The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-05

mount. 1t is impossible to overesti-
mate Its Importance. We tend to mag
Nifty tho child of our brain, tho object
of our interest. AS we consider 1t we
larger on our mental horizon. We
forget for the time it's relative posi-
ton amid the realm of facts. The part
becomes n whole. and 1t acquires
fictitious value But We cannot mag
nifv the significance of the spirituality
of the church. Considered alone. con-
sidercd in its relations, it is the SUI.
preme fact of the church. OF the world.
Christ says of His followers. "Ye are
spiritual condition of the church is the
source of its light. Let your light
50 shine before men that they may
see your good works"
WHAT Is MEANT ny THE
SPIRITUALITY OF THE CHURCH
What Is meant by the spirituality OF
the church? We speak of It abstractly.
and 1t seems to ,elude US: to hide itself
amid the thin mists of unreality. But
1t Is a very real thing: n very concrete
reality. 1t pertains TO the lordship of
Christ. His enthronement over the
Tda9 of ouT s naer esng Eshop
christianity is Christ" a greater.
moreover. than he. the large souled and
lofty intellected Paul, had uttered the
same thought nearly 1000 years be-
Iore, ana III a Iar inteNSer way, COM
ing an outburst of personal testi
mony. ITO me to live is Christ" The
spirituality OF the church begins In.
consists OF and Is measured b. the
devotion of It's individual members to
the crucifled, risen and assembled Lord.
Creed IS not the reality. though
true creed Is the window through
which we catch a vision whereby the
reality is deepencd and intensified.
Huma nitarianism. which has tried to
usurp its place, is not It's essence, but
merely legitimate offspring. Ritual
ism is not OF It's inner being. but only
the pathway which II makes for itself
and along which 1t moves. Love for
Christine reality and extent Of that
love constitutes and determines the
spirituality of the church. Let us note
some OF the true marks. the sure tokens
of the spiritual state of the church.
BRINGS SEPARATION
FROM SINFUL WORLD
L Tt brings everywhere and always
separation from the sinful world to
Christ. Christ loved this material uni
verse. His poetic mind dwelt amid
it's hidden meanings He delighted TO
draw His illustrations therefron. Sin
ners fte died for, but sin He abhorred
The prophet represents Jehovah In the
Old Testament as saying. The aboni-
Unable thing that my soul hates" Who
can measure the depth OF that word
hates? Only the height of infinite love
can measure the depth OF infinite hate,
And 20 the follower of the Master is
separate from the world. He has
come out from among them" He is
mot of the world, even as Christ is
not OF the world" The intensity and
persistence with which the church cp-
poses wrong everywhere and always
is the measure OF its spirituality. Does
1t compromise with evil? Does 1t OPP
pose 1t feebly? Then. its spiritual life
runs low Does II linger on the border
line of the questionable? Then, its
loss for its Lord is small
H. 1t insures sacrifice for Christ.
Love desires TO give. Sacrifice is OF
Its very essence. Where that is wholly
absent there can be no devotion.
Jonathan loved David, and he hesi
lated not TO incur the anger of an
evil and fnconsiderate father for the
help of his friend. Mary loved her
cious ointment distilled Its costly per.
fume round His person. The quiet wor
SHIPPER In the temple, whom Christ
memorialized. loved The Lord of the
sanctuary, and gave her all
COO loved man, and sacrificed for
amid the courts of heaven-dcvotton
has ever and will ever breathe itself
forth in the service Of sacr!fce 7,
feels no relief tn then, and the meas
ure and ease OF the sacrifice is the
gauge OF love.
CHRIST CAME TO
SEEK AND TO SAVE
III. Spiritual children are berottan
OF Gods ancient church the Psalnist
declared, "Of Zion II shall be said. This
man and that man was born IN her"
Mark the language, shall be said: and
this man and that man. 1t comnre
hends and includes a multitude Christ
a IN L..
as the human eye was concerned. bv
the confines OF one of the smallest OF
Eastern states. His vision swept into
the remotest corners OF space and
time He came to seek and to save
And so the church that Is knit with
devotion to It's Lord Is stirred within
its inner being when It sees an unsaved
world 1t goes forth IN sympathy, In
yearn!ng and effort and the efeor, ac
complishes something-men arc saved.
a nonrevival, nonm!ss!onary church
Is dead church.
The devotion Of church. its spirit
ual state. is shown in its efforts for
the unsaved. What is the spiritual
state of the church to-day? Does Il
stand as an mpregnable wall against
evil invading It's folds? Is 1t seek
Ing with carnestness TO destroy the
works of the devil. to make the king
doms OF this world the kingdom OF
our Lord and OF His Christ: Is IL
everywhere ana always opposed TO the
wrong In high places and in low?
Does IL make sacrifices, real sacrifices,
for Its Lord? Or does it in its gifts
and efforts only bestow that which
costs little? Are men born IN the
church?
CHURCH NEITHER DEAD
NOR IN EBB TIDE;
Arc revival nres burning brightly
ard glad hearts crying out My Lord
and my Cod? Certainly, believe
we can answer these questions in some
measure at least in the Affirmative
The church Is not dead. nor has an
ehb tide in it's life been reached.
wish we could say il was Hood tide
Progress. we think. however. is being
made. The Men and Religious For
ward Movement" our own missionary
and Sunday school activities. social