Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-08-22

nuaIIiv men ana women IN DrIn" ng TO pass
this dceired result. IL so il is ef Christ
and has legitimate .,.aee IN tho birch
The hing the church shoud do nj 4 times
in all ITS narts u 20 di>cave.' tie thought
nf the head. That IL tho most perfect
toiv which most perfectly responds 70 the
direction 81 the rim. That is the best
church which sets lis II most assidueus'y
To know the .houcht and ,,u; ,ose Christ.
aud which most prompt responds TO tina,
tho;ight and purpose. No man. minister,
deacon or any other has any authority to
b. head al the church. Christ il the head
The chief business o. the church is to
Lrow the mind OF the Master
Let a church recognize it's vital connec-
ton with .IeSus Christ its heart. its
heal Is life giving and directing powers.
md it's success as an agency IN extending
The kingdom is already assured Such
church will be found much in prayer seek
ing to know the will of lis Lord at every
nont 1t will not he content with seating
itSe'f in softly cushioned rews once a week
with the feeling that it has fulfilled MS re-
fg;ous obligations. On the contrary. Won
will find it "-"en days in every week out
searching the highways and hedges irving
10 noculate tho life Of the Lord into SIN.
lick world As the growing lad cannot but
express the superabounding life ;eap'ns
through his veins. no more can church
sing,ing with tn" superb bounding spiritual
lie Of Christ fail to give expression to us
powers.
Bat that church has recognized only hall
SC truth whom it has come 10 know that
hrisf j. tine life OF the church. The other
INF * that while Chri.t is tho hoarS and
10 head we are the body.
IT, Tie church is TIC body Of Christ.
Whv tho Creator saw tit to coniine these
'nirits ri ou"s in material body we can
.t..s
must work through the body to find eS-
oressio". Why God was pleased (. give
expression 10 His spirit through the
,h'.rc'i or His body we cannot saw. He
"lS doac it, We are the body Of Christ.
rhat organism through which lie works.
hv mems OF which He finds expression to
the world Christ exa,ted is seated at the
ri~ht hand Of God BIT Christ incarna.e IS
- the World to-day He lives in ard works
nrou'h III. body the church. This should
hn Il deeply solemn and impressive thought
10 evcry church nj the Hndccmer. God
80 manifested Himself in Christ. * mani
fest to-Ao~ on,v through the church His
body. This is why the church fails IN her
Iri-s'o" a"d Jacks mower. She has failed
- a''zel ne" status in the world. She
- lot sufficiently appreciated her reSron-
s;hi,itv md to divine dignity which is
Ler: Think cf it, Yon 80 hand To do
Hi; hiding. feet tn fulhl His missions.
fNGS 10 COX Ia ItlS tHES ~ n'ti
Ills truth. tongues To sound forth that
truth ard utter His praise. Christ has in.
rarnatcd Himself in vow. Through you
mar raiist come to know Him.
Except the church manifcsts the life of
Christ it is no true church. except II per.
forms His mission it is not charch 81 tle
redcemcr As the body is one and hath
many members. and al the members OF the
body. being many. are one body. so also IS
the church Tho body Of Christ = one
though many. unity in diversity All the
members are necessary IN order that the
symmetry may ne complete, and its useful.
ness unimpaired.
Indenendcnce is the CRY OF our time in.
dependence OF tho nation. independence OF
the individual. This spirit seen everywhere
has found n large place IN the church
Within limits this is well. Within limits.
saw. for Just as soon rs individuality he
Gomez ohtrusivc or obstinate. il has passed
Tie limit where it can he OF the most use
to tho world. Within the church this is
esneciaFv true. 1t il one body--it is
Christ in the world. each part must he in
closest union with every other part. More
ard more tho church must work together,
more and nrnre the denominations mus.
wori; as o"c in manifestirS the life OF God
to the word in the Transformation and SAL
va.'on Of men.
You have before now seen a couple Of
pups get hold OF an old rope and then,
as though life depended on the process.
one rull one way while the other tugged
the other. ] have seen churches whose
condition would not be unaptly illustrated
nv the dogs. Lack OF unity in aim and CT
fo-s is a Great source of weakness to the
church The spirit of independence. good
in itself runs riot. until concerted action
to a definite end is impossible. When in
depcndonce thus errs against unitv II is
curse r,-'icr than Blessing. All the mem
hers "f tho body mas wcr,; together, vital
lied bv the heart. directed hv the head.
On" "f the most h'""i'f".l sights IN the
world il a symmetr ~ nNd RESPONSIVE hui
pan body. Orc oi tho riost beautiful
s;rhts to the sririt"a cve i. the body of
Christine -har'r orior>iy rcshnn-
siv" to His thought and pnrpose In the
light of Cliri>ts mission whi.c incaraa'e
in the flesh the church csn make
no mistake "a t. her mission. Sac must
save souls. In tire light OF thi. purpose
every petty difference lould drop cut of
sight and the whole Christian body be-
come one mind in regard Ia the chief aim
Ut their existence. The educator will take
care of the edu"ation of the community,
the aesthetic will look after the culture.
the reformer will lead reforms. hut the
church rnust save men from sin and mani
feat the life of God to the world.
have seer in one oi the great mills OF
or country two great wheels. Note one
point. they fit each other Moving in
reaseless unison. Ii single point be bro
ken off the machinery crates. il number
he broken the wheel sans and the whole
network of MACHINERY is helpless. Each
r,"mhers OF the church has his place. II he
fails the body ia hampered in its efficiency.
But While there ia TO he union in diver
sitv. there is also 10 h" diversity in unity.
IND vidualit, IS not efiared hy tine Go.pel
of Christ. This gives the widest possible
scope tn the churches ties which may be
included within tn" church. There is Il
place OF usefulness for all. Each one is to
6"d h'S Or her pace and then in union
With the whoc body work for its highest
efficiency.
When the church OF Christ awakens to a
full consciousness cf its status in the
world. no lencc~ will men call her sick.
Within her borders there will he cries Of
joy over raw sinners that have repcnted
md tested tn" power Of Christ to save.
This church vii realize her highest useful
eess WHOM she writes over her activities.
We are the body oi Christ Christ incar-
hate il the present 'ay-and scvcral.y VIC
ire members thereof"
Wcalincss and Strength.
1t becomes III to Know our weakness