In the midst of
considerations as to what Paul thought, and why he so thought, I
cannot help feeling that it is time misspent to argue to or from his
convictions, or those of Luke and John, respecting any form. I seem
to lose the substance in seeking the shadow. That for which Paul
lived and died so gloriously; that for which Jesus gave himself to be
crucified; the end that animated the thousand martyrs and heroes who
have followed his steps, was to redeem us from a formal religion, and
teach us to seek our well-being in the formation of the soul. The
whole world was full of idols and ordinances. The Jewish was a
religion of forms. The Pagan was a religion of forms; it was all
body -- it had no life -- and the Almighty God was pleased to qualify
and send forth a man to teach men that they must serve him with the
heart; that only that life was religious which was thoroughly good;
that sacrifice was smoke, and forms were shadows. This man lived and
died true to this purpose; and now, with his blessed word and life
before us, Christians must contend that it is a matter of vital
importance -- really a duty, to commemorate him by a certain form,
whether that form be agreeable to their understandings or not.
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