The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-04
THE VOICE OF THE PULPIT
RIDICULE: THE kEEN-EDGED wEAP-
on OF PERSECUTION TODAY.
By Rev. VIM. Crosweil poane, ID. D.,
IL. d., Bishop Of Albany Episco-
pal Cathedral, Albany, y. n.

Galatians, iv. =.
one of the great conflicts going on in
the world to-day. everywhere. is the same
that ST. Paul recognized and illustrated ny
the Old Testament story, wherein Saraa,
Abraham's wife. saw Ishmael (the bond
woman's child knocking her son Isaac,
the child born Of promise. And 1t is not TO
get at either the historical statements CT
the rahbinicaI traditions, but to find out
something that may be OF immediate and
personal practical value 10 you and me in
our daily lives now, that I want you 10
think with me to-day about this passage
{. Paul gives Us the clew to its use IN
this particular way, and brings out the
roint distinctly-not alone to those of his
own day, but TO us-when he says: NOW
NE brethren. as Isaac was. are the chill
dren of promise. But as then, he that was
horn after the flesh prosecuted him that
was horn after the spirit, even so 1t IS
now"
We are TO study in this true old story
the relation between a Christian and man
of the world-the strife and contest ana
Questionable compromise that 5 psFpetually
hanging i'm the balance, between them
do not think it means, here. between
the carnaI and the spiritual nature Oh
rnan-for these are two distinct anu
separate personalities-so much as the strlle
that is constantly going on between cnilo
Of God. a Christian boy or girl, or man OF
woman. and the world with all It's outer
influences I'm which he lives. In the one there
q. thu continual refreshing of the holy spirit
NJ God. in the other there is only what is
temporal and physical and carnaL The WORD
that is Translated Pe .se eyeni itself in
C,enesis saws: Sarah saw the son OIL
HaTar mocking." And where it is used else
where it is translated playing Win. Fei-
scouting nocking, playing VIII
NO ROOM FOR PERSECUTION.
Co successfully has Christianity been
.danted tn the spirit of the times tnat
@here Is very little room and very little
.,rovocation left for prosecuting. They were
healthier and stronger days, when the world
and the church were over against each
other: when the church lifted up her voice
against the world. That day, for good or
evil. at any rate, is gone. You can, can,
nractice Christianity-either IN the tnin anu
s-aperfect way in which most of US do pTae-
tice it, CT even in the more compIete WY III, In
Kind Of persecution which lighted nres III tne
old days-fires that illumine not only =, me
story OF those Gays; put MAJ So aoTas s''o
THE persecution of to-day Is really mock
Eng rfdfcule You can go back 10 the very
fuoc
beya very real recoIlections of it as chill
.dren: and while more pardonaDle IN the Nety
Young / think it Is about the most COW COVE VI
Nv element in human nature 10 De alIdi ILL.,. VI
-{dfcuIe Just a little sneer, Just a httle
contempt: somebody that says 10 q Ooy VIII t
an element of reverence in him. or IN tHe
-,tdSf of some act OF worship, tnat Is
affeminate that is feeble, 1t is silly, IL Is
foolish. il is weak it is cowardly, ana the
how Knocked is frightened out or the open anu
Lowed statement of what he believes, or
out OF the practices OF his religious me-
This happens over and over again. one
thanks God for the boy or the girl, 60
neciaIIy the boy, who goes through pup
fic school or a boarding school, or one OF our
great universities (Which more ana MOT ,;,, ar
Dles0 and comes home for his Easter OF
Christmas communion, with the same chlI9
heart that he inherited from MS Iather anu
n is the same with men and women. There
Is a great, big-headed Goliath VINO walks
about the world to-day. challenging the IN
feIlectuality of belief, lifting up his big head
and in a loud voice declaring that on the
whole 1t is unintelectuai 20 nave TAIN an , cIS
before the printing press, before the cIlIl -
cal glass had been applied to Holy scriptures
and before the light of scientific discoveries
~ shone down into and showed their err
rcrs That talk perpetually ana cons
reiterated (and nine times out OF zen the oniy
evidence OF intellectually in the man Is
that he talks in this way), Is power OF eVll
which few boys and not many men are pray Z
enough to resist. 1t gets by and by 10 oe
Sasbionable and prevalent, and TO insinuate
ssaif i,to tba minds of people who want to
be thought intellectual. who Will n9l ses
that nothing is so reasonable as DeHeI: anu
that faith is the browning glory Of man $ IN
felligence 1t is the child that is born OF the
flesh hooking the child that Is porn Oh proili-
tse. That is bad enough
A SUBTLE INFLUENCE.
But there is a danger that is still more
Drevalent That is a curious expression,
.splaying with" that is used here have
no doubt that II alludes 10 the kind of dali
lying which comes from the word Delian'
and means a subtle. sensuous, tempting in
fauence working upon the passions of men,
But SIN equally sure that ii has IN II also
something that is far more subtle. L think
It relates to that perpetual invitation 10
compromise matters which grows out OF the
very close contact between the churcn anu
the world between the Christian man ana
the man that merely lives Tor the Things Oh
the earth. ,o,.
line 10 draw All lines are difficult 10 draw.
You may make 1t like the equatorial Ane,
"a IL is difficult 20 distinguish; put some
how there ought 10 be dlsunct ire Oh ue
narration between the child of the flesh
and the child of promise. III you 90 PACK,
where I wish we went good deal oltenSF
than we do, to the careful study or the
church's teaching in the catechlsm you Will
ind the distinction and the DISCRIMINATORY
The devil is to be absolutely renowned and
all his works while the flesh IS only 10 be
denounced where its desires are sinful. All
its rightful desires may be enjoyed. ana
vhep il comes TO deal with remuneration IN
its relation 10 the world IL is the pomps
and vanities OF the wicked WORLD that are
condemned. That Is. remuneration. so Tar
as IL relates to the world. requires not giving
up the world entirely. 1t does not say that
Isaac must not play with Ishmael. But ~
demands the renCnciation Of the things tnat
are absolutely OF the earth earthly. IL picks
out its vainglOry. Its extravagances, us
shams its superficial satsfactions.
/ beg YOU tot think little bit or this. VI
A. a very serious matter. Sometimes from
\ desire to win IL and thereby lift il TO higher
levels and things we are thrown on our
guard. The contact which the Christian man
has with the world Is what we call society.
We are in il, we are OF II. but surely not
that we may be dragged down 10 its level;
surely not that We may compromise our
faith and morality by conforming 10 It's
standards. This would be 10 let the dark
ness comprehend the light. the dough
deaden the yeast. the corrupt mass steal the
SAVIOR from the salt
EASY OF APPLICATION.
You can apply this teaching easily. Take
The question OF the observance of the Lord:
day. 1t is very easy when the world comes
with its subtle and seductive voice, There is
no harm in such a thing this; 1t is a
mere gathering together Of few friendly
90