Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-08-01

TO the fact that you and sometimes
teYribly misrspresent CArtstianftyf
We think ourselves Representatives Of
religion. Bot do you not think that We
very often only represent our o,cn narrow
conceptions Of what religion isf i tell
you there 10 far less rebellion against the
truth than We often imagine. II one 20
about among his fellow-men 10 sympa-
thetlc and brotherly and Christ-lfke way,
he will find to his increasing surprise,
that many q man, of whom he has not
thought, has sober moments, and long
Ing desire for what THE rorld cannot gfre.
A simple belief on our part is not sum
cient. ''whosoever shall do the will OF
my Father which 10 In heaven" said
Christ, "the same ID my brother" Here
brotherhood 10 predicated OF doing.
Again, "Ye are my disciples II ye do
whatsoever command you."
What Il the churchf We naturally
answer, q body Of Christians who have
made q public profession Of the Chris
tlan religion. But such Q body may, or
may not, be church. The church on
earth consists In goodness aud truth,
and those who have the truth, those who
practice love and goodness and truth,
are members Of Il. No external organ
izations or formal assent to creed con-
stitute q church. "whosoever shall DO
the will Of my father, the same is my
brother, and sister, and mother" said
Jesus. And what Ia the Divine Willy
"DO Justly, love mercy, and walk hum
bly, with thy Cod"
Mr.. Murray once said, "Error can never
be headed of here In Boston by preach
Ing and praying alone," and that 10
equally true 10 South Paris, and every
where. Incidence can never overcome
activity. The teaching and the feeding
OF the multitude must 20 together.
A belief without any adequate express
sion In acts ls like an organ, when oil rs
pipes are silent, and Its keys untouched.
IL IL dumb. IL charms no one, 1t attracts
no one. But bring forth the player.
Let him press the keys, let the dead air
In all the choral columns be started Into
vibrations, and how the anthem swells,
and how hearts are lifted on the waves
OF sound, and all the thousands applaud,
some with their hands, others with eyes
filled with happy tears. That which
was dumb has spoken, and the multitude
hasten to give 1t praise.
SO II is with q creed. Write 1t out
with whatever care you can. Let 1t be
perfect In Its phraseology, skillful In Its
definitions, indlsputable in Its authority,
this and nothing more, and who cares
for ity Does 1t touch any ones heart !
Does It gain adherentsS No. The
world will never again fight over words
as 1t once did. There will be no more
church councils like the council Of Trent
to last twenty years. Men are too busy
to spend half lifetime in de-
batting theological dogmas. But bring
forth a man who has good creed which
In acts-let him say III love
God with all my heart, and my nelghbor
as myself" and let him shoe Il, and men
will point to him and say: "a religion
which will make q man act as Mr.. A.
does, Is the religion for me-" And so
religion IL honored by his conduct and
his creed gains adherents.
Ny friends, this Is the religion OF Jesus
religion that Is unselfish-l
that lives to do good to men, that seeks
by Cody life to lift this world up to
God.
Notice tho command OF God In our
text: "Do justly" We are not told that
we must lore to do justly. But we must
be honest and harmless whether we like
II or not. We must lore 'mercy." But
here God takes me beyond myself.
cannot love or hate ut will, God must
change my nature, and by His grace
can love mercy and do Justly.
must walk humbly ,eith God. There
Il a God, a man can walk with Him.
Let us, my friends, take no mans author.
ity In matters of duty. The source OF
all authority and power is God. And
what does lie say to you and to me.
"what doth the Lord require OF thee,
but to do Justly, to love mercy, and to
walk humbly with thy GodF