The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-07-29
A SERMON FOR SUNDAY
ANELoaUENT DISCOURSE ON CHRIS.
TlANlTY'S BRoADMlNDEDNESS."
The Rev. DR.. Henry C. Swentzel Contrasts
the Church With the Narrow-Gau e
Average Man-One of the Miseries of
JrreIirion Pointed Out in Detail.

~
Average Man-one of the Miseries of
lrreligion Pointed Out in Detail.
Nr:w YORK ClTY.-Dr. Henry e. Swent-
eel, rector of st. Luke's Church. Clinton
avenue, near Fulton street, preached Sun
day on The Broadmindedness of Chris
tiantr" He took his text from Psalms
cxix:96: "Thy Commandment IS exceeding
broad" DR.. Swentzel said:
place of liberty and has set their feet in
large room. His example, His teachings
and His whole tone illustrate and prove
His broadmindedness. No one who rightly
appreciates the Gospel can we'll contend
that it seeks to make human nature smaller
and feeber than it is. or that it would
lower the dignity and lessen the freedom
and banisn the opportunities of human
life.
In the broadmindedness OF Jesus is one
of His most notable characteristics. lie
lived in the open, and His every word
indicates the eomprehensiveness of HIS
conclusions. He is the broadest being
who has trod this earth and He has given
the broadest religion that man has known.
a religion which is not racial, national or
provincial, but. worldwide. 1t is intended
to inspire the most liberal ideas and to
make the largest men. 1t is the embodl.
ment OF observation-disclosures in doctrine and
ideal, in it's outlook, it's estimate Of posi-
blities, and its conceptions Of human deE-
tiny.
Every follower ce Christ should divest
himself as far as possible or narrowness and
pettiness in living his life and doing his
work. Let him be thoughtful and honest
and industrious and brave: let him be
sane. broadminded in his ideas. generous
in his principles and loyal in his conscience
paltry disposition of the past, or to try
to restore the regime of bygone age or to
clamor for the return of conditions which
were we'll enough for younger civilization.
but which should not be installed in the
twentieth century. Religion is not super
stition, faith is not bigotry, godliness is
not intolerance.
We all do well to take account of the
Lords admonition concerning the use OF
language He has warned us that we must
answer at the last for every idle word we
speak. How many idle words are used,
and how massive is human guilt in this
should be pronounced with reverence are
mixed with frivolities. Other words which
should be used always seriously and with
the utmost accuracy are connected with
the announcements of garrulous brains
and Hippant lipss Breadth" is one Of the
words against which people sin most often.
so that earnest souls have almost reached
the point OF suspecting its tenor whenever
they hear it. In common parlance "a
BROAD" Romanist is Roman Catholic
who cares little or nothing for his church
or for the religion which it breaches. A
broad" Christian is man who. though
he may not have broken with Christianity,
has no definite religious principles, no
clearly stated rules Of right and wrong,
and has TO fault to find with a propaganda,
the success OF which would mean not
only the overthrow of faith but the ruin
of society. 1t is supposed to be broad
TO be not'too scrupuious about ones amuse-
ments, to encourage irreligion. TO disregard
the sanctities of Sunday. 1t IS supposed
to be broad" to say and to do nothing
that would indicate that one has. religious
feelings. tn pnt himself in the attitude Of
sympathy with bad things. It is supposed
to be broad" to upset the Bible, to cast
discredit upon the church, to brand holy
traditions as pack of lies. to make the
religion, not to it's lowest terms. hlt to no
terms at all. Thus the noble word is
clothed with sense which it ought not to
have. When people tell of "broad state
ment' they mean a statement which is
suspicious, if not inaccurate. When they
refer to "broad story" they mean story
which is not quite decent. 1t were well
to distinguish between true breadth and
spurious breadth, so that we might be
spared from the ills that follow in the rain
OF m>re catchword. and Rave the blessing
an,: the power which are impaired by the
breadth OF thought and sympathy which
is one Of the very finest marks OF son
of God.
From whatever STANDPOINT it is viewed
the religion of Jesus Christ is characterized
for its broadmindedness. 1t IS to-day the
only world religion, and the church looks
forward to the time when all the people
of all the nations will become the Lords
disciples. An examination Of the theories
or schemes which have been set up in
opposition to or rivalry with the everlast-
ing gospel will disclose their essential mar
rowness. both as to ideas and life. In con-
trast with the notions held by those who
stand a!oof from Christ. how broad and
strong is the platform of Christian belief!
In all the world there is no creed or con-
fession which is 50 ample and liberal and
comprehensive as the Nicene creed. 1t is
great in what it says and in what it does
not say, in what it defines and what it re-
fuses to define. Its expressions and its
reticence are significant and impressive. In
it technical terms have been reduced. to
minimum, and it stands as an nnfailing
source Of truth and aspiration which shall
bless and enrich all classes of humanity un-
til the close of the latest age 1t proposes
the divinity of the Trinity and the trinity
of divinity, but not in the forms Of phil
osophr. it declares the Fatherhood of Goo, ,
the Sonship Of Christ. the, perpetual min
istry of the Holy Ghost, but not in the
elaborate phrases Of the theologian. It
worldwide office and His omnipotent en-
deavors ''for us men and for our salvation"
but without the CLOSES of a mistaken
devotion. 1t proclams the continuity
of the church OF the APOSTLES. but without
the specnlations and dicta OF the ecclesi-
olocist. 1t announces the ncarness Of Gods
children in every world, and the blessed
life of endless felicity which awaits the
souls that He has redeemed. but without
the fancies and guesses and vagares which
have vainiy tried to explore the hereafter.
These truths are not only re. arkabe in
the manner OF their statement, bnt also in
which we are asked to build while We are
here, and the structure OF our thoughts
and motives and efforts should be spacious
accordingly.
What an unspeakable crime it is to at
tack such a belief on the score of its al
legged narrowness. 1t presents the largest
ideas that man has known. and it presents
them in the largest poss bic way. its por-
travail of Jehovah is in harmony with His
divine majesty; its account of Jesus has
the sweetness and reverence of the gospel
according to st. John; its Interpretation
of the Holy Spirit is a com forting and ir.-
spring Gortrine for the needs and sorrows
and possibilities of the present; its declara-
ton of the church marks it rs a society
of grace and blessing which was founded
by the Lord. and. like a .eautifnl angel.
it points to ''the life of the word to come"
These are the dearest of all doctrines, the
best and the brightest. the largest and
most liberal. Whatever else they are, they
-, nnt non nd or 1nalfru hut 40 nnt Ii.