Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, May 18, 1874, Page 2

y i =l A THE CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE: MONDAY, M;\Y 18, 1874. THE PULPIT. The Relations of the Church to Amusements; A Roasonable View of the Theatre by ho Revs Mr, Rastin, Sermon by fize Rev, H. N, Powers, on " The Joyful Religion.” .Tha Rov. Mr. Hibbard Explains Certain Seeming .Scriptural Con- tradictions. S s Dr, Ryder’s Explanation of tho Universalist Theory of ¢ Salvation. The Mission of the Liberal Church, THR CHUROH AND THE THEATRE, T, Ravlin, ofthe Tema Sermon by tlio Ttov, o Ghiurel, Tho Ttev. N, I, Ravlin, pastor of the Tompla Baptist Cliuroh, preached the following sermon ‘yostarday uftotnoon ¢ Tor ono bollevelh that he may eat all things; ane other who is weak eatoth herbs. Let not him that eatoeth despike him that eateth not 3 And lot not him who catoth not judye bin that eatoth, for God hath recolved him,—Zomans X1V, 2,3, How far the Obristin may indulgo in tho plessurcs of this world, conslstently with hus religious proforsions, 1s a subjoct of vital intar- oat, and ono which haa engeged the attontion of Christiun leadors for conturica, Tliero iy now, and, indoed, aliways has beon, n differanc of opinion 88 to tho standard of Judgment thet should distinguleh botiwoon tho allowablo and tho unallowablo, tho innocent and tho sinful, tho harmlozs and the dangorous, tho slovating and the dograding, togother with thoso things which rofine, avd thoso which valgarizo thio purtioipant, Whothor thatstaudard Is purely and simply thoresult of education sud projudics, or whettior it is tho_cloarly-rovoslod and ox- irosaed declaration o Sariptuo truth, makos all bo difforenco In tho worla a8 to what our yordics may borelativo to the question of amusomonts. Wilh one, o cerinin amusomont ia wrong, bo- cause Lio hins beon 80 tauglt to rogard it. With auothor, tho eame thing s right, bo- cause 'bis instructions have lod ' Lim to wo viewib, With cach, education Is tho stand- urd, and tho question of right or wrong is de- tormiucd golely by that rule. Bat in neither caso s tho oducation o safo gido, for by that rulo that which is not _only harmloss, but abso- Iutely bonetloll, mny, yen, ofton iy, rojectod as sinfil, whilo that which s not only dangoros but positively destruotivo, may be unsuspootin; Iy indulged a8 innocont and hurmlegs. - Ono dom overatops to tnquiro whether tho oarlytrain- iog may or may not havo boon faulty. Dpon this critorion barsh judgnonts axo protounced, uud swoaping donnnclations and indiecrimato criminations induiged in, 88 against thoso who are, or may bo, just a8 _iubocont, aud oven moro &0, than those Who pronouuco thio seatonge. oro aro thoso who wonld condomn sll aansemouts, of evory &ind sud namo, s sinful and wicked, " Little ohildron, ovory ' Sabbath, st pat on the sober countenance of old por- sons, - Their innocont playthiugs mast bo Taid 08ido ; tho merry lagh st bo Lushod ; tho happy smilo must not intrado upon . tho child’s visngo, 'Thoy must ba literally toreured, during the long lours of that doy, by a forcod unnatu- ralucys, until they wish a thousund timos that Bunday would never come, With sich paronts aligion couslsts in loug facay, bowed hoads, snd hearts, und o gloomiuess of tompor and dis- ion perfeatly revalting to the morg onlight- and commou-gensed purtion of ' the com-~ 0f D ‘Earth 18 a devorl drear, Nor eun the world a foy afford, ' Tho ton thousnd ehmmo of Cod's bemuti- Cul world are ua devold of irlicst to them ns the burning sands of tho great Suhera are desti- tate of the mailing verduto of spring. And they 3all this Christianity. It is o mountrous libol on tho name. I would rather dio with tho merry laugh of ipnocouce ringing in my our than bo surrounded by tho somibro shadoivs of such & rollgion. And such o falso view of Christianity li2s dono moro o load tho world at lurgo to re- octit, i iy oplalon, than all otiior catiisscom- ined.” Viowed from' such a standpoint, to bo- come 'n Clristien is to pass under tha clond, It is to becomo prematurely old, to go into ouo’s gravo boforo tho time, and to wrap the wbades of night about one.ns o garmont, whon thio bright sunlight of noon invitay to its swoet and joyous bauquot, 1t drios up tho sparkling fowitains of mnocent childhood, and tho bloome fng flowors of tho heart's purest joys wither and dic undor its influence. Bound to & suporabition gloomy as tho gravo, oruel n death, and 3o- worsclesy ns fute, such peoplo plad thoir woary siuy to the tomb under the idea that thoy ara Clirlatiuns of the firat water, end that all the rent of mankind ara torrible sinnors. Croquet to them is ns sinful o8 billiards, and both are in- dikeriminatoly condemned as the worst, specios of gumbling. Uhoro fs no discrimination bo- twoon choss, or backgammon, and the varions uses’ of cardy, and all sre as nnquulificdly donounced 28 a faro-bank- ling oslablisiimont, . ho oircus and tho theatro are put in tho samo Lo with the &aloon and tho houso of ill-famo, and tho ligiti- mato drama faron no bottor thuu the sbnmoloss performances often witnossed in thentre co- migues and varloty theatres. I um freo to con= fens that, yours ago, from ignornco and proju- dice, inatilled by tho forco of education, T was uiliy of {ho sume_luconsintoncy; and pablicly and privately donounced wint 1 Dover A and concerning which I know sbrolutely nothing, Aud now, knowing more, I coudemn loss. Knowing what I do, I iave a8 much;ycn more, to condemn smong those things toloratod in tho Christian world thao in thoss things con-" demued. ‘Thie henscless piiys mdulged in i i tho yonug aro pernicious 1w ther © influence low and vulgar fn thelr tondancy. Tiut they are institnted to take tho placo of the eiuful dance. To donce wonld subjact one to church dizcipling, but nothing is thought of doing something far moro indecont. To plny ot gamey of chanco or skill 1 to gamblo; but in owr churoh fostivals and fairs, & spocios of potty lottory businoss ie'done without any com- unctions, more wisked in its nnturo, aud mare porigions in its influence, thu anything olao Guteide of profosslonal gambling ibeclt, * A cortal smount of plonsure, nmuscient, and recroation peoplo will have, It tuey do’ not Tinvo it in one way, thoy will fn_anotlor, You can_make no ruios that will provantit. You might us woll still tho routig of the soa, burn Tadk. (o wators ‘of tho rolling siver. of lunh to silonco Ningsr's deafoulng thunders as to whully cradicato tho dosiro for plonsure from tho hwman heatt, It 18 loberant in the consti- tutiou of mun, created by an all-wiso God to mivicter to humun huppinoss, Whon mou_nook pleasuzo from forbluden sourcos, that fs,—whon ihuy reeort to (husa {hings whioll arosinful por &0,—that fuculty oreatod for noblo ministrations, astumos un wbuormal condition, and becomos an instraoss of vain, Buch is tlweys truo of tho pleasurcs of 6in, “Bin i8 tho traugrosslon of law, bu :cto o Inw 8 thoro fs no_trane- grossion.” woen T trout o ubjoct of this kind Arom a Chrisiian standpoint, I rogard tho Sorip- ‘tures of Divie Truth as tho law, the standard, tho tribuuul, the jndgo that euds the strife, and tho court of inal epycal. Whils it is hozaidous to go whoro Clod forbids, or acek plonsuro in thoso things which THis Word condoniu, yot it is sufo within the cucloaure of Divino permission, and until one passcn boyoud the limits of thal flold, hedged about by tho cloarly rovealod Eruthh of God, he May stund spproved baforo the Ligher court of his uwn ontightoned consofenco, though condomnsd bofore thu lowar court of Tuuin prejudico and suporelition, You canuot ke tho osprices and whims of evory ono's ooneulence . the utandard that slwll gooido whnt you may do or what you may not do, Untl T do that which the Gospal, in plain, unmistakeblo lan- guegs condomns, or loavo undono that which it uj6lun, no man on carthi has & right to charga o with win, Thoologians aro sometines wise sbove what ls yritton, Those of Ohrlsl's day Woreaoy and Mo doolared that the publlcans sud harlots should go Into the Kingdom of God boforo thom. Christianity suffors whon bor ad- horonts undertalio to build a fenco where God Lios not pot the etakos, or presuma to grado xoad whore Ho hias not tun tho saored lino of di- vine survey, ' In numberlens inatances, professed Christiana violata the plaines, mos ponitive declarations of Borlpture with