The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 226

Ver. 13.-Der.aying and depai·ting. "Now that which decayeth e.nd wnxoth old," etc. In these words the writer states a general principle of which the old covenan, was an illustration. That covenant was relatively old, because a n6W one had been introduced; it was also absolutely old, and had not "in itself tho strength to exist much longer." When anythin~ arrives at that condition its end is not far off-it " i8 nigh unto vanishing away. Let us indicate a few of the applications of this principle. It is applicable to- I. Fonvs OF nKLIGIOus ORGANIZATION, In our text it Is thus applied to the Mosaic economy. Many of our present religious fonns-forms of Church govornruent and forms of worship-are of huma.i, origin. If they are vital and suit the circum- stances and conditions of this age, let them be maintained; but if they do not, and cannot be made to do so, by all means let them go. In fact, a livini; Church will certainly put off its dead forms by the natural expression of its life. 'rhe latll A. J. Scott says wisely and beautifully, "True reverence for antiquity seeks a Church presenting the clearest image of eternity in the midst of the mutations of time. This she is to do by the inward vigour of the essential principles of her life, dropping off forms no longer useful, as the oak has done the leaves of last summer. 'l'hc live oak a.bides the same by its vitality, while it changes form and dimensions by growth : the mass of squared timber has lost its power of assimilation, ita command of resourClBII; death enables it to remain unchanged in form, till death bri.!lgs decay that changes form and substance. What is dead is changed from without; what lives changes from within." And Dr. Huntington forcibly says, "When religious forms have first been devised, a certain freshness of conviction has gone into them that has made them vital. But presently the life has refused to stand and stagnate in these cisterns, and so ebbed away and sought out new channels. The mistake bas been that the forms have insisted on standing, after the life within was gone; anrl accordingly their figure has been that of wooden vessels shrunk and dried in the sun." Now, where the vitality has gone, let the form go also; for, as Carlyle says, "the old never dies till all the soul of good that was in it has got itself transfused into the practical new." Let the dead forrus pass away- .. For who would keep au ancient form Through which the spirit brcathea no more?" (Tennyson.) II. Foam OF BET.IGIOUB BELIEP'. Mnch that is said above on religious organizatiol:ls is equally a;iplicable to religious creeds. As Mr. J. A. Froude puts it, "While tha essence of religion remains the same, the mode in v. :,ich it is expressed changes and ~as changed-changes as living languages change and become dead, as institutior1,; change, as forms of government change, as opinions on all things in heaven and earth change, as half the theories held at this time among ?urse~v~s wil_l probably chano-e----that is, the outward and mortal part of them." 'Ihe living faith of the Chur~h may need restatement. The language in which man's apprehension of the great verities of the gospel was expressed in past ages may become stiff, cold, unex- prelll:!ive, and obsolete as regards the apprehension of those verities in this age. 'fhen let it go. And reverently in the living language of to-day, let the Jiving faith of to-de.y be expressed. 'l'be living faith-that is the grea~ thing. '' A living doctrine never need advertise for a body, nor go carefully about to mvent one, any more than a young oak needs to advertise for a trunk and branches. God giveth it a body as it liath pleased him. Get the faith, and it will shape a form of its own." 111. 11 u:MAN LIFE Ill THIS woBLD, If life be so far prolonged, the time comes whon 011, VIII, 1-13.] 'I'HE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS.