New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-01
HOW TO READ CREEDS.
THE REV. DIR. MENTIONS LAST SERMON
FOR THE SEASON.
THEY REST NOT ON THE AUTHORITY OF
CHRIST, BUT ON THAT OF THE coUN-

sermon Of the season yesterday at All Souls Protestant
Episcopal Church, Mndlsonave. and Sixty -sixthst'
His subject was How to Read the Creed ana MS
text was from Acts III, 30. "Understandest thou
what fhou readest7n These are few Of the thoughts
which he expressed
"A creed is to be read understanding its true
authority No creed rests upon the authority OF CHRIST
Himself Creeds do rest apparently on the authority
of the Councils which issued them. But this Is not
all that might be desired. Universal Council Is not
a svnonvm for the Almighty. Creeds not tran
scripts Of some Heavenly manuscript set up from copy
brought down by little angels. Constantine mdeeo'
commanded the assembled bishops TO receive the
DEGREES of the Council of Nice dictates Of the Holy
Spirit but then Constantine is open to the suspicion
OF not being an expert in things Of the Spirit
"The story of many Of the Councils Is tale OF
violent and acrimonious disputes Of metaphysical hair
splitting theological uggery of bitter passions break
ing forth into words OF execration, WIN anathemas
instead OF benedctions scene OF clenched fists ana
drawn swords Of soldiers keeping bishops from each
others throats Of bloody and steathy as
sassnaons The DEGREES Of such Councils plainly
not matters Of penay inspiration by any spirit whose
dominating characteristic is holiness.
"A creed to be read Alright must be read In tho
light Of the larger life of faith out of which 1t springs
As you see the truth in your neighbours creed, you
will better see the truth in your own creed TO
know the creeds of other religions is to gain many
a cew TO the meaning Of our Christian creeds. What
is the prospect for intellectual understanding OF us
great creeds II a church practically reissues that
Edlct of the Fourth Council of Carthage-'No Bishop
shall read GENTLE booki
"A creed Is to be read as including a philosophy
which can be rightly interpreted only by the philoso
phcally minded. The language OF the Nicene Creeo
concerning the Incarnation IS pure philosophy
a creed is to be read form OF sound words,
which may not only be said but be sung. creed
dealing with transcendent themes must not only
phosophize 10 must poetiLethus to interpret through
the Imagination the mysteries OF the faith Goa Is
declared to be the Maker Of Heaven and EARTH Yet
is the Almighty celestial carpenter Creation Is not
manufacture but growth OF Christ 1t is declared
that lie assembled into Heaven and sitteth on the
right hand OF the Father The Most High has no
right hand. The throne of Christ Is OF naught winch
can be seem 1t Is poetic statement OF the truth
that Christ is enthroned power in the spirit spheres
such metaphors plainly to be read not literally
but fguratively. 80
"A sensible man does not charge q child with in
sincerity in using the language of imagination. Such
intelgences and amenities reserved for the saints
in dealing with one anothers faiths When you nnd
creed which has only meaning, you may be sure
thers is no deep meaning in 1t whatsoever I'D III
sist on one and the same reading OF creed Is posi-
h,a only in the case Of machine men reading ma
chine creed chain gang not the type OF the march
OF man after the spirit Of truth
- creed must be read as having growing meanings
The creed which IS TO make room for a growing man
must be roomy must have large thoughts 10 grow up
into and elastic words to admit OF such expansion
dyed the final creed Is contradiction IN TERMS IL
assumes the Infallibe which its origin dlsclams and
denies Itself as the living growth OF the human spirit
which Is its only Justification It must be rcread with
everv new knowledge. This need not necessitate a
change OF cceds.
BEFORE country boys new trousers bought his
mother lets down the tucls in the old ones "A Green
cobblcrs work may be dispensed With only by creeds
being not thing to be mended, but an organism to
grow and by itself putting forth shoots. fixed
and final body OF divinity is dead body Of divinity,
theological corpse.
Bark is not good for food but without 1t tho fruit
would not grow. Nature does ifot supply extracts
for our nourishment, and Nature knows what she Is
about. faith always generates enough OF woocy hore
to bark we'll in vital organism. As fast as any tissue
~ the creed subserves its function of nutrment, it will
in becoming dead wood pass to the other function
OF conserving that which is sti vital
"A creed TO be read in the light OF its central truth
That heart of the creed is unquesonaby moral truth
In Jesus Christ God Is to be goodness The Nj
Gene Creed is then to end, and that end is
character Right belief Is a belief which helps us
TO rig life. DO not let ybur zeal for the faith cause
you TO lose faith. Walk in the trust of tic Heavenly
Father which Christ inspires, follow the lie which
Christ patterns become partakers OF the divine nature
goodness and so shall you know the very heart Of your
creed.
"Tlnis reading your creed from within by its nmoSt
secret you will not read mems lives by their beliefs,
but their beliefs by their lives However important
NAV be right thinking one thing supremacy important
is right living We must, therefore, true Christians
fellowship character Creeds have been too general
used as clubs convince heretcs OF their error by stun
ming them We may not now think OF erasng the creed
from the church walls Let it stand there-the form OF
sound words which have received from our lauleis
and would hand on TO our children.
60 uhoS0nhiZe
Of the faith let us hold the nobest formula OF the
ages which gathers the universal spiritual truths OF
man and the historic faiths Of Christianity into
mystic form, shaped in the minds OF the greatest
thinkers OF antiquity. true s to our deepest thlih
Ing But let that creed stand longer over the door
way OF the church n test Of the fellowship which
should be conditioned only by the desire to follow the
Lord Christ In the blessed steps of His most holy life
thus to bar ont some faithful souls from the blessed
company of all faithful people,
Let IL stand over the altar the pattern and
standing of the churchs thinking, after which each
Of us Is 20 conform his own thinking best he can
1t was layman, according to the ecclesiastical his
toriaD Socrates who rose IN the Council OF Nice and
silenced the controversial discussions OF the BISHOPS
by reminding them that Christ came not TO teach
dalectics but 10 ncucate faith and good works.
DR.. Newton illustrated the inconsistencies G. ind
vdual Christian principles by reading this - entity
published letter: o-,, ., ,ooo
"To Ye Aged and Beloved, Mr.. John Iggnson
There be soa nSw S S more " Se 6erec and %a
nants called Quakers with W. Penn who is the chief
scamp at the head of them. The General Court has
accorilnCly given secret orders TO Master Malachi
IIuscott OF the brig Porpolse to way lay the said
Welcome slyly near the Cape of Cod as may be-
and make captive the said Fem and his ungodly
crew so thai the Lord may be glOrfed and not
mocked on the soil OF this new country with the
made by selling the whole lot to Barbados where
slaves fetch good prices in rum and sugar, and we
shall not only do the Lord great service By Furnishing
the wicked but we shall make great good for His
minister and people.
aYours in ye bowels Of Christ,
COTTON MATHER.n
THE RESTORATION OF THE BIBLE.
in