sceming tmpunity, and thon turn ahd make a worla of mlu»h’l‘nf and sut going 8 porfoot avalancho of mehndal about a cortain livio of eondutot fn othota which violates no lav,. norifloos no principle, and hnrmh 1o oné in tho world, To {llustrato : We will supposo, for in- stance, that I attoud tho thontro and witness an intoresting and Liarmless play, It doca not injuro me ncr harm auy ono olso. Yot It noon becomes known that I have boon to the thontre. Thoso who look upon the thentro with holy horror and Tipen mo na having woll nigh committed the une pardounblo eln,at onco bogin their work of scanda) and dofamation of charactor. Thoy sproad itfarand wlde_ T'ho onormity of the crimoi, isenesod with wonderful zoal, T'ho whold ohureh fs in on up- ronr, Confusion roignw, Pandimonimn s lob loose. Wild passions ragoe. Tno moet sncrod rolntlons aro xuthlossly eundored, Chrlstinnit, is uulrnf;m‘. Moral ]\m‘fur,v is committed, ans tho dovil is raisad gonorally; nnd of coutso it i 4ll becauso I wout to tha thoatro. My act was o terriblo sin, Dub porjury, and taitiing, and uinndor, and ying,woro nothing but A pious zeal I maintainiug tho 4»uru.yo tho clhurch, Tho cnse I have suppokod illustraton & thousnnd justances of tho Kind in tho history of tho Chrietian religion, Tho wroug is not so muuch {n the thoatro na tho falso stendard of Judgmont, from which liconao is takon to pro- -coed to extromo monsuros, aud mako & grost ado about nothisg,—a standard ag untonablo os it is uwwise and uucriptural. 1 do not wish to bs understood tn an unquoli- flod manner a8 indorsivg tho theatro, nor would I Lave you understand mo o8 pnulngln swooplug eentonco of condemnation agafust 1t Thoro would he no argument in such n treat- ment of tho subject. ILnrali denuncintion is not argnmont. Unfounded and unproven charges against rospectablo mombers of tue dramatio profeusion, como_from whomsoovor thoy may, oro slanders which will surcly roact upon their autbior by & law ns fnoxorablo ns fato, and thora is no cecapo from ir. The puiplt is 10 excoption to tho rulo, It ciroumseribos the limit of ita usefulneas wheu it deals in bittor lovective aud utters charges which it is powerless to prove, and concorning tho truth of which it of necossity kuows uotbing, ~When all tho members of tho profession are indis- criminately denounced from tho pulpit a8} abandonod ohuvactors, thoussnds of rospoctablo paoplo_all over the Iaud know tho chiarge is falso and unwarrantod, and the mon who malces it ginks in their cstimation in tho preciso ratio of tho falsity and unfairness of tho charge. Dceauso thore are abandoned chors aoters on the stago s no moro a proof that all aro so than it woutd bo fo eny that, bocauso villiaus aro to bo found {n the pulpit, thorforo all clorgymon oto villaing, Tt customary wiy of sotting at nanght all nets of tho legitimato drama, 88 affording an_entertainmont wholly unflt to bo pntronized by dacont people, thus condomning all bocanso some nro bad, is an nrgument of no more forca than to say, bocnusa thore are somo books published which are im- moral in thoir character and influence, theroforo all books should bo condemned indis- ciiminatoly, nnd tho publiching business onded, 1t is used pe on srgumont that vilo choractors atcond tho {hoatre, thorefore 10 woman can attond it snd bo o lady. It wonld bo Just as congistont Lo say that, beonuso fallon women ontor tho stores of our down-town ner- chaats and buy thoro goods, thorofora o Lonor- ablo woman can_puroiinsgo goods thore sud pro- worve bor honor. ho argumont ia ns good in tho oug caso na in tho otlior, It i specions and 00d for nothing in cithor caso. 1o virtuous ady and the harlot stand sido by sido and pur- chaso goods over tho eamo counter, ono for ono purpose sud tho other for anothor, and thoy go thoir ways, tho ono no_bottor, perhaps, for Lier noar appronch to o virtuous woman, sud the athor certainly no worso for lior aloys proximity to 2 vicions chiaractor, Whilo I bavo no word of approval for tho lower order_of theatres, and whilo many plays that aro a disgrace to tho civilization of tho nge, and nn -outrago upon tho morals of docontsocioty, gob upon tho Loards of the Lest thentres in tho land, yet L do insist that Just and feir denling with tho subjoct will not Tail to mako a distinction betwoen the shamoless porformances of tho one class, and tho higher, and purer, and moro distinguished ordor of tal- ont in tho'othor, Among tho ntter clnsa I hovo gome porsonnl frionds and acquaintauces, and 1 canuot hear thom unjuscly raukod with tho vilost charactorsethat disgrace lumunity, 0s thoy woro the other avoufilg ffom ouo of tho pulpits in this city, without ropolling the Insinuation itk tho sam scornl would wero it dirocted ngainst my- solf, Who'ttnt kiows Maggfo itcloll vil eay aught agninsthiorcharactor ? or question lior wome anly virtzos? Thoso who Lknow lier bost appre= cinte most tho bonutiful charity of Lier privats lifa. A truo wifo, o loviug and dovoted mothor, o gonial friond, o gouerous almouor of the poor and noedy, and yet & star of tho first mogniluda in_her profession, sho shines with sparkling brilliuncy, and adorus all {ho rolations of lifa with the Sweot fragranco of s puro friendsbip, und an unselfsh dovotion to. tho Lappinioss of othors, Sho hns dono much to clovate tho drama to it norml condition, and to dray tho Jino botseen tho lower and tho_highor ordor of dramatio entertaiumonts. - It affords mo no littlo plousuro to sco Maggio Mitchell and hor husband i this nseembly to-night, aud I trast that tho very ploasant acquaintance I have formed with thom_may continuo for long years lo como, And it shill be my prayor that when the cuxtain Talls upon the Inst not in tho drama. of lifo, aud Tifts upon the firat kceno of immortality, Maggio Mitcholl nud ull hior doar onos may bo there. Who thiat hus ever ecen her inimitablo ropro- sontation of “Fanchon” “TLorlie/ Littlo Barofoot,” or tha * Pourl of Savoy," can Lon- aitly sey thoro i8 anything wicked, orof auy ovil tondoncy, in hor peerloss rendering of those stories? Do'yauuay they aro fictiont So are nino-tenths of tho books in our Sunday-echool litoraturo, Dliss Mitcholl ronders “ flction na though It were truth,” And she is » stending ropraof to tho pulpié that “prenches truth ng though It wore fiction,” The samo may bo_sad of 2irs. Chantron and Miss Clura Mofrik, hoth slanding bigh in their profession, and both of irraproachablo eharacter, Who suol lay anytbing o the chargo of Jnmes E. Murdoch more than I juetly chargonble to aiy other Luman being 7 *A mau of congoion- tions principles, of nablo ganerosity, of oxaltad Pitriotism, ho 14id his 8048 Hpon Lis sountry's altar, and guvo Lis monoy without stint to tho soldiers, and for tho xollst of tholr familios at Liome, Who over heard himyead *The Dying Sol- diers ¥ and * Tho Lord's Prayor,” without be-~ ang atirred with tho doepest emotions ? I might sy the aomo thing of many others, not from porsonnl nequantanco, but from univorsal repu- fation nud cknowlediged standiug in thoir pro- fession, . 1 do not hasltato to eny that I considér tho drama, in its moro clovated rexlm, o fur lens nt. vaxanse with tho principlos of Ohristionity than uthougand and ano things that are winked at among; tho churches, snd indulged without one word of ropraof, and without any compunctions of conecienco, Torinstanco, In the olurcl odi- fica iteclf, o sort of mongrol theatra is often fm- provised,’ consisting of puntomimes, tablonux, charnden, Senta Claus entortalnments, nnd Old Tolks concorts in costume, which nre glvon as a church ontortainmont, none of which, howover, will bear any comperiton for oxcollonco with a firat-class thoatro, and_yob cach of whick is as really theatrical as anylting witnossod on tho stago. Of comso, thoro are evils that scem fo bo ine soparably coninected with tho thentro i its best phasea, In its truest nobilicy ; and tho samo is rue of alwost every phass of human wmuty‘ and of human associntions, ' Imperfect™ stands rocordod ou ovary pge of man's hintory, Lvil {s universnl, and nono aro freo from sin. o Lendongy i t5ward uin, mud miora estrange- mout from God anywhero and overywhoro, . You find it under tho mot favorablo ciroumsisncos, m‘Dleng out even under thoe very shadow of the aauetunry, and in tho vory pales®of tho Church, und under tbe most unfavorable circumstanees alko. It ono it disposcd tobon