The herald., 1895-05-04

OF God in the Reformation and the perse =
cution of the reformers and evangelists
who saw that revelation and proclaimed
1t abroad. 1t is this sin which most
mortalIy besets the Protestant church OF
today-can it be that Protestantism in
its turn will persecute those who behold
the social revelation of God in Christ and
receive aud declare the living inspiration
of that revclation?
The present manifestation of Christ in
the world is full of hope for the future of
the church. full of light upon the future
church however obstinate and selfish
merely theological and official religion
may prove.
The social movement has been con-
viction of sin and revelation of Christ
to the church, within which are multi
tudes of eager disciples who only need to
know Christ's truth to obey it unto
DEATH it can neither escape the law of
retribution which purifies, nor the law
of vicariousness by which it must guide
society through the social retribution and
redemption. But the national social
pain may become matchless and
glorious sname to the church, if it will
faca its participation in the social wrong
and surrender to the spirit ana agony OF
social regeneration.
The power of God may rest upon the
church of today in such measure as it has
never rested upon associated men if the
church will glory in its intirmity and un-
derstand it's need of social change of
heart. The political realization of Chris
tianity will issue in the divine tablish-
ment Of the church in the state. The
junction of church and state will become
so related to society as society becomes
more Christianly organized. that their
union will be naturally accomplished by
spiritual forces through moral processes.
hoy MI I, 70 off Nv IT
ron. "for the union of church and state.
and we need no plan; the problem of their
union is one which God will unfold as
man fultils the righteousness of Christ.
But we can make no greater mistake than
to suppose that the separation of church
and state is the final solution of the prob
lem of their relations. If religion is life.
then politics is life, and the organization
of the two must be one. The Christian
church of the Christian state will not
come through the adoption of methods.
through the revisiOns and reconciliat.Ons
of creeds, through the balancing of inter
ests and opinions, through ecclesiastical
legislation, but through the immersion of
men in the Christ spirit and the fusion
of all interests, opinions and politics in
the one common purpose to fulfill the So
ciety of the kingdom of Christ's righte-
business on the earth.
Even now the way opens for the church
true position of throneship in the social
organization-the position which it does
not now occupy and has fallen short of
in the past, but will occupy in the day. of
it's regeneration. The church of today
has it in its power to unotficially solve the
problem of society in all nations and it
ought. The people will accept the authori-
ity and freedom of churcn that is in
truth the center from which Christ shall
govern the world through his law Of sacri-
flee; and the Christian revival of our ma
tion will be step in the preparation of
the world for the divine absolutlsm Of
love that shall issue eternally from the
holy irnperial church.