The record-union., 1894-03-03

ist of Boston, ''that the ministers Of to-
day could deepen and strengthen their
influence by increasing largely the pro-
portion OF sermons simply Interpreting
ana directly applying to the men OF to-
day and TO present conditions the truths
OF the Bible. The Holy Scriptures have
maintained their power over human
hearts, not merely because it could be
proved that certain men wrote them by
authority from God. but because they
have Interpreted and meet the needs of
human hearts, as did the words of Him
who spoke as one having authority and
not as the scribes, They have the same
resistless power now on the lips of holy
men moved by the power of the Holy
Spirit. Ministers who learn these truths
from the open Bible, at the feet of Christ,
III sympathy with the temptations, per-
pleXities, needs and aspirations of the
men of to-day, Will want neither audi
ence nor influence. The methods of pre-
senting the Gospel haye changed much
as compared with those Of the last cents
ury. But the Gospel itself is the same.
Sinners have the same need Of it, which
nothing else can satisfy, and the pulpit,
with all its imperfections, is presenting
the Gospel OF Christ to-day with as great
permanent influence as at any time in
history"
tolerance OF Baptist Churches, and de-
claiming against their narrowness in doc
trinal Interpretation of the Holy Script
ures, do not measure their words nor see
the palpable absurdity of their claim,''
says the H'atchntdn (Bapt.) Of Boston.
They only advertise their own failure to
justify their disSentient views to the IA
yorable judgment of their brethren.
They have had the farest possible field,
and with all the favorlng conditions
which the tender relations OF the pastor
ate can furnish for their prOpagandism
Of divergent views. Ii they have failed,
and are practically expelled from the
Baptist pastorate, whose Iault is it? To lay
it TO Baptist bigotry, ignorance or intoler-
ance is false and tar cry"
I'VE believe" says the New York o.
serUer (Pres.), that the regular reading
of the Ten Commandments, pretaced
with the words, God spake all these
words,' and of the Sermon on the Mount,
and OF other portions OF Scripture, in the
public schools, does often produce a BEN
eficial effect. The words of Scripture
may be stored IN the memory in this way
for after use. Many soul has found
comfort in the confession of faith learned
under protest long years before in child
hood. Such learning may be as the
building OF a fire. The kindlings and
coal await the flame, but when the flame
comes there is a body of material upon
which ii may feed. Nor do we believe
that the reading of the Word of God in
the public school must of necessity prove
a merely mechanical process barren of
early results. The reading of Gods
Word III public school is a recognition
of the existence of moral laws and Of a
moral nature, and without supposing
that the Bible has the virtues OF a tails
man we deem it quite possible that the
hearts Of children may be reached by it's
solemn words, read before them even
without note OK comment. That whole
system of ethics will be built up IN such
a manner we would not suggest"
"Fhe State of Maryland does not mean
to be beaten by Tennessee says the
New York Examiner (Bapt.). "The lat
ter commonwealth punished an other
wise inodensive citizen for blowing in
his fields on Sunday, and Maryland has
now inflicted the statutory pains and
penalties on another farmer for husking
corn on Sunday. We congratulate both
OF these Christian commemorative on
this signal VindicatIon OF the majesty OF
the law. To be sure, in both States
thousands of saloons and brOthelS and
gambling-houses are open every Sunday,
making every one who enters them ten
fold more child of hell than he was be-
fore, but the courts have punished two
Christian mon for the much worse
offences of quietly blowing in the fields
or husking corn in barn. Fiat jltstitid,
rlldt cetUHl. We wonder that the very
stones do not cry out against such trav-
esties of justice, that Christian men do
not lift up their voices in protest against
this wicked perversion Of religion, this
insult to the name of Christ. And, in