man In thonoblest, truckt sonso of tho term, tho Influcnco of the thontro will not provont the ronlization, On the othor hand, §f one ia# 1ot tho pluok aud forco of chnractor requisite for tho task under any cirs cumtznces, Lo will fail ovon fu tho Ghurih of God, If men aro rosolved to muke beasts of themsalves, then bonsts thoy will Lo, whotlior in tho Cluireli'or out of it. If thoy will bo men, nothing §s abla to provout it Thoy riso to the roud emiuonce of & noble and Lonored man- Fiood Ly forcos us omuipotont a8 tho slements thot uphonved the overlusting Lills. A the Oburols did not suvo them, #0 tho thoatro will not destroy thom. Nothing con deutroy tho wan who i dotorminad to bo gomebody. Olirint, Nhmsolf often minglod fu socloty, scorned by tho proud keribos and Pharisces, o4 of tho lowost and vilost order s sud no 1uan vy evor caluminatod moro than Ho for mingling in thio nociety of elnnors, Bomo of His deorost Irionds woro choson from amoug the abandoned olasses, Mo did not atand aloof, 88 more hioly than thoy, aud donounco them as' villaius ani Lirlots, bt singlod smong them, and did thein 0od. B % ave alvays bosn somowint ot loss to know just whoro to dmw tho line m tho mmtter of mmuecimonts, au looked upon from a Clrlstisn standpolit, but 1 linvo como to tha conclusion that neithor oustom, nor oducation, nor projudice, nor luman vules and rogulatlons, 'but tho Beriptures of Di- vino truth alone, should detarmine the line, point out the way,'sommond tho good, aud con derun the bud, Wo re aboustomad o pass hyreh condemuation upon many {hings consorning whick the Bible is ellent, ~Tho Koman theatre was In voguo when Christ wns uhon entth, bub 116 fins loft 1o Word on racord againgt it, Ml pronthed nt Romo when -thoe thoatro s In Its lory, andab Athons amid the splendots of tho Gravint gamos and thoatres, but ho hns left no word of condo:nantion ngalnst oithor, speale thus, not to justify tho thealro, but to condonmn tha habit wo too ofton Indulge in of indiscriminatoly ~ denounclng ovorythliy dra- matio as ovl, and only ovil, whon'wo ibvo no wntrant to do’ 80 from_tho Iiiblo, tho only toxt- book of our roligion, - Evorgthing: thut in sinful is oxplicitly poluted out ‘in that book. Cone domuation 18 written upon it, and we are on= Joined ugalnst b, are avon_inught to avold tho appearanco of ovil, and to do notbiug pur- posaly to griovo or offond our bratbran, This s vory propor, and just as it should bo; but it will bardly benr a forcod ltoral intorpros tation. Becauso thon you would Lavo to submlt Lo ovory schism that might got into the brafu ot oyery nnrcssounblo, Inull-findiog person in the Chureln "Ml Idoy' Js wiaply zhiioulous, Tho ouly txuio sofution is that pivan by the npostio, ¢oucorning just such differoucos of opinion: Lot overy man be fully porsuaded in his own mind;" and lob ench nccord to ovory other ono full liberty of conscionco aud _porfoat froodom of judgmont; *for to odr own Mostor, Wo onéli stand or fall’ Chiooso that which Ia good and turn awy from that which you know and fool to bo evil. - “ For it any man thinketh auyihing to bo sin, to bim it 1a alu," though it may not bo pin per s, I do tiot wisl my oplnions to Lo aken_nsa guldo n thin matter of amusomonta. ANl I nek 16 the privilogo of {binking my own thoughts, and Linving my own opinions, and onjoying. my own plessuros according to tha - dior tates of my own cousclonco. T most cheorfully sccord to avorybody elso tho samio night, If T clooso to take my foumily to witnoss tho “Pour] of Savoy" that 16 oy busluos, not yours; and if you choose ollorwise, tiat In your busiucas ot miuo. 1 accord Lo you siucorlty In_your views; aud L asik you to accord a8 much to o in my viows, How much bettor it would bo It oll could aotupon thin principlo, What a world of troublo would bo avoldad, Thoro is nolbing so innocent but it may bo turnod into thnt which is sinful, if wo aro disposad to do it, ‘Whoj ouo neglects business for plensurs, Lo sins, Whon & churcheniombor laavos an ' np- ‘poiaitment of thd ohuols for moro suclal visiting or plosure of any kind, ho violatos Lis moat sol- oma obligations,~ Whon tho young man spends his day fn tho billiard-gnloons, ond bis nights in tho Uhoatro,esruiig notbung aid speading evry- thing, ho ot only sins, bt s o fool besidos, Who tho young woman _bocomes g0 infatunted that kbo thinks of nothing olso only tho iden of going to ovorythivg in tho lino of amuso- mouts, of whatover charaotor, to which sho can get any ono {o oscort Ler, sho simply bocomos o silly monine, and brings not ouly ruin to hersolf bt roproach upon tho wore rational and respectablo class of mnuscments. Of courso, tha theutro ia chargod with Lior rain; while her’ own folly, and hor rckloss want of caro in the choico of lier assoclalos, wora tho ronl agenta of hor fall. I supposo pooplo would got drunk, and becomo licoutions nud abundoned, and gumblo, and commit oll monner of {ul: quiics jusk' 5o, muchs s thog dojiow it avory thentro “ou oarth woro annibilated tlus vor hour. Tt s tho rockloss abuso ol overy thing that docs tho mischiof, Intompor- ance iu _nothing, modoration in’ ll . thingy, would curo muny 0f 1ifo's ills and_promoto won dortully Loth tho Lappluges” and. loagority of thie bumen family, Lt tho soug be carofal in thoir choico of amusoments and tomperato in their indulgonca, and thoy sro safo. Lot thom bo realdess in choosing snd Intemporato in their indulgonco, giving lovko reins to overy wild pussion aud faucy, and thoy are quite sura to bo ruined. ; i - A JOYOUS RELIGION. Sermon by the Rov. 1L Joun’s Churc Tho Tey. I. N. Powors, D. D., Reotor of 8t. Joln's Eplucopal Churoh, *yostordsy morning preachod the followlng sormon, ontitled: A Joyous Religion : » But et the righteous be glad ; let them rejoice bo~ fore Gou ; yes, Lot them exceediugly rejolce.—Pealin il 3., Y ‘Theko things Liavo T spokon unto you, that ny joy ight remafn in you, aud that your joy might be i, St ol 3%, 2, Tho osplanation of the existenco of any ro- ligion s found in the naturo of man. Animals can havo no roligion, because thoy have no ca- pacity for it. Man has such & capacity, but & copacity that varies according to his epiritual aud intolloctual pdvaucemont. 1o loves ; ho aspires ; bo looks out on a world of mystery ; he wants happluess ; doath 18 bo- foro him. Ho is conscious of his limitations and infirmitics, and the noed of suporhuman as- sistunce, 8o u roligion of some kind is inovita~ ble. ‘Tho bost rotigion will bo one that supplios Dis highost waut, that puts his wholo nature to ite right and intonded uso. Puro Oluistianily doos thls. Dut thero aro parversions of Chris- tinnity, Lot thoro bo misconcoptions of tho divine character, and henco of tho government ,of th o univerac, and tho object of our existonco, and religion will show tho error, Now assume that truo religion ought to bo promotivo of human Lappiuess, * Lot tho rightoous b glad," enys tho Denlmist. Aud our Lord among bt tondorest words said to his disciples, *Thoso things bave I spokon unto you that'my joy might Temain in_yon, and that your joy wight bo full, But joyfulucss caunot bo sacurod by the supprossion, or disuse, or por- vorsion, of tho natural facultics, ~ “I'ruo religion gives harmonious play to thoso, aud sauctifios their uscs, It is ono of tho fontues of man's dignity in tho acaio of boing, that Le hes a ra. tional goul, Tho faculty of Yesson was bostowed for high aod noblo ends, Tt i to bo used on all subjects that can concorn onr humun intorests, "o dopreclato its auploymont aud its power, is o dopreciuto s pront achiovomonts, tio mau- mouts of mechanlenl invention, the diecovorios of kcienoo, tho chioicests (ruits’ of industry and learuog, ol the uploudid utlitioe tlat tako un out of barbarism, and make history ilustrious, Thio faculty of reason is to bo omployed ng well in roligion ns anywhoro lso. To'uoy that it is righe in God to do wlat i wrong in tman; that it 16 wood in God to be what is ovil in_wmau, is an afiront to tho uenso with which God Las en- dowod ug, and o debasement of it, Whon God is roprosentod as inconsistent, unjust, erucl, aud vindictive, it is just as propor to ravent iv and douy it as'to deny that two and bwo uro ton, or thut & cirelo in a squaro. It s & poor complic out, o the Almighty. 