Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-07-26
By sa, |
Bishop Ho1
Warren A.
Gambler !

because the motives to which appeal 10
made are too shallow to move men pro-
foundry or to control them permanent-
ly. We have much worldly preaching,
4. e., preaching which appeals TO motives
bounded by time and sense. We en-
join honesty because honesty IL the
best policy" and we get polite hon.
esty which ceases to be honesty at all
when he who processes 1t has reached the
conclusion that another policy will yield
more immediate advantages. We enforce
temperance on the ground that fnebrie-
ty will impair health by inJuring the
stomach and brain, and nerves; and
thousands go away to their bibulousness.
unaffected by our words, because they
persuade themselves that they have phys
ical powers Of an unusual strength, and
since temperance is only matter OF
bodily health they are willing TO take
chances in view of their superior consti-
buttons. We base our demands Tor
what we call Civic righteousness" on
economic and governmental consid-
erations which concern the present
world only, and we get q Righteousness
of mere expediency, bereft Of all the SOL
emn sanctions of eternal right and Gods
immutable law. Hence we lack authori-
ty in preaching, and get up . debate
when we ought to bring men to decision
for Christ.
L
need q great and general revival or
religion, and what they say is quite
true. But we can never have IL until
we get down to the bedrock or truth
upon which religion rests. We may
have some sort of ethical reformations,
in which a few popular virtues VIII
prevail for season, like moral
fashion until some other form or con-
duct supersedes them as later mode;
but a great revival of religion neces-
sarily involves going back to the great
religious motives, which when they
possess a human soul lift 1t TO the
heights of heroic unselfishness and
fervent devotion to God.
Eulogies Of altruism are all wen
enough in their place; but men are not
going to be aItruistic in the absence
of those self-effacing convictions
which came upon them from above only.
Heroism of the highest sort Is .of
heavenly origin. Until men find some
thing better than life in communion
with God they are incapable OF liv-
ing lives thoroughly good.
All the talk of Let US do right for
rights sake only" meaning by the
words that we are to take no account
of God in our behaviour and have no
regard for Christ's sake. is very shall
low talk An atheistic morality is
ty; for at bottom it is immoral, and
soon shows its true nature by its
downright and outright selfishness and
meanness Mankind will never do
right for the sake Of mere abstract
right If our human powers ever rise
to the level of true and enduring
righteousness they must be touched
with some heavenly and divine affec-
ton The Sermon on the Mount Is an
standard 70 all them who
90 not know and love the Preacher on
the Mount The forces Of evil which
so easily infest the human breast
must be cast out by what DR.. Chal-
mers called "the expulsive power OF
a new affection
Seneca taught morality wonderfully
well, but he could not obey his own
precepts He glorified poverty in the
abstract, and deified wealth in the con-
crete. Paul, on the other hand, was
enraptured with Christ and His saliva
ton, and on the wings of that heavenly
passion he rose above all selfishress
until he was ready to be accursed for
the welfare of his brethren according
to the flesh. Paufs morality had
roots deep down in eternal truth, but
Seneca's was no more than a fading
nosegay made for show and nothing
more. The great Apostle to the Cen
philosopher as his doctrinal system is
higher than the ethical theorizing or
the philosopher.
If we would have a christianity as
vigorous and as victorious as that or
St Paul, we must return to his great
faith We cannot have a virile religion
from puerile motives. vrc
For some time there has been a fash
ion among some of arraying their piety
in a garb Of scanty belief. That may DO
for pigmies in religion, but not for
giants. The plan of trying to live upon a
minimum of faith can never result in a
maximum of moral strength. A Cruel
of doctrine, tl1inned down a few flavor
less ingredients, will not support robust
character. Great conduct grows out
of great creeds. and men who wish to
get away from the great creeds gen.
orally end by getting away from the
commandments.
If we would lift men up to the high
est levels of life, we must bring to
them a religion which meets them IN
the attitudes of their being. The
world must be born again from above.
or it will perish under the paralyzing
powers of the things which are BE-
meath.