The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-14
BAPTISTS IN SESSION.
CONTINUED from FRS; Page)

ana more. IT was by these that CHRIS
| tianity itself was saved from the Vagaiies
and heresies OF those false prophecies
by which the doctrinal integrity OF the
| early church was more threatened from
within than from without. one may
| grow weary OF the attcnuations rehhe-
| ments and exaggerations. OF the micro
| scoplc analysis. OF the awkward synthc-
| sis. and Of tohe sweeping CONGRATULATIONS
| Of the scholastscism OF the earlier unes'
! and AT the same time recognize that III
the Must OF IL all. Christian truth WAS 20
| smplined and found such order ana cas-
| sincation as TO commend II 10 the scien-
tinc and phiosophic spirit OF the ages.
| Moreover. these great instruments and
declarations OF faith have been the in
| valuable educational agencies OF the
| church 1t Is to be seriously doubted
whether the modern method has yet dem
| onstrated its superiority over the old.
! Without controversy. no agency OF IN
struction has ever produced such rich
Christian thought. or such stalwart CHRIS
tian character. as the Shorter catechism
and other similar presentation Of truth.
The Bible and the Bible alone. Is. to be
sure. the religion of Protestants and as
the truths and facts OF science are more
important than science itself. so the facts
and truths Of the Bible are vastly more
imnortant Fan any statement or arrange
,nent Of IAem But IL would he intellectual
folly TO declare that religion and Chris
tianity would be stronger ana purer WIN
ont them. Let us be thankful for all OF
those forms that have demonstrated the
correlation and harmony of all the facts
truths and doctrines that constitute the
faith.
COMPLETENESS OF FAITH.
Still further there IS indicated u''
completeness OF the faith. II wac
once ard once FOR oil. delivered u',o
he saints. Ar, thou He that shou"-
come. or look We for another i !"
ael,eS neither ccucorni'T INC
nor the message? There IS 70 DC IN
orher Lord. and therefore no other word
only one Lord and only one ial'h'
the one is to remain until all things
are put under him. the other is TO abide
az the magma charter of His universal
and everlasting kingdom. Otherwise
there would have been small satisfaction
20 the great apostle TO have known
that he had kept the faith" II II hac
been so that later on something might
have been taken from IT, or something
Use added to il. there would have been
confusion and uncertainty. instead q.
ccrtentment and satisfaction. in this re
Prospect Of His life and service. The
faith is not incpient ard embryonic OF
further evolution ard fuller life II e
-ot the Martial promise but the full
f-uition: not the meaero prophecy. nut
the perfect fulhlmcnt. II is not SIM
nIv the blade but the blade the ear. and
the full corn IN the or ali IN ONO Thoro
may come. and indeed. It might be wei
THAT there should come. reetatcment. re-
arrangement and readiustment according
20 emergency and ViCissitude; but these
are tho accidents and Incidents Of human
thought and convenience ana do not NJ
al affect the stability and compliance
II the faith. As in nature science in
vents nothing new. and evolves nothing
into life; bat simply discovers. inter
prets. and arranges that which already
existed; so Is our faith. there IS nothing
essentially new to be had by any process
Of evolution or elaboration.
Clearer and fuller apprehension truer
and wiser interpretations. simpler AMI
better statement. broader ana correcter
application 10 human exieercy. there.
there may be: but nothing more IS T. 30
added 10. and nothing at AN TO be taken
from, the essential TACT ard doctrine Of
the apostolic faith. rhe only now the
ologoy then possible to the Christian
:aith is a fuller and clearer understand
ing Of the oid-"He asked him If he saw
aueht And he looked Up and said !
see mon as trees walking. After that he
Out his hands Sgain upon mis- eyes. and
made HIM look up and he was restored
and saw every man clearly" The same
men at first seen vaguely and uncer-
tainly were afterw0rd seen clearly and
fully So it may be that others coming
after ~ may see more clearly and fully
than We DO now; but We see one and tho
-nme thing. we dimA and family. they
more clearly and certainly. Who shall
declare that this is not possible. and
who that loves the Truth shall complain
If II shall be so? We who see through
glass darby. seeing after while race
"a face. shall see the same truth pu'
perfectIy and July. Not that the 1rllA
changes. but the mist Of ,he enNifonneh.
shall be lifted and the vision cleared a"'
hrcadeued. This is unchanseaoieheS
without stagnati)n. completeness WITHOUT
rightly. and immutabnity with the 20
tcncv and virdity Of the eveiiastin'
Truth. rho hammers and hammerer.
and The fashion Of the iron wrought upo'
the anvil nav De many. very many pn
the anvil OF our faith remains one ana
the same through the gen aroiions.
LAST eve paused besides a blacksmith
door.
And heard tho anvil ring the vesper
clime.
Then. loolling in. 7 saw upon the foo
old hammers. worn with beating year
of time.
How many anvils have you had, SAID J.
70 wear and break the hammers soy
Only one. said he: then said, with twink
ling eve.
The anvil wears the hammers out you
know.
n. TIE KEEPING OF 1T.
Such is the faith the apostle kept J.
IS significant and suggestive that II was
out Of this attitude TO the faith that he
received the largest satisfaction. He had
hcer a great learner. a great preacher
and teacher. and great defender OF
the faith: hut now IN this supreme mo-
mont ne found less satisfaction in these
things than in that he had been faith-
mi keepcr of the faith. In in'imacics
NTH bis Master in visions and dreams.
IN third heavens hearing. things no.
,ou.frl IN rencat. In the pleuitude OF inc
.ro.;o, = tho Snirit. he had hfen ac-
co-acd high PRIVILEGES as learner AN
d,ecirle Of the faith: in large learning.
t., r,as,criv argument. in rnatchless Go
,,orca IN undving literary monument
:, r,,,oha-lees conventions. end IN count
Ice. cbu-chos PLANTED and norr'shed.
h,,,d;rr everywhere upon foundations
80, toid nv other mon he had been e