1o uso tho loglcal fauulty in_ affairs of duily businoss,—in plinting and reaping, i buyiug aud building,—and to ropu- dinto it \whon W0 eotao Lo think ahd act with rof- oronco to Him and 1lis blessed Word, Thors aro matters, of courdo, above reason iu all tho cone corus of lifo; o, 100, in an infinite mensure, in tho nuture wid ways of God; but to acknowledgo this [act, and not in accordaneo with it, doos nok dispurngo reusou ox pour contempt upon it. Uod does not roquire us to accapt what we have no faculty to reccive, or to do what, by virtus of our vory tintura, we are nbeolutoly fucapable of por- forining. Wo uro to employ the logical faculty in, lo logitimato way i evory dizection that ju- vites usoful investigation, and, if the heart is tho abode of lovo, life shall grow ricler for thoso ox- orcisos, Usod in their propor uphere, overy fuc- ulty of man becomos nn iustrument of his happi- uess, and heneo of the Divino Glory, Tuke tho dosize of kuowledge, for inatauce. Wo ava in tho midat of inuumorublo wouders, with our human uocousition pressing us, Thero is a curionity to find out tho usos of things, to traco rosulls to cuuge, to uncover the obscuritios of hiatory and tho plan of croution, to get the equiptionts for siceces m tho atiigelo of, lite, Moroovor, there §g a plousura in thie vory act of learning, mastoring difticuitlos, in _acquiring Tnowlodiso, that wnbsorvs Luman comfort und prospority, aud at tho wamo Limo_rovouls tho thiinil wies dow, It s our duty to uno this noblo fucully of Inlolligonce in overy diraotion whoro it can bo advaniagoonsly emplosod, sd tho doctrino ihat it must be restralned lost somo notion onco hold t0 bo sncrad—somo orror of doctrlue or practica —should bo_ovorthrown, is pornfcions. I have Jiiown potwonsyualt wlo stood Iu fearof lowrn- iog, and diseorniod i} on tho praud tat [t was Lostilo ta roligion, Itonly kitls tha orrors and suporstitions that izmoranco ongonders. o who dearloa actual veienfiflo knowledgo, virtually do- crlos tho wisdow of God fn giving ‘mun his yast povrors, aud In Luilding the universo ps Lo lag, “Waon, as to tho osthotio taston, tho lova of tho ‘beautifal, the swmo principlo is trua, Mun la on- dowod wibh & feullng for ordor, symmotry, adnp- tation, herinony, boanty In its’ manifold” forus, Who ondowed bim? God. And why aid God uinko the materlal wotld o glorious, It it woro not to bo admirod and onjoyod? What purpoto worves tho loveliness ot flowor, and stur, and ra. dlant londaoapo, and glowing flrmauont, the Iight, and musid, and, splondor, and wondor of tho artly, If 1o oyei behold ‘the miraclo and 1o heart anjoys it7 If you sny God onjoyn It, thon truly it @8 rich that lfi oiidron appreciate whit 1o laves, aud lina mado 8o fair, Ono I allowing ondsldo of his naturo, and honoo ono sourca of (onjoyment, to o hoperu- tivo by supprosuing |his faoully of tasto.. Yot anoh viows of religlon wro {aught ns make all rogard For. the boaudful eimply frivolous and sintul, as If God way flsptonsd with tho pleas- Pawers, of St ure of bis childron inthe marvols of art and th glories of lis heudlyork, Uut.w roj.uw“ lh: Liolinean that flls the uniyorao s to alight the Divine Goodness. T raligion oujoys all thut ovealh tho harmony autl hoaity thaf aro porfoct 4n Him who is {n ail and ovor all, * Then, tgo, aa to tho natural affoctions, God s honorod By thal logitifunto oxorolso. _ifo m= plonted thom. Thoy aro tho symbolsof His lave, o think that ‘Hlo bogrudges. Hia ohildron tho Joy of omslily riondatiph— o' flloticn of homo el goofety,—Ia ipaulting to His genolons fathorhood. 1o smlles §u the gladnoss of ovory heart, on tho ondoarmonta nf #hio Lonkohold, tha dalight of the lovor, tha paront's tondarncss, the spoiitaneous galoty of tho chlid. f tharo ls auy- {hing on earth that Isvooted dooply In the na- turo that God bimaclt implantod, it b thin saorod faoliug for kiudred, tnd homo, and frionds, snd ,country, and tho great brothorhood of man. But tho blosscd Goxpol Ling Lioon so misintor- proted a8 to load mon to tnk that thoy did Gad serviao by crucitging thego natural affectious, by trylug to” extirpdto thom. Tho wildornoss and Mmounstory bonr nwful witness to the mon- strous follios thnt hiavo followod tho practico of a gloomy and inseno scotlclstn,—tho offort to plones dod by ibdiauso or porvorsion of what lia s glven for liuman good, Teuo rollgion gives play to ll the natural aonsibilitios aud affeations of tho henrt. 1t consceratos thom to thslr logiti- imnte sourgo, but doos not ropross or dxtripato. God would hinvo evory puro_omotipn, overy gift for frlondship, evory capability fdt qdmiration, and houor aud roverauco employed in tho rola- tiona of socloty, and tho houschold, snd the Stato, Ohrist came not Lo deatroy, bilk to snvo, and there i no greator porversion.of ls Gospol thaw tho view that God s pleasod ‘at tho unuat- ural mortiflcations of human afections, and that tho happiness of Lia childron iy not welcomo in iie sight, All stioh mistakos grow out of wrong vlows of our Fathor in Heavon. 80 a roliglon will not bo o joyous ono with dark and forbiddiug views of God, Ploture God 09 an_ arbitrary soveroigu dolug what s unjust, and requiring what Is un~ seasonablo, and tha sweoknoos and hopo and joy ara all takon ont of roligion, So whore Hoin taught a8 frowniug upon tho innocont ploasuros of mnukind, whora ITo is roprosontod an forgor- doining vast numbors of imumortal beiogs to overlusting misory, dellvaring to futura woo tho onorations who 'havo been dostituto of Ifls lgbt, where Ho is dosorlbod ns maliug Limsolf glorious in tho agonies of tho duwned, and oxevuting sn arbitrary choleo in eolceting the candidates for Heaven, thon thohuman mind tu- stinctively and inovitably ravolts, Such n being canuot bo obeyed, oxoupt through the fonr of tormont,~eaiot bo onjoyed, savo through somo strango’ religions hallucluation. Ile las boon doscribod, oven in Christiau times, by some, who thouglit thoy undorstood His word, In o way that ‘malkses Him appoar to condid, sincoro, and affoc- tionate souls as an infinito tyrant, Adbero rig- orously to tho absolute_truth of such dootrincy a0 T linve indicated, and_ humsn lifo iy shroudod in gloom, 'Tho brightness of tho matorial world bocomea & hidoous mockoery. Thero Is uo mo- tivo for noblo entorpriso, no Inspiration to gra- cious critios. Tho grontnoss dies out of ox- istouce. The blogsoms of tho hoart withor away. Now we can novor fathom the fullncss of Goi, or formulato oll is_truth. Bué bobolding 1lie glory in the faco of Josus Christ, o can got uuch Just concoption of Hia _charactor and will ns’| ahail malo our scrvico a bleesing and o joy. Wo Xnow, indoed, that His will is overlsting good will; 'thut His justico Ia not anothor kind of jus- tico from that which wo_can undorstand ; that Tis love la not another kind of lovo from that which Ho pute into our hearts; that His wisdom fs mot snother kind of wisdom from that whioh is displayed in Ifs wondorful works, that duy unto day utioroth speaoh of Him, ' Thoro aro no two kinds of goodness, ona for God snd anothor for man. Whero aro bo two kinds of justico, ono for God and anotlior for man, Thére ara not two kinds of rightcous- nose, one for God and snother for man, In goodnoss, and justico, and_rightaousuess, tho quality 1¢ tho gaig in both God ud man.ilo iforenco is in thv quantity and rolations, ' In Cod the good is_absoluto and mensureless: in man it 18 limited, and affeoted by Lis infirmities, aud imperfections, God is the fountain of nil «gooduoay, s the sun is tho fountain of overy ray of light 'thnt reaches the oarth. 8o welmow tnat whilo we rojoct what is unjust, what is im- puro, whint is untrae, whilo we love aud pursuo what is Lioly, and good, wo aro doingHis will, Wo ko that in tho way of holiness In tho way of ealvation. And hore for our roscuc, and guid- auco, and comfort, and refuge, is the Divine disclosure of tho Sou of God. 