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

tintely better have no Westinghouse,
no organ at hom' or in the church no
hymn book or tuuiny fork, etc, than to
have "dscord among brethren" or put .
stumbling blocks in the way Of sinners.
This much is settled and clear.
Matters OF worship are plain and only |
they are necessary to salvation. With |
out command there can b, no obedi- |
cnce, or disobadiencc. The things in |
different" as Mr.. Lack would saw, j. q. /
our opinions conveniencrs and prefer
ences, are, one AMI all, out of the pale
of worship. and far removed from the
conditions OF salvation II must, then,
be utterly in ,xpcdient aud ruinous to
urg, them to the corruption OF worship
and the hindrance OF duty, or the dis
turbance Of harmony and love. Paul
urged the Rom Ins ni:l9D t. Follow at
ter the things that make for peace and
things whercwith one may ediiy anoth-
cr," and "by love To serve one another"
This can never mean 10 serve ourselves,
b w W btNN bul way W wv ihlhi VI phi
brother or the cause OF God.
But it harmonizcs beautifully with the
sentiment Of Paul-Rom. l2:l0-"ln hon
or preierrng one another" This looks
| Christ-like and is no akin to the spirit
| that disregards and tramples on the con
sciences and feelings of brethren and de-
stroys harmony and peace for the sake
oi things known and acknowledged To be
not OF the worship or necessary, the in
vcntions OF man, for the qualification of
men in the flesh
For the sake of those who have not
carefully studied the subject | may fur
ther add:
I l. There are many things entirely OF
/ human origin and for human comfort,
and connected with worship, more or
less, that give no oifrnse to any one; as
building houses OF or ior worship, the
publishing and using books, papers,
/ hymns, tuning forks, railroads improved
systems OF musical notions, etc. | have
never heard OF any hard feelings, or dis
cord Oh account of these and similar
things. True, they are sometimes done
in such way as 10 be very offensive, as
when extravaganza, pride, selfishness,
rcsentfulness, or any evil motive is man
iicst, or when by any particular act the
rights or feelings OF brethren are disrc-
gardcd But these things are done and
may be done with no oifrnse to any one.
; And So they will he done when we love
as brethren. and know ourselves and the
name OF Jesus.
And all the things properly belonging
, 10 this chapter will be left utterly un.
| done, when they cannot he done without
oficnse to the humblest saint OF God. Sc
Paul would say of meats and of all thin
2 class; they commend us not to God. Il
= We eat, or have them, we are not the bet
| ter, rcligiously; il we have them not, VT
= are not the worse, religiously. where
fore, if meat this applies as well to ev
z erything of this class make my brother
. to offend. will never eat any flesh whlC
| the world stands, lest offend my brotE
I err See Rom, II chap. and | Cor. ST.
= chap. Thus Paul would cast forevc
. away everything OF this class, rathe
e than give oifense And he adds, Civ,
= church OF God, i. e., for things OF thi'
/ class though they are not wrong il
h themselves. They are only wrong an'
t inexpedient when they are offensive, o
"A evil in their effects.
i This lesson is imperative and of abso
= lutte importance. We can neither pleas
a God or have union and peace without oh
u serving it.
: Then, Ia be sure this point is under
i stood. | will name some humanisms tina
+ are not necessary to worship or salvation
It and that have been and are necesSaril
and always more or less offensive to som
/, OF Gods people and destructive to union
e peace and prosperity in the church. A
II Human creeds and disciplincs, human
= party names, human organizations fo
h the church, human societies and organi
l. cations in the church, for doing the worl
J. of the church, work which should b,
= done by the scriptuml organization a
c the church; as spreading the gospel a
home and abroad, all that is usually in
e cluded in the temperance question, ct,
= And here, too, we name the mourner'
= bench and instrumental music in tn
y church worship.
t That these have always been bones q
J. contention, apples of discord, destroyer
t OF peace, divsive and ruinous in thei
% effects, no one moderately acquainte,
4 with their history and moderately bless
i ed with candor and the love oitruth will
r deny. Let this point, then, be settled.
o That they are not necessary to worshi
$ or to salvation, is equally plain and clear
: and generally, ii not as universally, ad
mitted. Let this, also be fixed and set
y tied.
}, Ii some who sincerely desire to fea
+ God and work righteousness do not III
: derstand this, let them note
e |. II any of the parties, party names
l.. 4