Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1898-08-12
The Reformsr-Part Z.
From The Jetsrsonian, by ]. L. LODGE,
d. D., Editor.

Weigh thy opinion against Providence;
Snatch from his hand the balance and the rod,
Rejudge his justice, be the god OF God.
Pope.
In the present article, and perhaps in one
or two others, the writer is and will be at a
very great disadvantage The Club is not
q church, nor the editors chair a pulpit,
from which may flow every class oil ideas
intimately related TO the subject. The stu
alton is one OF manacles and letters as com.
pared to the liberty of unrestrained mental
activity. If, then, any judge the production
too general, the thought to lie too much up
on the surface, let him remember had not
the right Of choice; was not permitted to go
deeper; nor to employ the force oil practical
illustration. Beside, both from original taste
and long practice, with no curb upon crea'
ton the temptation would be irresistible 10
extend these papers to the size OF large
volume, which is unsuited to the present
purpose.
Religion is legitimate sphere of the re-
former. Being the chief concern OF all NOR
tails, demanding attention from the most
troward as from the gentle, requiring the
exercise of intellect and affections, II is liza
BILE TO more and worse abuse than any serl-
GUS matter engaging the human mind. Re
lection Is never without extenuation and
apology favorable 10 self acceptance and
profession Is often along the lines Of compro-
mise. While its true essence never changes,
alteration in the manner of its presentation
may become q necessity. Even while it was
new, its Founder employed almost infinite
variety in A teaching. Modification in con-
ditions, characteristics OF the times, advance,
or retrogression, in mental action, alert in
quiry, or torpid Indifference, may require
new forms OF expression, or return to an
old emphasis now lost. All the force oil
Latin theology may be retained, while &C
commodating the aptitudes or overcoming
the resistance of the present era. Emmer-
son AYERS there is no power can keep fact
fact. Scientifically and historically this
is, of course, true. Truth changes its vesture,
but not its nature. In its perpetual regen-
Grafton increase, not loss, of vigor results.
"All lies have sentence of death written
down against them, in Heavens chancery
itself; and, slowly or fast, advance inces'
sanity toward their hour" Restatement,
not perversion, is the privilege of the re-
former. Beyond eternal and natural limits
his activity loses the quality OF benevolence,
and becomes destructive. The eternal limit
10 the sum Of all divine attributes as exerted
upon human destiny expressed In the direc-
tons which are TO guide thought and mold
and control action, The pride OF reason,
unchecked, aspires to reform God. Hardly
venturing to admit, even To the secret self,
30 bold a thought this is the real inward
suggestion OF spirit not wholly and meekly
subject to the prime and chicfest belief. The
divine theory is properly the subject of in
vestigation, exploitation, and commentator,
but not of improvement. The natural limit
ia that set by the extent OF faculty, and the
restraint imposed upon the curiosity or pride
of intellect. The soul Of man, while great,
Ia not so great as It's Maker. Subordinate
to the greater, its first safe footing is the
humble confession that "the Judgments Of
the Supreme are unsearchable, and his ways
past finding out" Otherwise, no claim
would exist upon either reverence or lalth.
The province OF the reformer Is not, there-
fore, to make law, nor to critlclse IL; not 10
question its utility, but TO insist upon Its
just and faithful performance In the charac'
ter and order in which 1t is promulgated by
its author. Reflection becomes destructive
when Its conclusion creates doubts II can
not resolve, and conscious OF the failure of
a rash attempt, takes refuge in general
denial A thoughtful child can ask ques-
tons no philosopher can answer. The wisest
are only children when interrogating God.
If the currents oil intuition aud faith are to
be cut off which lead from grass blade to
solar heights, past flaming worlds, piercing
heavens material 10 the secret place of
glorious Majesty, we shall never come unto
Truth. If all knowledge but that the books
can give be denied, mundane wisdom shall
continue learned ignorance He who does
passes on 10 know.
The educated do not refuse to accept that
canon of criticism which subjects the Sacred
Writings as q literary production to the test
applied TO other books. The human ele-
ment in them, their dependence upon mem
DRY, tablets, parchments, and other means
for transmission, makes them properly the
subject of literary investigation and even
literary controversy. The supernatural
element in them rests OF evidence. This
can never affect the fact that they CON
tain the Word Of God to men; that their
teachings have resisted successfully every
weapon forged against them and that they
are more influential in fixing the attention
and forming the opinions and conduct OF
the worlds most thoughtful men than at
any time since their publication as the rule
of life. The twOfod revelation-that of
Nature and Providence, and the written
page-is final as TO the divine will. Fault
has been found with the later revelation be-
cause the possibility of even the slightest
error 10 the vehicle OF its transmission is
opposed 10 the idea of perfection 10 be ex-
pected 10 the work OF God. The final an
swer 10 this objection lies in the fact that In
neither revelation was the method OF per
lection adopted, but that Of sufticiency;
what is necessary 10 procure practical re-
suits 10 wanting in neither. What consti.
tutes adequacy Is a question not TO be de-
manded of the Potter by the clay; since
divine reasons are the reservation Of the
Divine mind. Upon this point, the clOuded
and disturbed mind will be cleared and
quieted by patient study of Buffers Analogy.
Beyond all question, there is place Tor
the Christian contrOverslalist. Few men,
by comparison, have the necessary equip
ment of culture and grace successfully TO
fill II. Unless prompted and controlled by
the spirit animating the great Teacher when
exposing and denouncing error, harm, rather
than good, is likely " result. But every
lover Of truth, every exponent OF right prin-
ciples jealous OF any departure from strict
construction of exact revelation, fills the
office of reformer when denouncing sup
preston or substitution in matters Of doc
trine. IL Is q great crime To read into the
Bible sentiments or precepts II does not con
tain. Yet sects have been built upon an
entire perverson or Interpolation. The re-
former will not lose his vocation 30 long as
men decide not 10 believe what is written,
but formulate a creed upon what they think
ought 10 have been written.
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Baae BaII,-On Saturday last Comus