'His joy waa por- foob bocsuse Ho was o porfock Son, and as, through tho cleansing Spirit, wo become like Him, wo huve o portion of His joy, O, beliold- ing Him, in_our low_csiato, fall of grace and triith, iilustrating ovory virtus, pouring out His sympathies to sotils bungry and thirsty for God, teaching, conwoling, giving life and tho light of love, making gladnoss in droary homes, filing tho lowly and desponding with blossed fiopo, and tho strong confidance of tho infinito care, showing tho grand sig- nificanco of lifo, and tho opulent trensuras of immortality, sufforing, dying for us, *tho just for tho unjis,” vauquiahiug sin and death, aud filling otaruity’ with tho glow of his victorious lifo,—beholding this friond, brothor, Savior, Chist the Lord, “tho brighthess of tho Fathor's glory,"—uball Yo thiuks tho God of al o Linrd 1nstor, or o cruol judgo, or tho existenco Ho pives o Jess thou o proolous boon? Ab, wo kuow from all this gracious manifostation that lifo menns good; that in our Lord thero is full- noss of joy and ot His right hand plonsuros for- ever moro. The whola Gospol i8 guod nows Dringiug choor, aud hope, and fnspirasion to all who hiavo oars to hioar, -~ \hat Clriat discloses 2 tho will of God concerning us s in hurmony with the conatitution of things,—our kuman na- ture, condition, and noeds. Our happiness will bo insured by takivg His motbiods and living His life, which is' bogotien in obodionco and faith, God doos not force upon us a religion inconsint: ont with His porfections, or with the naturo Ho bus givon us nud the placo wo aro tofulfil in His croation, Christionity practically is the use of lito in nccordanco witr the divine nturo and goodness, aud ity fruition iy blesseducss horo and hereaftor, 1 know what s sald about tbis view by thosa who hold to tho bard, mechunical, soui- loss, arbitrary eystem of 'u dospotio . divino sovorciguly, and who makio Chmuliailly’ en attorthought, an invention in tho mind of the Almighty to romedy what He provioualy fuiled to acoomplish, Thoy etigmatize this religion as a voligion of sentiment,—oue that is quito inodo- quata for iho grent'néads of a sinfal raco, But take out of the Christin religion thoso ole- monts which thoy profoss to treat with such Iiphtuss, if uot contompt, sud what romaine? hrow out the olemonts of common seuso: throw out all sensibility to_tho boautiful, and espocially to beauty of a epiritusl kind; throw out the oxporionoes of tho soul in tho wight of thio mystories of lifo, and doath, and good, and evil, nud tho prosende of the infinito all around us ;' throw out tho exorcise of tho affoctionnto naturo—all that moves to trust, and dovotion, and charity, and tho cllnging esgornoss of prayor; throw out the love of holinoss for its own sake, and_{ho sympathios that reach and clusp tho influitoly good aud strong in tho cou- sclousnais of o deathloss friendahips throw ont all thet baa the oolor, aud fragrance, and charm of tho heurt about it, sud what i loft for lifo buc n dry obiounel, o llowerlons waste, the arid sands ? *Bach o roligion would bo good for noth- itig, noy, religion itvolf would expire, for the vory buls of it, and eloments for it, wonld bo ovarthrown, ‘Thioso who snoor 8o mich at i ro- ligion that agoords with our luman want, that iw groundad in the very constitution and nocos~ xitios of lifo, thnt malos provision for thio mind, the hoart, tio {mogination, tho wholo mass will flud when thoy com to_comprohond tho situn- tion, that thio snoor is against God Himmolf, Wo aro pleood hore for 8 bonevolent purposo ; aud tht thoology whiol mnkis tho world darkor than it Is, which doprosscs tho condid truths uooklug hind, instoad of cheorlng and vucour. aging it 5 that dostroys tho incontives to hopo il lubor and tho inspirations of lovo nud duty, uud thet confuses the Idons of Justioo rightoousnoss u sincoro souls, is not u goud tho- ology, What is not usoful in oligion a3 woll a8 in otlior eplioros of human conootn, must ulli- wmatoly bo discarded, ‘Iho power and glory of the bleisod Gospol 8 in thoe fact that it pro- motas the higghost possibla utilition, It fullions isu_foxhaustiblo. Tho loving and obodiont din- alplo kows whoro Lo gots Lin bost Lope, his Hohowt rosourcos, tho Light in whicl li houy Jight hoyond tho grave o kuowa that it i ot I oo formulury that & theologlan has von- dtractod ubous tho absoluts God, bub in tho love of Christ which coustrained hlm to vapontanco ; aud, laoking through tho modiun \of tliyt loyo, Lo i contont to trust his ITonvenly Tathor, t0 take tuo Master's Lnud, to love Lis 1ife, nbiout whiol there {6 1o mistake, o s roat causo of Joyfulioss i roligton In in our right rolntlous with God. 1¢ ain doos not burdon, If tho consticuco doos uob acoiso, thote is o consolousnoss of tho moar: noss of CGod in Chrlst, a confldonco of love thet loads to holy ‘and dutiful living, tho result must bo very graclous. I know Low £ar (ho boat aro from Tenllzing tholr idgal; liow, mnid tomptations aud trials, thero {s sturibliug and it tho blossod vay. T ko, too, how, ith all our blosslugs, It sdoms darl: to 1y somotimes, and that HUITOW socum o spring up rothor than joy. Dub yet, thi la not tho pra- vailing experlonco. Wo cannot wondor that 1t I 0 wiion we romembor that our Lord himsolt hud Jiis darlc and bitter Tiours ; and what was d _for Mim {8 good for we. And, sl Hoon awenl whora Tl Tove ubdes, thowsts thicy Lo konaohs of paln aud afiction, It by this Aute shino on the honrt tat glyos the host oligor,— the grontent consolatlon thok o bLavo, \Whero tho “apiritual lifo ia vital, 6ven end oxporioncen hnvo blossnd intorpratatlon, and wa goo lifo, and ita rolationships aud dutles, through a modium thot makon thom sncrod and hoontifal, To look out on tho world whoro Gad Is ovor working, and to fool that Ho who spius tho starry.systoma ulong_thelr glittoring couraoa caros for s 3 to w60 1tis lovo in tho truo and loving hoarts around um; to boold in flower, and bird, and ovory benntobus thing, 6 ¥ay of Hie tanscond- ont “lovollnews; Lo fosl that oll things,—our lyos, tho gouorations, the great movomont af " tho Cunlvomouare wolng ou the ordor of 1ila wil; that love I the Inw of nll,~4his s an {mposing view, shiodding gladnéas fnto_ tho hontk, And as we grow wonry in_our journog, little by iittlo, and frionds full naround us, and tho gravo {s noar, thoro s & swoot joy in bolng ablo to look boyon timo,--uoolng al througls thordatk valloy ho ath- way o tho Lard, who gooa boforo us, and knowing that bocauso Ha lives, woshall livostno, This ro- iglon of Gliiut 1y v oligion of hopo, and oon- solation, nnd_juy, becauso It moots our human wants and onablos uw to faldll tho onds of our oreation, * God_roquires of wa only what fa ronuonablo ; but n tho lova and following of tho mnslar, is tho exomplitioation of tho Bieotost ronsonabloness,—tho wisdom which in Lioly and quvauly, whoso troneuran nre imporlshablo. T.ok us follow tho divino mothods, and make our livon hurmonfous with tho gracious will aud nature of God. i SEEMING SORIPTURAL CONTRADIC- TIONS. Sermon by the Iev.J. Tt Hibbard, of tho Swedonborghun, Clhurcl, The Rav. J. R, Hibbard pronched yostorday morning ot the now Oburch hell,cornor of Lightoonth atreet nnd Prairio avouuo. His ser- mon s as followa: With thio moreiful Thou wilt show Thyeolf merclful ; ‘with an upright mau Thou wilt ehow Thyself upright ; with tho puro Thou wilt show Thyself pure ; and withh tl;\'rll"n';;mr“d Thou wilt ohow Thiyselt froward.—Fs,, =yiil,, 26,20, Withiout attempting to fllustrate the particu- Inra of the Loxt to-day, I wish to consider the leading idon that runs through it, which you rendily perecivo to bo, that tho charnoter undor which the Lord appears to oll s detormined by ench ono's own state of mind, *To the merci- ful Ho appears merelful ; to tho upright, up- right ; to the pura He showoth himsolf puro; and to tho froward Ho showoth Himaolf fro- ward." A wondorful and sirango thing In tho lotter of tho Biblo, or the Word of tho Lord, fs tho ap- paront contradictions that not unfraquently og- our Letween its diffecent parts, And of thoso nono oro more marked than thoso in which tho charactor nnd ttributos of the Lord aro describod or roforrod to, The essontial uaturo of tho Lord is love, Tho strongost possiblo oxprossions of langungo are used 1 the Seripturos to sbow this. * God ia love," is an exprassion oquivalout to saying thab Ho i notbing but puro lovo, as the sun it puro fire. Ho is also callod *motcifal and gracious,” and “long-sufloring,” and “ abundant in goot~ noss,” JUls eaid of Tim, thot **Ho malioth His sun forisoon tho ovil and on ho good, and sondeth rain upon iho just sud tho" unjust.” Anud all through tho Scriptures abound with pass- nges sotiing forth tho Divine lovo, morcy, good- nows, compussion, and tondornoss, as ousentiol elomonts of tho Divino oliracter. In accord- auco with this, tho Lord commands and exhorta 1lis orontures to_ recoive, cultlvate, and oxoreiso this sttributo of