The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1892-05-11
PRACTICAL HERESY.

oily of the preachers. With some
of these it is esteemed high priv
ilege and peculiar glory to propagate
error, but many other members of
the Church are practically denying
truths of fundamental Importance
not by word of mouth, but by
shameful neglect of duty. One of
the worst mistakes that was ever
committed, is the common notion
of church members that the gospel
was entrusted to priestly class, by
whom it must be communicated to
the world. We have inherited from
Rome the general impression that
religious propagandism is an ex-
elusive function of clerical orders,
and that it is the business of lay
men to be reverent recipients of
priestly ministrations. We have
aimost lost the equally important
truth that each individual is con-
stituted living agent for the ex-
tension to others of the spiritual
life he processes to enjoy. We
hear great deal about contribu-
tions of money to send others into
the work, but realise too little the
import of that significant injunc-
ton, "Let him that heareth say
come"
We regard the ignoring of this
duty as one of the most deadly
heresies, and the worst of it is it's
extensive prevalence. Gambetta
denounced cIericalism as the curse
of France. But that form of it
which the Church most fondly
cherishes is the curse of Christiani-
ty. 1t proposes to leave the saliva
ton of our neighbors altogether to
an official class, and to extend the
faith only by proxy. The conse-
quence is an almost universal
agreement to Danish the gospel
from social intercourse. Salvation
is regarded as matter of profess
sional advice, like medical or legal
lore, and the ordinary Christian
seems to feel that religious sugges-
ton to others is peculiar function
reserved to the clergy.
The Church needs a revolution
in it's spirit, not in it's methods.
We must recover a lost principle,
that every true disciple is COM
missioned and commanded to do
what the triumphant Church will
not need to do-say to his neighbor
Know the Lord" Unbelief is
ever asking, with Cain-like petu-
lance, Gam my brothers. keeper"
But the Bible as constantly replies,
" None of US liveth to himself, and
no man dieth to himself" Each
of us is his brothers keeper, and
we are as much bound to prevent
spiritual as temporal injury and
death The concealment of a known
remedy for prevalent disease is con
demned by every enlightened COM
munity, and unconcern for another's
safety is a recognised mark through
out the world of selfish heart.
The gospel is a leaven. 1t is
designed to extend its influence by
contact, particle with particle, man
with man. The official ministra-
tion of apostles and evangelists was
never intended to be exclusive of
other labors. The history of
the apostolic Church refutes the
thought. Such a restriction would
be directly in conflict with the free
offer Of salvation. For if whosoever
will may come and take the water
Of life, who can condemn its gratui-
tous distributions But the re-
corded facts clearly reveal the uni
versatility Of this service. Public
proclamation of the gospel may be
confined to ordained men as rigo-
rously as we please, but the COM
munication of the good news from
one to another is plainly indicated
az the work of the membership at
large. The fret announcement of