Christian Nation Vol. 18 1893 - Rparchives.org

2. CHBISTIAN NATION. Volume 18.T h e GhFistiao flatioDWEDNESDAY, JAN. 4, 1893.New York.HOW CAH THE CHURCH BEST PEOMOTE THEWELFARE OF '^HE NATION?BX THE RBV. J. R. WYIjIB.(Concluded.)What is the trouble with the temperancetjause? The church is to blame. She has refusedto speak the whole truth on this subjectfrom her mountain top. She has relegatedthe cause of temperance to the W. C T. U. andthe prohibition party, and then finds faultwith the way the work is done. I am not hereto approve every thing that these organizationsdo; but I believe they are of God, and thatGod has raised them up to rebuke the churchfor not doing her duty; for if the church haddone her duty there would have been no W. 0.T. U. or prohibition party. I firmly believethat if the church would speak to the nationfrom her mountain top of truth and unity,there isn't any needed reform but she couldbring about in a six month, and it wouldn't bea year until Jesus Christ would be literallycrowned this nation's King and Lord.Let us take one fact on the other side. Thechu/rch spoke to the nation, on the subject ofslavery, in the language of Babel, and the resultwas that the nation rushed head long intothe breakers of God Almighty's wrath and itwas not released until it was drenched withblood and the slaves were freed.. If I were asked what was the cause of ourcivil war, I would answer, the chnrches. Babellanguage on the question of slavery. If weever have a whiskey war it will come from thesame cause, for the church has a Babel lan-.guage here.On the other hand let the church speak tothe nation from the mountain top of unity andtruth and there is nothing good she can notaccomplish; and all good to the nation mustcome through the church, "for the law must goforth from Zion;" see also Ps. 87.4. The church can Vest promote the welfareof the nation by a practical dissent from thegovernment, if fchenation refuses to hear thetruth proclaimed by her trom her mountainheight. It was threatened practical dissentthat brought the government to time ontheSabbath question. The Christian peoplethreatened to withdraw their patronage fromthe Fair, and congressme were afraid thatthey would make their dissent practical at thepolls aiso, and leave them at home.Some people get terribly mixed and muddledon this matter of dissent. What is it?We have a good example of it in the Prohibitionparty. That party has dissented from thegovernment on the liquor question. Now letany one carry out the idea of the Prohibitionparty with regard to all reforms needed in thegovernment, and you have a full-fledged dissenter.The dissenter is not necesssrily a nonvoter.In fact no one can dissent unless hehas a right to vote. Hence, dissent is not awithdrawal from the nation or a refusal to performpolitical duties. It is simply a refusalto act with the nation in so far as it doeswrong, or to take part in the nation's governmentwhen set up on wrong principles.The church that has done her full duty inproclaiming the truth of God to the nation isshut up to the course of dissent; otherwise shebecomes a laughing stock to the world.For example, let a boy in the company ofboys protest against the compauy engaging ingambling, and then when the company or themajority of them refusa to hear him, let himtake a hand in the gambling, what does hisprotest amount to? Nothing. On the otherhand he becomes a laughing stock to his companionsand all others.Let a man in the church protest against achurch fair, and then take part in this sin andhe becomes a reproach. So with the churchwhen she has proclaimed the truth of God totbe nation and protested against its sins, if sheChristian Nation : The trial of Prof.Henry Preserved Smith, D. D., of Lane Seminary,ends to-day. It has been in actual prog­then joins with the nation in disregarding thistruth and practicing its, the nation's, sins, sheress during five weeks, occupying nineteenhas lost her power and become a reproach indays. Of course the preliminaries were inthe world. For even the world despises a mj n,progress long before the trial proper began. Iand especially a Christian, who has only aattended most of the sessions of the Presbytery.gristle for a backbone. Let the church backThe full Presbytery would include about eightyup the truth that she proclaims from hermountain top of unity, by a practical dissent,and God will bless her and the nation willheed her at once.5. The church can best promote the welfareof the nation by calling down the judgments ofGrod upon the nation if it continues to sin anddisregard her truth after she has practicallydissented. This may sound harsh, but it isGod's plan, and it underlies His tender mercy.It is sin that causes all the misery in thisworld, and in proportion as sin is removed thenations and peoples will be happy.Hence, if a nation beco.nes a prop,—a defence,—ahot bed of any sin, then it must bedestroyed that God's mercy and happinessmay come. Hence we find Elijah, Jeremiahand all the prophets calling down the judgmentsof God upon even the nation of lerael,and they came ; yea Jesus Christ called downthe judgments of Gcd upon Jerusalem the wonderfulcity, and they oame. So with Luther, sowith Knox, so with the abolitionists of our ownLord ; they all came and we have not yet recoveredfrom God's judgments an account ofslavery.It may be that the church will have to callfor the judgments of God on account of theliquor traffic, etc., and if she does they "willcome. But I pray God that the nation mayrepent and His wrath be staid. In coi\olusionyou will notice tnat the means that I havepainted out to be used are progressive and accumulative.1. The churcb is to look after herrelations to her Husband, King and Head. 2.She ig to look after her own character and life.3. She is to proclaim the truth of God to thenations. 4. She is to dissent from the Rctionof the nation if it refuses to heed. 5. She isto call down the judgments of God upon thenation if it continues on in its course of rebel-, lion.Now I believe that if the church will faithfullyemyloy the firstthree means, the last twowill not be necessary. Let her be true to herselfand her Lord. Let her seek the highestattainments in character and life, whicb givesher power with God, and let her speak thetruth to the nations from this endearing relationshipand lofty stronghold of God, and thenation will hear and obey.But thechurch must ever stand ready to carryout the whole plan of God if the nation rebels ;for the church is the great remedial institutionin the world, yea she is the only remedial inslitutionon earth, and through her and by hermust come all the reforms on earth.May God hasten the day when she shall attainthe proper character and relationship toGod ; put herself in the proper attitude to thenations of the world ; and do the proper workto which God has called her ; then that wondrousshont shall be heard not only on earthbut in heaven. " The kingdoms of this worldhave become the kingdoms of our Lord and ofHis Christ."THE SMITH HERESY TRIAL.members. In the finalvote only abont sixtywere present. The firstcharge was that hetaught that a man might abandon the essentialpriuciples contained in his ordination vow, andstill remain a minister in the Presbyterianchurch. His reply was thai he had not sotaught, that he did not so believe, and that hisviews were in accord with the Confession ofFaith properly interpreted. On this charge hewas held not guilty by a vote of 27 to 31.The second charge was that he taught thatthere were errors of fact in the scriptures.This charge included eleven specifications includinghistorical errors—errors as to authorsship of books of the Bible, and errors of experienceby the authors of some Psalms thatwere contrary to the mind of the Spirit. Thischarge, which was the principal one, was sustained,by a vote of 36 to 20. All the specificationswere sustained except the one referringto the Psalms.The third charge was that he taught a theoryof inspiration consistent with errancy by thesacred penmen. This was sustained bv a voteof 32 to 26.The penalty inflicted is suspension from theministry. An appeal will be taken by Prof.Smith. As to the whole trial I give you someimpressions:Prof. Smith is a very amiable Christian man.He holds that all that is needful for faith andduty in the Bible is inerrant and fully inspired; th t in o her things they were left totheir human weaknesses and bias. He heldthat all commands of God throu-h the writersof the Bible are reliaule ; and yet one of hisinstances of error is found in a command ofConcluded on page 4.