The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-07-17
A SERMON FOR SUNDAY
AN ELOQUENT DISCOURSE ON CHRIS.
TiANiTTS eRoAoMlNosoNEsS."
The Rev. DIR. Henry e. swentSei Contrasts
the Church With the Nsrrow-Gau.
Average Man-One nj the Mis~ries OF
lrreiigion Pointed Out i'm Detail.


iiani,y." He took his text from Psalms
cXlx;&: Thy Commandment Is exceeding
broad DR. Swentlel said:
The Son OF God las called men into a
place of liberty and has set their feet IN a
large room. HIS example. His teachings
and His whole tone illustrate and prove
His broadmindedness. No one who rightly
appreciates the Gospel can well contend
that Il seeks 10 make human nature smaller
and ;eebler than ~ rs. or that u would
lower the dignity and leeen the freedom
I'D banisa 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 ComprehensIveness Of His
thinking and the perfect sanity of His
conclusions He is the hroadest being
who has trod this earth and He has given
the hroadest religion that man has known.
a religion which IS not racial. national or
provincial, but worldwide. IL is intended
10 inspire the most liberal IDEAS and 10
make the largest men. Ii is the embodi-
ment OF broadmndedness in doctrine and
ideal, IN ITS outlook. its estimate of possi-
blltles, and Its conceptions of human des-
tiny.
Every follower OF Christ should divest
himself as far as possible OF narrowness and
pettlness IN living his life and doing his
work. Let HIM be thoughtful aud honest
and industrious and brave; let him he
sane, broadmnded in his ideas. generous
IN his principles and loyal in his conscience.
He is not called upon TO emulate the
pa!try disposition of the past, or TO try
10 restore the regime OF a bygone age or TO
clamor for the return OF conditions which
were well enough for Younger civilization.
but which should not he installed in the
twentieth century. Religion is not super
stition. faith Is not bigotry, godliness is
not intolerance.
We all do well 10 take account of the
Lords admonlton concerning the use ot
language. lie 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
particular. Even those words which
should he pronounced with reverence are
mixed with frivolit,es. Other words which
should be used always seriously and with
the utmost accuracy are connected with
the announcements of oarTulous brains
and flppant lips. 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 1t. In common parlance a
broad Romanlst is a Roman Catholic
who cares little or nothing for his church
or for the religion which it breaches. A
broad Christian is a 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 no fault to find with propaganda
the success OF which would mean not
only the overthrow of faith but the ruin
of society. 1t is supposed to he broad
10 be not too scrupulous about ones amuse-
ments, 10 encourage Irrellgion 10 disregard
the sanctities OF Sunday. lt j. supposed
To be broad To saw and TO do nothing
that would indicate that one has religious
Ia. 20 all -. l.. r
sympathy with bad things. 1t is supposed
TO be broad to upset the Bible. to cast
dlscredIt upon the church. TO brand holy
traditions as a pack Of lies. to make the
gospel mean as little as possible, TO reduce
religion, not TO lts lowest terms, but to no
terms at all. Thus the noble word -
clothed with sense which il ought not to
have. When people tell OF a broad state
ment they mean a statement which is
suspicious, If not inaccurate. When they
refer to a broad story they mean n story
winch is not quite decent. II were well
10 distinguish between a true bro adth and
spurious breadth, so that we might he
spared from the ills that follow in the train
of Ip,re catchword. and have 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 IL is viewed
the religion Of Jesus Christ is characterized
for Its broadmindedness II "a today the
only word 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 everl1st.
ing gospel VIII disclose their essential mar
rowness. both as to ideas aud life In con.
trast with the notions he'd by those who
stand aloof from Christ. how broad and
strong IS the platform of Christian belief,
in all the world there - no creed or con
iession which is so anne and liberal and
comprehensive as the Ncene creed Ii is
great IN what it says and in what IL does
not say, in what IL defines and what il re.
fuses 10 define. Its expressions and its
reticence are significant and Impressive In
1t technical terms have been reduced to
minimum, and 10 stands as an unfaling
source OF truth and aspiration which shall
bless and enrich all Classes Of humanity un-
t,l the close OF the latest age Il proposes
the divinity of the TRINITY and the trinity
ot DIVINITY, but not in the forms OF phil
osophy. IL dec'ares the fatherhood OF God.
the Sonshlp Of Christ. the perpetual min
istry OF the Holy Ghost. hut not in the
elaborate phrases OF the theologian. II
upho.ds the vrg,a birth of Jesus. His
worldwide Office and His omnipotent en-.
deavors for us men and for our salvation"
devotion. lt Drociaims the continuity
of the church OF the apostles hut without
the specuations and dcta Of the eoclesi.
olOgist. il announces the nearness 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 Cuesses and vagaries which
have vain,y tired to explore the hereafter
These truths are not only re-. afksbIe in
the manner Of their statement. but also IN
Themselves. They are the foundation on
which We are asked 10 build while we are
here, and the structure Of orr thoughts
and motives and efforts should be spacious
accordingly.
What an unspeakable crime IL is 70 az.
tack such a belief on the score Of it, al.
legged nsrrowness. IT presents the largest
IDEAS that man has known. and u presents
them In the largest possible way. Its por-
traya' Of Jehovah - IN harmony with HIS
divine majesty. itg account OF Jesus has
the sweetness and reverence Of the gospel
according to 81. John; its Interpretation
Of the Holy Spirit is a comforting and ir.
spring doctrine for the needs and sorrows
and poss bIbties ol the present; its declafa-
ton Of the church marks " "a society
OF grace and blessing which was founded
By the Lord. and. like a .eauiifUl angel
u points 20 the life OF the world 10 come"
These are the dearest of al doctrines, the
best and the brightest. the largest and
most liberal Whatever else they are, they
are not contracted or paltry. but a. cath.
o,ic as God and as universal a. man. In.
deed. our religion ~ the only thing in the
world that pr0lcsses 20 desire the allegiance
of everybody. IL has the length and
breadth and depth and height oi the love
OF God ~ Jesus Christ our Lord. II dOe-
the commanduent Of Cod which - Eek
coed M broad -