Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1888-04-27

salvation.
3. II the missionary societies and 9TH
er similar organizations were necessary,
we must come nearly to the 18th CEN
fury.
I. II instrumental music was necessa-
~ to the worship and to salvation, we
must come to the beginning OF the sth |
century, and begin with the Church of
Rome. Few of the protestant churches, |
or others till recently had it, or ii it is
necessary, ever worshiped acceptably till
very recently.
But the christian system, as we have |
seen, was perfect without these things. |
God put into il and made part OF il all
sary to it, and all that should be or can
be in it, without ofense to God or evil
to the church.
There were things the early christians
could not have had; as the printing press,
railroads, the use OF steam, electricity,
etc. But they could have had every one
of the above named disturbing elements,
human creeds, party names, human or
ginizations, the mourner's bench, instru-
mental music, etc. And hence, the very
/ fact that they did not have them is posi-
tive proof that they did not want them.
/ LIT this, also, be well considered and set
tied. Then the question remains:
|. Shall we have these unnecessary
things Tor the pleasure OF men-not to
please Goi-when We see and know
their effects are evil, and evil continu-
ally?
/ H. The closing argument in favor of
the perfection of the christian system is
double, negative; then positive.
|. We examine to see if there is even
one dark spot upon it. What evil, in
justice or wrong does it enjoin or toler-
ate? Examine and see. You answer,
rs all must, not one. Jeptha may be
blamed for his rash vow; not God, not
the bible. David may be blamed for his
cruelty and wrongs; not the bible, nor
the God of the bible. David was man
after Gods own heart when he was
young and poor; not when he was rich
and great. What mistakes we make by
not reading more closely.
p What good thing is left out OF the
christian system? Look all over it and
determine. You answer again-not one.
Not one! Whatsoever things are true,
honest, just pure, lovely, Of good report;
if there be any other virtue, any praise,
think on these things" Phil. rs. "No
cook thing will be withheld from them
that walk uprightly." Ps. SAIL.
Here then We might close with a sys-
TEN spotless and "whiter than snow" a
system that absolutely lacks "no good
things" which can be said of no other
system under the whole heavens OF the
Lord. in the entire history OF men.
But to be sure this is understood, let
us note:
There are many good things in all the
J human organizations, and We gladly rec
ognize this fact. There are .many good
= things, and many good people in each,
u in all of the surrounding denominations
r And we are all glad OF this. There may
! he some good in the mourner's bench
G perhaps, though | think it would b,
t hard to find. There is some good in in
: strumental music, in lis proper place
II And we are all thankful for it. Ii there
IL is any good in human creeds and party
II names would willingly see it, 30 far
do not. But here is the emphatic and
= triumphant idea, indisputable and clear
e in this investigation, viz:
, All the good in all these is in this Ill
vinelyperiectedc christian SYSTEM! Their,
: | might use hundred exclamation
II points and yet not express all the glorie,
n of this fact.
Y Thus: All the good there j. in tn,
e temperance work is christianity; all the
l. good in all the missionary and benevo
: lent societies is in christianity; all tn,
i good in all Romansm and in all prot est
u antism, all sects and parties, is in thi'
= divinely perfect system. 1t is perfec
N in itself 1t was perfect before any o
I these disturbing elements existed ant
y would be perfect now, ii every one o
them was blotted out of existence dc
! not need any of them. am in no wa,
- d pend on them or beholden TO then
= forany good thing. Ineed make no war OF
g them, but they have not one good thin,
that have not got without membership
= in any of them. Were member OF
70 dozen OF them, or all OF them, it woul,
), add no goods things 10 me. And thei
" they all have some errors and evils, t.
,, say the least. This system is free iron
!" all OF them. 1t has all Of the good an'
none of the bad. They have to chang
y theirs, alter, amend, re-arrange AM
= strengthen. This, like its Author, is tn
: same yesterday, to-day and forever
To this society | invite you. VIII
would not be christian? The Lor'
,r help us to be wise.
The Massachusetts legislature, l01 /
rs, defeated the woman's municipal sui