lovo 0o grostor than all obhors, and indisponsablo 0 tha chasactorof a true man: “hus Ho not only commauda to love Him with oll tho honrt, aud tho noighbor a8 one's solf, a8 the most important of all things, snd “on which bang all tho Jaw aud_tho prophets,” but Ho alto commands, * Lovo your chomios, bloss thew that curso you, do good o thom that hate you, and pray Tor thom thot despitofully use you sud porss- cuto you ;" and this that they *may bo the cluldron of their Father in Lieavon;" aud bo 3 morciful aa tholr Futhior in hosvor fa morcis (ual," But in contrast to all this wo find tho Sorip- turos spoakiug; of tho Lord as boing ! angry with the wicked) overy day,” and s “ ruling tho nations in auger, and smlting thom in His wrath," Ho s said to *trend them in Hi anger, oud tramplo thom fu His wrath" *to 'oxecuto vongosnco In mugori" it is_ofton ssid that *Tho auger of tie Lord was kindlod ngainst Ternol,” or againt othors, * poured out™ upon thoso who bud offended Him; and it is enid, “Hig soul hatoth tho wicked,” and that * I shall rain upon thom snaros, fire, and an Lorriblo tompost;" and in accord'with this charactor, fyll of wugar, wrath, hatred, aud vengeanoo, 1o i spokon of ns come wmanding His peoplo to'trent thair enomics with tho groatost degreo of crualty, Tiius, Ho com- mended Israol to uttorly dostroy tho nations inbabiting tho laud of Cauban ot the mo_thoy como out of Egypt through tho wildornoss and tool possossion of it. Thoy woro to © ubtarly destroy” in somo in- stances not only tho mon, but the womon and children, Aud’the grontcst degrao of cruolty was practiced towards them. And o tho saored writers, spoaking by tho Spirit of God, ofton pray for tho most cruol ond torriblo things to como upon thoso that displeaso thom, The 109tk Panfm, to which public attontion has boen Intoly called, is only ona of mauy oxumplos of 1 similar kind, Dotwoon thoso wo oxtromos of love and hto, mercy and vougoauce, overy pos- siblo varioty of charactor and dispodition. 16, in the Word, aitributed to tho Lord. Henco /all sorts and conditions of mon * find in tho Sorip- tures somo idoa of God_suited to thom, Aud Lienca comes tho great varioty of thought con- corning tho naturo of God, aud of His attributos, aud modos of goveroment. Ono olass supposg Him o govern by tho law of lovo and moroy, aud that Ho will at Inst bring all to Himsolf by the conbinued aotivity of that ewsontial clomout of His Jifo; anothor that Ho governs with tho rod, and that to thoso who violato His commmds Ho will moto out o sura and sovore, if ot always a ewift, punleh- o mont, Socing that tho Soriptures do not roprosent tho Lord, wo aro led to inuiro, how it is 807 and, finally, why it is so? “ho threo words *‘that,” “Low,” * why," apply to throo distinct planos of Luman thought and lifo. *That” ap- plics to tho plano of ofects or things dono, aud e auy of any complated work * that " it is dono, “ow" appllos to tho piano of means or enusos, wo inquiro “ow 2 or by what means, bus the thing beon dono? * Why" applics to tho plauo of onds or motives, and wo inqulre *yhy" waa it dono? or, what motives used ‘moans to produce the ofett? Wo havo already soen * that " in the word of tho Lord Ho is often reprasonted as being angty, rovougotul, fillod with wrath, oto.and that Hu is roprosented ng acting with rago, and exerclsing cruolty, and commnanding euch nots i His crontires, whil Il casoutinl nuturo s ub tho samo time eald to ba Tovo and moroy lteolf, And wo may wonder how it I that tho Biblo comos to spoak of God in thi wiy. Wo mny wonder how tho words of 'God, which which must come from His infinito lovo, and in themnelvos, na they emanate from Him, can breathe notbin, Dbut moroy and tondor compassiou towarda all, ovon towards Iis worst onomics, can Lo 49 cliungod as to appest iu tho lotter ™ of tho Word in tio forms of angor, wratl, aud rovenge ; and to appear to command Lutred_towards cuemies, and the cruel murdor of captivos_takeu in war, and of thoir innocont womon_and children, au to evon rovel in aats of re nFm “Ihia quostion of * how # fuvolvos very larges Iy the philosophy of Divine rovelation, or the taturo of tho inspiration of tho Borlpturés. And wocan, of coureo, only touch it briofly inn morniug sormon. Tho Lord kays; ** By words they aro eplrit and thoy are life,” Aud {t i wrivten, * Tho lottor Lillewh, but the apirlt givoth lifo."’ And wo nro told thoésomo procopts wore llowed or appar- eutly commanded to Teraol- on accouut of tho hardnoss of thoir hearts,” and_not because thoy woro it ngroomont with ' tho Divino gaod plose nro from tho boginnuug. ~And nlso wo know that sovoral things thnt had ™ boon unid_by thom of old tims,"—{unt is, in tho law of Modes,—wora of this chumotor. And whon tho Lord camo in tho flesh o charged thom, 1t Datn boon #uid, An oyo for su oyo, aud oot for o tooth s but Teny unto you tint yo roiat not evll. It hath boon snid by thom bf old timo, "tliou bt 1ovo {hy noighbor and hato | thino onomy; but Tsay unto you, Lovo yonr onomlos, Llas thom that onrso you, do good to thom that hato yen, and pray for thom that do spitofully uso youmnd horsecuta you.” Much, 100, of tho Woiil {a in parablo and motaphor, and tho lioly, iuspired songa of the auclont pro: bhiots woro called * dark sayiuga on tho hasp.” u tho Now Oluroh, those® dark tayings afo ‘oponcd, and tho rensons why thoy aro ducls withe ont and light within aro mado kiown, Wo hayo tho promito that whon tho Lord shall come tho socond timo *ywithout sin’nuto salvation, "— whon Io will uot hava the ppoarando of Lelhg a: slunor, o bo “uumborod with tho trausgross: om,"—* hiddon thinga sholl bo rovostod;” whhy has boforo Loon obsouro shall bo mado Lright; thoke, thinga Lotoro waon through duss durkly" whatl b soon *faco to fapo i ?“ " "luh ‘unf tho mnufi Bl‘llu Iul!l [ fill; of 10 Bum, AN I b Y an ™ pe ™ Sevendoie ¥ s darknosn which has ~ boforo envoloped tho Chinroh shall becoma “ns tho nuondsy. Aud il this whon “the Son of Man shall como in theolouds of Lionvon, with powor and glory." 118 hina como.’ Aud among othior things 1o Las mado known ars many truths Soncerning tho nature of Hia holy Word, tho mnunor fit whioh it was given, and the way in whtohs tb in bo bo undorstood. Bame of theso truths concorn= iug the Word sro, that the snored Horipturo, or tho Word of tho Lord, is divino Lruth itsolt ; that tho Borlptyros sro thus tho vory wisdom of God that thoy contain n piritunt onao within tho litoral souse, aud relatod ta it and giving lifo to it, a8 tho soul 1s rolatod to the body, and givos lifo to it; that thna tho litoral sondo of tho MVord, wiihiout or saparatod from it spiitunl sonuo, is dovold of lifo, s the body would bo without tho soul; that,'ss tho soul is apiritun], tud Ie an organie foruk (from tho substanco of 0 Innor or splritual world, with a rosidanas for tho Lord in its Intnost part, far abovo hummn or angolio consciousness, while tho body takon from tho matuniy and. serhely world, andcomponed of " ita" mubatasgee #0 tho apiritual or intornal songo of tho Lord's Word is an organizad aystom of spiritus! truths adantod to tho bighot or angello naturo of man, and within this spiritual seuse there 18 tho ve: Divino Wisdoin or Word itaclf; whilo tho litoral Houeo, 18 o natural body and_garmonts, is taken from ' tho natural world nnd hifo of miui—from bis uatural thoughits, and feollngs, aud axporic onces,—from his momory, and the Imnrossions made’ upon his soneos,—and from the Apponr- anoes thonoo rosulting} and 8o tukon nud ac Taoged wpon Lo wpinigal, Hiat, ey tho body o tho soul, {6 Is_adapted t0 'the spiritual mopso within, by correspondonco tn overy partiouiar, and is tho modium of tho intorual spiritual nnd divine exprossion to mon, From “.IH! it may bo ucon that the lottor of tho Word is ®upirit and Uit ohly becntud of tho spiriénal sonso and tho divino lifo within ; that in ftsolf nlone it iu ns tho body of man would b, soparate from his syirit, lieu, thoroforo, the Lord, o the divino Jove, ‘would commuuiente fo sngols and mon' somo portion- of thnt wisdom Iy which Ho would havo thom govorn. thoir live, and mulo kuown to thom somo of lho good offects that would follow obodience, as tho ovil consoquences of disobodi- anco, I8 divino thoughts vould eloth thorm selvoa In Hoaven with corrosponding avgelio thouglts, and, in theso coming dows to men would olotho "thomsolvos with corresponding