THE CHRISTIAN SPECTATOR. No. 12.] DECEMBER. [1826. Religious. sity of all men forsaking their own THE UNCOMPROMISING CHARACTER national religions, and embracing OF CHRISTIANITY. the gospel, this so shocked the paDURING the persecutions under the gans, that it soon brought upon itearly Roman emperors, the Christ- self the bloody storm which followians were accused of inflexible ob- ed. This is the true origin of perstinacy; of an uncompromising, secution for religion, not commitunsociable temper in respect to ted, but undergone by the Christian their religion. Pliny, in his well church.” known letter to Trajan, says of Reformers of every age, have, them ; “I did not in the least hesit- by their contemporaries, and often ate, but that, whatever should ap- by those who followed them, been pear on their confession, to be their accused of the same thing. It is faith ; yet their frowardness and possible, now, that religion may inflexible obstinacy, would certain- take such a hold of the mind, and ly deserve punishment.” A learned its obligations come to be viewed writer, in remarking on this pas- such a light, and in such relasage asks ;-"what was this in- tions, by its professors, that they flexible obstinacy? It could not must necessarily appear obstinate be the professing a new religion; to those who are unacquainted that was common enough. It was with the new power under the the refusing all communion with control of which their minds have paganism ; refusing to throw a been brought. The precepts of regrain of incense on their altars. ligion may require a certain speciFor we must not think,” says he, fic conformation of character, per“ that this was enforced by the 'fectly distinct from every characRoman magistrates to make the ter which can be formed in any Christians renounce their religion ; other way. It may bring to view but only to test its hospitality and facts and prospects for the exissociableness of temper. When the tence of which, there is, to the gospel was first promulgated, it mind of the Christian, evidence as was favourably heard. One of the convincing as intuition; and to Roman emperors introduced it which there is an importance atamong his closet religions. An- tached, that makes it appear absoother proposed to the senate to lute madness, not to give them a give it a more public entertain- paramount regard. Among these ment: but when it was found to facts there may be some carry its pretensions higher, and to affecting and endearing a nature claim to be the only true one, then that he shall not only be driven to it was that it began to incur hatred this specific conformation of charand contempt : but when it went acter, but he shall seek to attain 1826.-No. 12. 77 of so it, as the object of his highest de- or danger. The level world is the sire. Among these facts and pros. way--decency of deportment, an pects, there may be another class, an amiable temper are Christianitoo, which are adapted to afford ty. Christianity, as a distinct thing, him such an amount of consolation has mouldered away, just as we and hope, as shall, beyond meas- may suppose some towering rock, ure, outweigh all the possible which anciently was steep and well pains and inconveniences, to which defined and conspicuous, by the bis religion can subject him in this wear of time and the elements to world; and lead him to say with have become disorganized, and to Paul, in the langnage of the great have settled down into a gentle Christian paradox; “sorrowful, sand hill, extending nobody knows yet always rejoicing.” precisely how far, and scarcely to But not only may the Christian be distinguished from the surroundhave this separateness of charac- ing plain. This is the gospel, as it ter, and inflexibly maintain it, but now exists in men's apprehensions ; there is an obligation and a neces- but for aught that can be seen in sity laid upon him to do it. The the gospel itself, it was designed Christian is sent into the world to to last out the world, and all the exhibit a living exemplification of while to remain towering, and well divine truth. If, then, the facts defined, and conspicuous, as when and precepts of the gospel have it was first promulgated. any definite meaning and applica- But it is asserted that the world tion ; if the gospel does enjoin any has become better, and there is no definite principles of action, any need of keeping up this unsociable, definite course of conduct to be uncompromising temper towards pursued rather than any other; if it. The human heart has become the gospel does fix any definite the natural soil of Christian princiboundaries within which Christian. ple and Christian feeling. Let us ity is circumscribed, and by which hear what a learned and shrewd it is separated from every thing historian of the last century said else ;—then the Christian must, in on this point. “If a man were bis religion, in his feelings, and called,” says Gibbon, “ to fix the in his conduct, stand off separate period in the history of the world, and aloof from all other men. He during wbich the condition of the must not pass these boundaries, human race was most prosperous and parley with the world, for his and happy, he would without hes. life's sake. It has indeed become itation, name that which elapsed fashionable to suppose that all that from the death of Domitian to the language which in old times de accession of Commodus." Had scribed Christianity as a strait Gibbon lived till this day, he and narrow way, which called would doubtless have said the Christians a little flock, and spoke same; and he doubtless might of the Christian course as a war- have said it with equal truth. fare with the world,--has now be. And can it be, he would seem to come obsolete; and that the lan- ask, that Christianity is of so exclu. guage bas gone