicit belief and
proclamation. The more we love Christ
personally, the more faithful we shall be
to study, receive and proclaim all the
truths which he taught.
Finally, in all this our ruling spirit must
be that of personal loyalty to the Lord
Jesus. Let this be our test of truth
what does Jesus teach This is the sol
vent Tor all doubts. Let TINS DE our tesl
OF acton what does Christ command
This Is the clue To lead us safely through
the labyrinthine perpleXitieS of life.
Speaking, as now do, to those who are
called to bear part in the mighty intel
lectual and social conflicts of our age
and whose feet now linger for ont
; tleeting moment on the threshold o
this quiet and beloved home befor,
they step ont into the great wOrld-stand
ing beside you, my brothers. as one who's,
work will be i'll the same day, in the same
field, and feeling with you the ardent long
ing to quit ourselves like men," to know