The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1890-11-07
AN ABLE SERMON.

A sermon preached at ST. Johns
Episcopal Church on Sunday morning
last by Rev. Arthur r. Taylor, and
printed at the request of some friends.
"In accordance with the annual custom OF the
Church Unity Society, the clergy generally are
requested to preach on the subject OF "Church
Unity and to offer special intercessions Tor the
reunion OF Christendom, on the twenty-nrst
Sunday after Trinity"
In obedience to this request, which has fosS
some time past appeared in the churcn papers
take as the mornings text the 2Sth verse OF
the 18th chapter of the Acts OF the AposGles
FOR it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and TO
us, to lay upon you no greater burden than
/ think this 18th chapter of the Acts one of the
most interesting in the New Testament SCRIPT
ures, for it contains an account Oh an earry
was what has brought about not only gooo
many councils but good deal OF trouble III Sne
world-the presence OF some men WIN noppy
There were certain ones who had received the
Christian faith, Pharisees, the scriptures tell us
they werel. who were no sooner within the church
than they began to hunger and thirst and pant
for specialties 1--WE want something peculiar
and distinctive " said they, land all converts
ought to be circumcised." Here is the old crav-
ing of humanity for excluslveness. IL was not
enough that men should see Chrsts way as the
true way and own themselves his followers.
Some narrow trade mark was demanded-some
countersign. This little circumstance shows us
sectarianism at work in the apostolic church
at work in the first century, and so council
was held to discuss the question, and to deter
mine whether any extras should be demanded OF
those who were lipI to live a Christian life. 1t
was a very short council and there can be no
mistaking its decision. After some contention,
st. Peter rose, the same st. Peter who had HIM
self at one time thought specialties very good
and necessary things, but had changed his mind.
We can almost see the impulsive Apostle as he
springs to his feet and says why tempt ye
God to put a yoke upon the neck of the dlsC1p-
les which neither our fathers or we were able to
bear?'' Little doubt as to his attitude, surely
Then comes silence while st. Barnabas ana 81
Paul tell of their successful missionary WORK,
and afterwards there rises st. James and says
quietly: "My judgment is that we trouble not
them who from among the Gentlles turned TO
God but that we write unto them that they abb
stain from the poutions of idols and from
fornication, and from what is strangled and
from blood" The meaning OF part OF this alb
stinence is not clear to us now, but we may be
sure having the times in mind. that 1T was So
The opinion prevailed there were to be no ex-
tras Certain vices land certain customs which
in the opinion of the times were vices were to be
summed But the council absolutely refused to
copyright any religions speciality The letter
which they prepared was short and to the point
For as much as we have heard, that certain ones
which went out from us have troubled you, say
ing. We must be circumcised and keep the law;
to whom we gave no such commandment: 1t
seemed good unto us being assembled with one
accord, to send chosen men unto you with our
beloved Barnabas and Paul. men that haZarded
their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who
shall also tell you the same things by mouth
For" here is the text, lit seemed good to the
Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no
greater burden than these necessary things" the
necessary things being those named by ST. James
From which, concludes the letter, If We keep
yourselves, you shall do well. Fare We well' 1t
was as the council had said live clean life,
make Christ your present Saviour from the
vices that surround and beckonyou Live your
faith, but be sure that no mans pet fancy and
no doctrinal countersign are to be forced upon
you. l can have no doubt that a good spirit
guided that wise and Catholic council to its wise
and Catholic decision And think that that
ChriStendom to-day.
For the pharisee with his pet notion is always
the father of a sect. Some personal view or 9TH
er gets control of him aud rules him. He is not
satisfied to hold that view himself; he wants to
make it part or universal and necessary truth
He wants to rivet all men down to it. Before