into desuetude be- sive and uncompromising a characcause there are no such things to ter that its professors could have be expressed. The hedges which no sympathy, no communion, with bounded this narrow way are bro. the humane and magnanimous Traken down, and the traveller may jan, and the amiable and literary wander to the right or left,--in- Pliny? Or could they not relax dulge this appetite, participate in some of their peculiarities, so as to this amusement, and conform to meet on some common ground, and this custom, without impediment hold intercourse, and mingle kind a cause feelings with the philosophical and on the principles of the gospel ; and virtuous Antonines ? No; they this object was not to be gained by would not throw one grain of in- giving up their own ground and gocense on the altar of another god, ing over to that of the world ; but than the God of heaven ; nor exe- by an unyielding maintenance of crate Jesus, nor worship the idol, their own ground, and drawing the nor the king, though confiscation, world to them. Hence the aposand torture, and death, stared them tles, when brought before the magin the face. This, as we have istrates, and threatened and comseen before, was the very reason manded not to speak any more in why the Romans persecuted them. the name of Jesus, answered, But, contrary what Mr. Gib. “Whether it be right in the sight bon has said, I admit, that the of God to hearken unto men more world, or that part of it where than unto God, judge ye. We canChristianity exists, has grown bet- not but speak the things which we ter ; but at the same time, I reject have seen and heard." Instead of the conclusion drawn from this ad- yielding compliance to these manmitted fact. And I reject it be- dates, they went on preaching just I When persecuted in to be really a fact. From what one city they fled to another. “I cause, I ask, has the world grown am ready” said Paul, “ not only to better? What has been the process be bound, but to die for the name of this melioration ? The original, of the Lord Jesus.” - None of the abiding cause has been, this these things move me, neither , inhospitable, this uncompromising count I my life dear unto me.” religion. The mode of its opera- This was the language of all the ting has been, its presenting itself apostles. All their conduct corto one age of men and another in responded to such declarations. its true unmodified aspect; and the Their path was straight and plain. fact that at those periods, and in If the stake, or the cross stood in those places, where it has shown it, they went forward till they came most of its inhospitable, uncomprom to it, and there laid down their life, ising character, it has made the to be clothed upon with immortalgreatest progress, and produced its ity. Such also were the principles most signal effects in meliorating and the conduct of the genera. the condition of man, proves, that tion which succeeded the apostles. this inhospitality and unsociable. They lived to contend for the faith, ness of temper are essential in give and falling victims to their zeal, ing to it meliorating power. Look they died in the struggle rather at facts. Never did the gospel than violate their principles. Such make more rapid progress, or pro- too, were the principles and conduce more glorious results, than it duct of the Waldenses, who for did in the days of the apostles. But six centuries lived to contend for never was there a class of men, in the faith ; and though literally huntattempting to arrive at a desired ed like wild beasts, through their object, opposed by more serious narrow vallies and over mountains embarrassments. Never, to all of snow, afflicted and tormented ; human view, were the parties so yet feeling that they were set for unequally matched,--the twelve the defence of the gospel, they op , apostles against the world. Never posed a fore front to the corrupdid concession and compromise tions of the Romish Church, un. seem so unavoidable. Yet they did til they were cutin pieces and utternot concede. Their object was ly dissipated by the power of Lounot to be at one with the world, at is XIV. Such is the fact respect. any rate; but to be at one with them ing Luther and his compeers. How 2 easy would it have been for him, byment and compromise, but by avowyielding, or forbearing to avow, a ing and defending his peculiarities. few of his peculiar religious te- Just the same is true of Knox, nets to have kept peace with the who by one unremitted effort, lastchurch, and to have partaken large- ing his life out, sustained the falling ly of her honours. Yet he openly cause of protestantism in Scotland, proclaimed his abhorrence of the as Atlas is fabled to have sustained abominations of that church-he the heavens on his shoulders.burnt the decretals of the pope, and These men, with a few sturdy coadset at defiance the power of Charles; jutors whom they gathered around and in doing so he earned for him- them, as we should lean against a self the character which the saints weight descending an inclined plain, at Jerusalem gave of Barnabas and withstood the rush of nations ever Paul; he hazarded his own life for prone to descend again into their the name of the Lord Jesus. Now long cherished and dearly loved suit may seem strange to us, as it did perstitions. The mass of those to Gibbon in reference to the who favoured the protestant cause Christians in the days of the Anio- seem to have had too little undernines, that Luther need be so rigid; standing of the truths they espeus-and we may ask why he could ed, or too little feeling of their imnot sympathize with the refined portance, or too much fondness for and magnificent family of the Me- their old opinions, to give any im. dici whose court was the home, and pulse to the work of reformation, or whose treasures were the patri- even to maintain their own ground. mony of every artist, and poet, It was necessary, therefore, for and philosopher ? That man, it these few, in the powerful workings would seem, must be a most un- of whose minds the reformation reasonable bigot to his own opin- begun,---like the leaders of a cow. ions who should be disposed--and ardly army,--to impart of their own that religion must be most unrefin- courage to the timid, of their own ed and tasteless which requires its conviction to the doubting, and of devotee, to break off all commun- their own ardour to the indifferent. ion with the pontiff and the court Thus the opinions, the courage, and which all taste and all learning have the zeal of one man was imparted conspired to praise, and to which to thousands, and these constituted the splendid honour has been the army of the reformers. Now awarded of reviving literature was it not presumption in Luther, and the arts from the death which to think his opinions were more Vandalism had inflicted. But so correct than those in which all it was ---Luther was so much a Europe had for ages deliberately bigot. He loved literature indeed, concurred ? Was it not obstinacy but he loved religion more ; and in him to adhere to them when all being directly at issue with the Europe agreed in denouncing them? pope on the latter, the former, in Was it not most unsocial and unhis view, afforded but a slight compromising in him to refuse all ground for communion of feeling. sympathy and all communion with He knew that he had views of reli- those who would not adopt his gious truth different from those of opinions when they were condemnthe whole mass of European pop-ed by all the learning and power of ulation ;--views, which, in his mind, Europe? Yes; Luther and Knox were infinitely important to him- have been called obstinate and unself and to them. He knew that compromising men. The whole if he was to change the belief body of the puritans have been calland character of Christendom, he ed inost unlovely Christians. But was not to accomplish it by conceal. suppose that the apostles and the reformers of the 16th century, and 'nest, and sympathize with him, the puritans, instead of being thus he must obstinately maintain this unsocial and obstinate, had made peculiarity, and thus show that he concessions and met and held com- attaches an importance to it,--an munion with their adversaries on importance that forbids him to yield some common ground, what would it, though ridicule, and calumny, have been the effect on the pro- and death, be the consequence. gress of religion? This is not a Now this is precisely the way in question that cannot be answered; which every reformer, ancient or for it has been answered by facts modern, has advanced in his work. a thousand times. When the It is this obstinate and perilous church and the world met on com- maintenance of this peculiarity, mon ground in the days of Constan- which has given rise to the fact, tine, the curse of God came upon that historians have narrated when the church. It was given up to they have quaintly said, “The strong delusions. All its efforts blood of the martyrs is the seed of were palsied ; and it went back to the church :” a saying that is full downright paganism ;-a pagan- of truth ; and though to most it ism which broods over more than may seem perfectly paradoxical, half of Europe to this day. When yet it admits of a perfectly easy and the English church attempted to philosophical explanation. Such make a similar compromise, did men the church has had ; and to not a deep slumber come on it, and such men as instruments, under rest upon it, almost unbroken from the Head of the church, the church the days of Elizabeth, till Wesley owes all her extent and all her gloand Whitfield arose to disturb it? ry: and we may add too, that such Other insiances might be mention- men are the only true ambassadors ed. Where are the results of the of Christ,-for they onl take his Catholic missions in Abyssinia, in religion as he gave it to them, and Hindostan, in China, in Japan ? publish and defend it. We may These were all a system of com- further add, that such men ought promise, and they are now as though least of all, to be called arrogant : :: they had never been. for which is the greater arrogance We all know from our own ob- in an ambassador,—to take his inservation that instances of individ- structions as he finds them, and ual compromise in matters of re- faithfully adhere to them, or to use ligion are always attended with with his instructions all that modiinactivity and ill success ;—and we fication, and concealment, and comall know too, from the nature of promise to which his own fancy or the case, that compromise cannot the humour of those to whom he is effect reformation. In Luther's sent, shall direct him ? time the current of the human mind The same demand is made now set towards error, and superstition, for a “sociable, compromising" reand profligacy. Whoever thought ligion, which was made in the times of stemming a current, by allowing of primitive Christianity; and a himself to float down on its surface ? wonder seems to be excited at the Whoever thought of reaching a goal present day, why Christians cannot by travelling away from it ? In or- sympathize with the philosophical, der to reclaim men from their er- the learned, and the amiable, simrors, the reformer must exhibit in ilar to the wonder of former times, himself what he would have them that Christians could not sympabe. He must therefore, have a thize with the Antonines, or Luther marked and obvious peculiarity ;- with the Medici. But not only do not only so; but, if he intends men of this age make this demand to make them feel that he is in ear. for a “sociable, compromising" |