The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-08-21

this desired result II 50 1t is OF Christ
and has a legitimate place IN the church.
The thing the church should do al a times
IN all It's parts ls 10 discover tae thought
of the head That is the most perfect
body which most perfectly responds 10 the
direction OF the ram, That Is the best
church which sets its II most asslduously
TO know the thought and purpose christ,
and which most promptl. responds to that
thought and purpose. No man, minister,
deacon or any other has any Authority 10
be head of the church. Christ IL the head.
The chief business OF the church is 20
know the mind Of the Master.
Let n church recognize Its vital connec-
tion with Jesus Christ IS It's heart, Its
head. its life giving and directing powers,
and ITS success az an agency IN extending
the kingdom - already assured. Such
church will he found much IN prayer seek
ing 20 know the will OF ITS Lord az every
point. IL will not be content with seating
itself in softly cushioned pews once week
with the feeling that " has fulfilled its re-
hgious obligations. On the contrary, YOU
will find II seven days in every week out
searching the highways and hedges trying
10 inoculate the life of the Lord into a sin
sick world. As the growing lad cannot hut
express the superabounding life !eaping
through his veins, no more can church,
tingling with the superabounding spiritual
hie of Christ iall 20 give expression TO MS
powers.
But that church has recognized only hall
the truth when II has come 10 know that
Christ is the life OF the church. The other
hall is that while Christ is the heart and
the head we are the body.
H. The church rs the body OF Christ.
Why the Creator saw mt to conhne these
spirits OF ours IN material body we can.
not know. The fact remains that tue soul
must work through the body 10 hnd ex-
preston. Why God was pleased to give
expression 10 His spirit through the
church OF His body we cannot say. lie
has done II. We are the body OF Christ.
That organism through which lie works.
by means of which He finds expression to
the world Christ exalted rs seated AZ the
in the world to-day. He lives in and works
through His body the church. This should
be a deeply solemn and impressive thought
TO every church of the Redcemer God
also manifested Himself in Christ is mani
fest to-day only through the church HIS
body. This IL why the church fails In her
mission and lacks power. She has failed
TO realized her status in the world. She
has not sufficiently appreciated her respon.
sblhty and the divine dignity which ~
hers Think of 1T You are "a hand to do
His bidding, feet TO fulfill His missions,
ewes to look to His interests, ears to hear
His truth. tongues to sound forth that
carnated Himself IN You. Through YOU
men must come 10 know Him.
Except the church manltests the lie OF
Christ ~ Is no true church. except 1t per
forms HIS mission II rs not church OF the
Redeemer As the body is one and hath
many members. and all the members OF the
body, beng manv, are one body, so also rs
the church The body of Christ - one
though many, unity in diversity. All the
members are necessary IN order that the
symmetry may be complete, and ITS useful
ness unimpaired.
Independence Is the cry of our timc-in-
dependence Of the nation. independence OF
the individual. This spirit seen everywhere
has found a large place IN the church.
Within limits tins is well. Within limits,
] say, Tor Just as soon az individuality be-
comes obtrusive or obstinate II has passed
the limit where IT can be OF the most use
to the world. Within the church this is
especially true II rs one body-it is
Christ in the world. each part must be in
closest union with every other part More
and more the church must work together.
more and more the denominations mnst
work as one IN maniiestng the ie OF God
10 the world IN the transformation and sal
yation 81 men.
You have before now seen couple of
pups get a hold of an. old rope and then,
as though life depended on the process.
one pull one way while the other tuagcd
the other. ! have seen churches whose
condition would not he unaptly illustrated
by the dogs. Lack of unity IN aim and ef-
fort is a great source Of weakness to the
church. The spirit Of independence, good
in itself runs riot, until concerted action
TO n definite end IL impossible. When in
dependence thus errs against unity 1t ~
curse rather than blessing. All the mem.
bers of the body must work together, vital
ized bv the heart, directed by the head.
One OF the most beautiful sights IN the
world is a symmetrical and responsive hu.
man body. One OF the most beautiful
sights to the spiritual eye is the body of
Christine huroh-harmonously respon'
sive TO His thought and purpose. In the
hlht of ChrIsts mission while incarnate
IN the flesh the church can make
no mistake as TO her mission. She must
save souls. In the light Of this purpose
every petty difference SHOULD drop out oi
sight and the whole Christian body be-
come one mind in regard TO the chief aim
Of their existence. The educator will take
care of the education OF the community,
the aesthetic will look after the culture,
the feformer will lead reforms. but the
church must save m,n from ,in and mani
fest the life OF God 20 the word.
] have seen IN one OF the great mills OF
our country two great wheels. Note one
point. they 6t each other Moving in
ceascess unison. II single point be bro
ken off the machinery crates " number
be broken the wheei snps and the whole
network of machinery IL helpless. Each
members Of the church has his place. II he
fails the body is hampered IN It's efficiency.
But while there ~ 10 be union IN diver
sitv. there is also 90 he diversity IN unity.
Individualitv "a not efiaced hv the Gospel
of Christ. This gives the widest possible
scoDe TO the churches ties which may be
included within the church There is
place of usof1lness for all. Each one is 10
find his or her place and then ia union
with the whole body work ior it's highest
efficiency.
When the church Of Christ awakens 10 n
full consciousness Of its status in the
world no longer will men call her sick
Within her borders there will be cries OF
Joy over MANY sinners that have repented
and tested the power Of Christ 10 save.
This church will realize her highest useful.
ness when she writes over her activities,
I'VE are the body Of Christ-Chrst iDcar.
nate in the present day-and severally we
are members thereof