forms of natural thouglt, or idas takey from the natural world, as it was found in the' mind, aspoclally tho momory, of thouo fo whom it onmo, Tt will bo scon from this, that tho Word inthio Tottor would be difforent srith ono peoplo ot person from what it would bo with anothior, bocause tho etate and condition of tho mind, of thio thoughtsaud sifeotlons, aud sonsual memory, would bo_differont. Mo samo idoss and words wonld ot bo found fn the memory of ono s of anothor. *And tho Lord could onty call up, or solect wnd put on, or clothe his truths with, sieh corrosponding idoas and words as fo ‘could find in tho momory of thoso to whom Ho enmo, With theeo thoughts in our minds, lot us no. ‘Tl s Uho purpoto of God. Tn no, thon, Uri vorealism opon to tho aamo objeotion ng Calvin fam? Ono docroou the ealvation of n part, and tho othor of tho wholo. Tn aithiercaso tho nume bor to bo uaved by to doath of Olrlst s noithor moro, nor logs. And thus tho noconslty of por- gonnl offort In tho work of alvation doos o {,nmfl dtuolf upon tho ndividusl a3 of supromo T Shcory of astvat h w o theory of enlvatlon which wo pread 3id not Involve mnu's agonay in tha worl xr lnl‘: yation, tho objcction must linvo much forco, But tho only snivation which wo toach rests upon the assumption of univorsal obedience, Wq aflirm that tils obedionco will finally oxtond to all soul; thia wo toaol: in tho spitit’ of tho pare ablo of tho Prodigal Son, and o tho Ll of wrhiat o boliava to bo Now "Teatamont *dootrina. But in this viow 110 soul fs saved_by tho docros of God, or by tho nct of God, M, uain monne plagod within biy rench, must work out his own enlyation, God works “tn s, through ug, not by spocinl acts, bt by Iiia truth, by tho oxiuplo of His Son, &nd by tho ontontion of our owa conselences. Balvaiion in a condition— or, i¢ vou profer, rosult—induced by moral and upiritial growtlh,' To bosavod, f-tha Bivto nonse of tho torm, 6 not to belong to & cortnln denoms tuntion of Curlstiung, to bo o membor of Lhe ohurch, or avon to 0o & mortyr to somd good causo ;' it Ja simply to bo o rollglous man—as wo* sy Christian man—iiko Christ; When, thoreforo, wo afitm tho salyntion of all human souls, wo_doclara simply this 1 thas iu the puyposes of God thora Is no auch thing 86 ol irratriovably lost,—tliat God Al all tha upaco thioro s, whothoer in' tho henvons above or in tho earth heneath, and fn onch placo, every- Wliere, aud always, lovos His childron, and sooks their good. Wlion ho last wanderor will come Liomo wo do not know ; whint inconcelvablo aos muy olapso, and still 1t bo true, tht * other shoop 1 liavo which' nro uot 'of this fola. om0l 1 must bring” we do not pro- tend {0 mny. Wo pload for thu In. togrity, unity, * mercifulucss of tho Divigo govorumont. ‘o maintan that lovo, as pro. sonted in the Now Teatament, is not a sentimont buta prlnulglc, and that this Erlnulpln, covterad in tho teaching of Clirist, Is but the iucarnatiox of tho universal and Inaxorablo loyo of God. - If ono hns boon taught to suppoeo that the fearful ond to be saved from ia endloss banishe men from God, ho In disturbed by onr stnfos mont thot such baulshmont I impossiblo, and may turn upon us with the inquiry, “If thera Do no Lol to bo saved froia, why did Obrist dio and what I8 tho uso of all theas moaus of gracs. If we are cortain to bo saved, why need wa bo religions?” To which we reply: but thio only zoed which londs to solvation it Higlleousnoss—r nolthor you nor auy ono oan bo saved oxcept by bocomfug rightoous, and univorsal snlvation cen novor becomo o fack until all aln aud wickednoss aro Lenishiod from tho untyorso. Univorunlism muintaine, na agaluat Calviniam, that Qod's love s impartil; ns ngainat Arminte anlam, that it {8 unohangenblo:.and as agatnsf them both, “that the lovo of God I3 fnoxorable,— 80 inoxorablo that it pursues the sinncr whetlor tico how our Seripkurey wero given.’ A part of thom—most of the historio_portions—urs tho history of o peouliar pooplo, written undorDivin direction, and recording so much and such par- ticulary as tho Lord envy bost for tho purponos tho historic Word wag futondéd to sorvo. - Thin ooplo Ho chosg for this puzposo, not Lociuso of 0fr goodudss, for Ho doclaves thioy woro s stiff- neckod aud robollious poople, but ratlior becanso thoy ‘wore of such a nature that without dostroy- ing their froo-will thoy could Lo lod to do thodo thingy that would ropresont things spiritual and divine. Thoy were very wicked, vory oruol, vory rovengofuland yet moro glvon to oxternal o ligious worship iban olhora, Thoy woro 80 ox- torual and gouoral n thoie tioughis sud feolnge, that nppeals to thoir fnternal reason, or to tue principles of love and justico, would havo beon entiroly unlieeded ; it thoy could_be to somo extont” contrallod 'by apneals fo their soldsh sud sonsunl natures,—the bopo of re- rard or tho fear of " punisbment. Dy thoir inclination to worship,—though with thom idoln trous, thoy could bo 16d to poriorm such oxtarnnl rights as should roprosont truo intornnl worabip, uud by which somo counoction with Henvon could bo still maintuined, Boihg callod of God, and Iijs word comiug to thom, thoy ropresontod tho priciples of fis lovo sud truth. Aho Land of Caunau, from most anciont timos, lind beon called Holy Laud, nud roprosonted tho human heart and mind, ‘{0 various idolatrous tribos inlmbiting it ropresentod tho ovil and porvorted affections and thoughts of tho bumau hent pro- vious to roformation, roganoration, and purifica- tion, Whon, thorofore, this peraonially foroclous aud” crul, poople, tho Israolitos Yaro about toonter into the Lind of Canaan, 'and, scting out thelr own loodthirsty snd oruol i, do- stroy tho provious inlsbilaute, nd dvoll i, tho land, tho Lord allowed thom 6 do sg, aud b tho same timo led thom by tho promisn®of tomnoral soward and tho fear of uatural punish- monts, o obsorve an oxtornal worship thab should correspond to Intornal woysbip, snd all this 8o thnt thoir writton Listory should repre- sout tho romoval, tho utter oxtirpation, of ‘avil and falso things from tho mind aud hoatt of tho regonerato,—tho casting out or dostruation of tlie Cavaanites from tho soul, and tho true 8pir- itunl worsbip of tho Lord thoroin. Tlis opora- tion of tho Divino Providongu with thioso paoplo appeata.in th lowaat ottor ke tho comniaud to Iull, slay, aud trost with cruolty. Whereas with- in, 1t s Hoen a8 the oporation of tho divino loye aud wisdom, scoking and providing for tho nlvie tion of men'by providiug n written wbrd, and by meaus of such instrumentalities s b sinful world and tho most cruol ntion in_ 1t affordod. Those appeatances of crualty are not, thoroforo, to bo attributed to the Lord, but to tho state of tho pooplo to whom, and through whom, His Wordeamo. Boof tho prophotio Word and tbo paatms of David., ho Word of God camo to tho prophoty, aud it was obliged to mdloct and clotho itsotf with such forms™ of thought as it found thoro, Wheroforo, whon spozking of tho necessary to sult of ovil doiug upon’ tho door, tho only ideas ~corresponding to it to be found n tho wemoly of tho prophot woro thoso of punishiment from God ns n.causo; thoro boiog in his mind no such iden as EufToring g tho maro and_necossary rosult of ovil-doing ox- cept as infllctod by u judgo s o povalty. I tho Puslms, David, tho poob and wrrior-King of Torsol, sang under tho influonco of tho apirit of Godl, of bis trials and triumphs, fu prayors and praiios. And in tho lattor all huwan emotions of joy and sorrow, of lova to frionds, aud hatred to enemies, aro uttorod In tho mast glowing lan- guage. Itwas such s the diviuo spirit found in tho momory of David; and such as corresponls to tho vasied statos of Hho rogaugrating soul eu- gagod in mortal combuts against L spiritual one ‘emies or triumphln% over them; the war of lovo and truth ovor ovil’ and orror; tho triumph of right over wrong, of holincss over sin,—full of o spiit of morby aud ontlonosa and divino compnasion within tho hueh olothing talon from tho flerco wrrlor's miud. So, in oll tho imagery of tho prophots, und tho ‘Apocelypso, nnd tho Parabloa of either the Old or the Now 'estameuts, tho Tottok is the olothing takien from the momary and ataten of thoso {0 whom tho Word came! Ho- causo the Lord conld not find the memory of auy oue porson_ all that o nooded to clotho 1lis thoughts of mercy and ealvation to mankiud, To ohoso many writors,—prophets and evaugol: ista—taking from onch Somothing the othora id not_possoss, and altogothor constituting our writton Word, ‘Tho lovo end truth within aro tho Lord's, Tho lottor is eauctiled, and mado Lioly by tho epirit. within, In momo’ pluces tho olothing is but (ho transparont wkin—lika {ho body, tho faco, aud Lands unclothed. From theso tho truo spirit _and lifo elino forih, Tho fago is, *Love tho Lordl" tho ‘hauds, “Love ' tho nolghbort - Wo thus “uoe ' how it is thaf tho Lord comea Lo and apponrs to ovory ono_aceording to Lis state. Jinch ono toos Him through whnt thera fs in himeolf, Lo the meraitul Ho shows Timeolt moroiful; to an upright ma, upright Lo tho puo o appoarn to bo pure, s o o froward Ho mukoth Himeol froward," But to all o appears as tho lovar of gooduoss, tho friond of tho nighitoous, tha rowarSor of 11 rlght, a8 moroiful to tho ponltont. 