The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 228

Ver. 13.-Deraying and depa,·ting. "Now that which decl\yeth and waxeth old," etc. In these words the writer states a general principle of which the old covenl\n, was an illustration. That covenant was relatively old, because a n6w one 111\d been introduced; it was also absolutely old, and had not "in itself the strength to exist much longer." When anything arrives at that condition its end is not for off-it " is nigh unto vanishing away." Let us indicate a few of the applications of this principle. It is applicable to- I. FoRKs OF ni,:LrG10us ORGANIZATION. In our text it ls thus applied to the Mosaic economy. Many of our present religious forms-forms of Church government and forms of worship-are of humau 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 livin~ Church will certainly put off its dead forms by the natural expression of its life. 'l'he late 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'ho live oak abides the same by its vitality, while it changes form and dimensions by growth : the mass of squared timber has lost its power of assimilation, its command of resources; 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 refu~ed to stand and stagnate in these cisterns, and so ebbed away and sought out new channels. The mistake has been that the fo1ms have insisted on standing, after the life within was gone; and 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 forms pass away- .. For who would keep an o.ncient form Tluoug!1 whicil the spirit breathes no more?" (Tennyson.) II. Fon:r.rs OF BET.IGIOUB JIELIEP', 'Mnch that is said above on religious organizatioi:ls is equally applicable to religious creeds. As Mr. J. A. Froude puts it," While the essence of religion remains the same, the mode in ~ :.ich it is expressed changes and ~as changed-changes as living languages change and become dead, as institutio11,; 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 ourselves will probnbly chancre-that is, the outward and mortal part of them." The living fnith of the Chur~h may need restatement. 'l'he language in which man's apprehension of the great verities of the gospel was expressed in past ages may become stiff, cold, unex- pre86ive, ar.d 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 living faith of to-day be expressed. 'l'he living faith-that is the grea~ thing. "A living doctrine never need advertise for a body, nor go carefully about to invent one, any more than a youug oak needs to advertise for a trunk and branches. God giveth it a. body aa it haLh pleaaed him. Get the faith, and it will shape a form of its own." 111. 11 uJdAN LIFE :m THIS woBLD, If lifo be so far prolonged, the time collles whoD OH, VIII, 1-13.] THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS.