The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1891-10-07

where she was as densely ignorant
as blind puppy about the glories
of an autumn day.
#x*
Two men once stood on a street
where rich people were going to
church in their carriages. One said
to the other, "Well, they can't 90 to
heaven in their carriages" Now,
the man who thus spoke thought he
was condemning vanity and pride
of display, when he was only sooth-
ing his own poverty and wounded
self-love; and what he thought was
piety was only envy taking refuge
and concealing itself under the
cloak of humility and a spirit set
on heavenly things.
Consciousness frequently dis
guises itself under the pretense of
looking after the weli-being of
others; a love of movement and ex-
element is often taken for religious
zeal, and an enthusiasm quickly
kindled for pious fervor.
~
So people practice receptions on
themselves in regard to their reli-
gious character.
There is ritualism of form. but
also a ritualism of doctrine-a ritu-
alism of feeling and ritualism of
practice.
~
One says, cam l not in commu-
Mon with the holy father, the Pope.
successor of st. Peter ? l honor the
Virgin Mary, invoke saints, 90 to
mass, believe in the holy Catholic
Church, go to confession, and be-
lieve all the Church believes. Surely
| am Christian"
r.
Another: 81 am in the Church un-
der the rule of bishops, jure dioiao
right of episcopacy; been regene-
rated in baptism; holy hands upon
me in confirmation; receive Sacra-
ment of the Supper from ordained
hands in succession from apostles;
keep Lent, Good Friday; use our
beautiful Liturgy. Why am l not
a Christian? Am l not in The
Church, the Body of Christi"
Another: "Was [ not happy in a
glorious old-fashioned camp-meet-
ing? All, the groans and the songs
and the prayers Did not see nv
Saviour plain as l see you? | know
| was converted. 1t was a regular
old-time John Wesley revival; got
religion right there at the mourner's
bench"
Another: "Have | not taken up
the cross, been down under the wa
ter, buried in the liquid grave, be-
long to the only genuine, real, pure
believ rs baptism church he
Baptist-only church whose baptism
represents death, burial, resurrection
of Jesus ? l have been baptised as
Jesus was. He says follow me; [ /
have done it, into and out of and
under the water"
~
Another: cam l not a member of
the pure, venerable, apostolic Pres
byterlan Church, going away back |
beyond the apostles to Abraham
only church in doctrine, worship,
organization, conformed to apostolic |
rule and practice, very cream and
essence of Bible doctrine, sound in
everything, even to the hem and
tassel Of her arments-church of !
confessors, martyrs, saints and spirit |
ual heroes ?"
Many thus talk who have no part
in Christ, because they have no
fruits to show in heart or life of real
holiness. They are ritualists of
form, or doctrine, or feeling.
#x*
Is religion the world in which we
live and move and have our being? |
Is it something we take up as a task |
and lay down with JOY, glad to es-
cape from it? Or is it our home. |
our rest, our real life, our natural |
orbit, world in which we delight to
be as bird in air, fish in water, child |
in his fathers house, his home, his
rest?
***
Our Northern Presbyterians are
at work revising "The Confession"
Here is what a distinguished scholar
says of it as it stands:
No creed except that of Trent
was composed with such delibera-
ton, none of modern times has had
so great an influence. 1t has for it's
basis the system of faith known as