1t Lo appoars £0'bo augry towards any, thoy ara thio ovil whosa angor against Him 1a rolloctod upon themuolvas, It 1o uppears o auy 10 punish aud condom, thoy aro thoso whosd eins and transgrosslons hinve brought tho fuevitable ponally and suffer- ing of violuted Inw upon them. Enoh appont- aucos ara pormittod {n ho Word, {hat the lowost und ovil, 58 woll as tho righteons, mny know that tho Lord govorus tho world,—that 13ie Tnws, if oboyed, bring ondloes lifo and otornal bleautng § and thak, it diwoboyod, the'consoquoncas will by cortaln and corrosponding eufforing, ——op— VNIVEEBALIBTQ%&H]@QEY OF BALVA~ Sermon by the Rov. Dr, Ryder, of St. Panl’s Church, i The Rov, Dr. Ryder proachied, yeaterday morn- ing, In Bt Paul's churol, o sormon, of which the following portion which rolatus especially to tho thoory of ealvation as wndorstood by Uni- verualiats, will bo of goneral mterost: In tho Unlvorsalist viow of sslvatlon thore Is a diloulty which Mes In the way of its acoopianco Dby many minds, They do not co what Obrint suvos poople from, if ji bo not tho wrath of God or futtirg eufforing, Tl objootion lvsomotimoy Ut 15 thie foriay All smon Axe oixe tb bo saved. Jiving or dead, und will not lok him go, uatil 1t wina biim to oledienco and happinoss, It T gny to you, * You will il got safely out of this building,—no _ono of hero a fow ' hours honco,” not bo likoly to eay, *Well, it it ia cortaln that 1 am to gob out of tho bullds, ing, I noed not put myeelt to any inconvenioncr to %ot out,” bocauso You ‘would know that my slatomont' involved tho uso, on your part, of the mosus noedful to tho rosult, Or,-to use g Soriptural illustration: Whon the ship whick waa_ couvoving Taul to Romo, for bis riw bofore Cumsar, was scomingly nbout to bl wreckod, aud tho mnny _porsons on board word groatly alormed for tholr safoty, the Apostla addressing them, seid *I oxhort you to he of good cheor ; for''thero shall Lo 10 foss of any man's lifo atong you, but of tho ship.” Sub soquontly, whon to vossol was - noas o land, and tho inllors scoing, 0s thoy thought, somé Liopo of reaching tho lioro, lot down the boal into tho sea, intending to embark in her, Paul #ald to certain of the passengors: * Excopt thest abide fn tho vlip, yo cannol bo enved" Had Paul forgotten bis” former_statomont, when he warned Lis follow-pnesongors not to pormit thy unilors o go away with thio hoat? By no meann. His doclaration that wo shall all got sufoly out o) thia storm, and nouo of ua porish, included the 60 of tho means of gafoty within their ronch. "liera wasno fatalism in tho nssuranco that thoy would bo eavod—no lww of nocomsity t¢ - obligo tham to bo enved; thoy could bo saved in only ono_way, and that involved thelr pore sonnl agoncy. S0 when this same_Apostle, in Lis lottor to tha Philippians, sys: Whorofore, God bath highly osalted him, "and givon bim & name above evory name: that at the name of Josug_every lnco .ehould bow, of things in lionven, and things iu earth; and thnt overy tonguo sbould coafoss tht Jodus Christ is Lord to tho glory of God the Father,"—he is not ta bo understood s tanching thnt God will force men thus to submit thomeolves to Christ, o1 that such submigsion Is socurad by tho decreo or purposo, o will of God, but that, * sooing all things from tho Dogiuning, and from anlent timos tho things not yeb dono,” ho inupires it Apostlo thuy £ deelaro o finel subjugation of al) noula to Clirist, If tho auestion o ronowed, “If all aro to b -anved, what nood was thore for Ohrist to dio?' 1 havo buk to aslk, in oply, 1¢ all on board the vossol, thus overtaken by the storm, wero to by Tosonad from thoir perilouy situation, what naed s thoro that tho boab should remnin in the Bhip? Tho boat was nocossnry to their safoty; that gouo, and the conditions on which tha apostio hased his statemont no longer cxisted, It nll are to bo savad, whnt nead i thore that Clwist should dio? But ol will b savad, bo- cnuse Chvist Lias diod, This in tho ground.of our hopo. Rtulo out the oloments involved in the deuth and rosurrestion of our Lord, and my viows of tho futura Iifo would be groatly modi- flod, if, indoed, I had_any viows aa to man's {m. mortal _condition, We ‘accopt those things sg thoy are, What ‘would bo, if the Divino plans woro milike what {hoy are, I hsvo no moaus of nowing, And whilo ¢his subject s bofore our minds, lob mo romind you thnt this viow of salvation iy Clrist commionds itsclf to thougltful porsons on two grounds: Tirst, its reasonabloucss. It mokos uo irrational domands upon tho undor- standing, Tho hard probloms involved inhoredi- tary guilt, imputod righteousncss, offonded juse tico, “and total depravity aro il solved, or, zathior, dienppoar n tho light {hnk is whed from tho cross on which Christ died for all, and tho Loundless, undyiog lova of tho Father, which that donth'on Galvary illustratos, Tho ollor poiotis it _applicablity o allcon- ditions and slatos of peraons. Christ comos to ail, .Tho God fn whoso name He speak is no xoupsctor ol porsons. orn to dissimilar cous ditious, unlike by natural ondowmonts, ovon of thodo renred In Christian Inuds but & emall portion traly como to_Ohrist bofore ovor-busy death_overtukes thom, but the plouding voion of God pursuos thom, whother in tho body of tha flesh, or in tho body of tho spirit; #o that in tho long ages to ooma tho linea of’ their opportus aitica and lives, which divergod hovo, may bo peralol at Inst, aud all end iu tho ono Lomo. Obsarvo, too, how thnt porplexing question as - to tho fato of tho wholo- Loathen world iu ati~ sworad by ‘ this simplo thoory of salvae tion in Chuist, docs not condomn thom for rejocling Christ, of whom thoy Inow mothing; it doos ' mot tench thsb tholr morality’ ‘only daepons thelr peril ; Lub it rocoguizos their fidolity to tha right s thoy undaratand it, and includes ihom i tho groad Samily for whom Ohrlst diod. On oarth thoy lind other tenchors,—of many iames and divoren fuiths ;- but in tha wpiritual world thoy shall find the snmo Lord, for thoro is nolthor bond nor frao, Jow nor Gentilo, ltoman nor Grook thors., Aud thus, evon to the nameless millions of far off Asin and Contral Africa, Is Christ o Bavior, Lyen thoy will ultimately discovor the moauivg of tho toxt: “Thero Is no other name undey hoavon givan among mon whoraby Wo musk ba #avod,"" Tho miniatry of Christ includos both worlds, aud sll oroated humin souls, 0, that mth yonder sacred throng ‘Wa at lils fecl may fall; ., ‘We'll join the uniyeranl ros ‘Aud erown Him Lord of bl phiis eritioa, MISSION OF THE LIBERAL OEURCH: Sermonby the Ttov. Dx . Puwera of tho Charch of the Mewsind, Tho Rov, Dr. Pawers, of New York, préached in thio Churoh of the Mossial, coruor of Michi- gon gvemto oud Twenty-third atreot yosterdey morniug, on “Tho Mission of tho Liboral Church," Tbo aposker slluded fn opigrammatio tarms to tho-oarlier history of the Oliurob, trao- Ing tho gradual oxpansion of idoas from the primoval timos to tho present bour, whou all tho world appenred to bo overwhelmingly tonding toward what the sovorely orthodox termed tiboralism. This tendouoy was nowhoro moro powere fully illustiated than fu Ohicogo, which had heen and was the theatro of so many thaologleal trials and disousulons, Listwoen stern orthodozy and yampant infldolity thero stood a wolrd senti- nol,—tho Liboral Church, Tt did not prosunio to cuuliow tho Biblo, but it dared to intorpret tho Word of Godin tho languago of love, rather thau iu that of terror. It sought to make God wha (Beo Llahth Page.) |