M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1855-03-02
LAY SERMON---NO. 4.
BY SOLOMON SIMPLE.

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"IIs that 10 without sin among you, lot him nrS,
cast sione at her," Jesus.
There, my beloved Ckristian hearers,
there is FIRST rate chance for you -
Here is fire opportunity for YOU to dis
yourselves, You have made
professions enough to last you lifetime.
You have believed in the dogmas most
popular In your respective places Of
a5ode-you have shown both your piety,
and your pride. in erecting costly church,
es, in honor of him who had not place
to lay his head in-you have prayed long
and loud, 10 be seen and heard OF men,
though commanded tog 80 into your clos.
cts and shut the doors-you have quar-
relied with all other denominations.
about matters Of faith, when half Of you
believe that salvation is not Of faith.
"lost any man should boaot"-you have
denounced all doctrines but your own,
as false and demoTal.aing; you haye Shu:
up the Kingdom Of Heaven against men, (,
neither going in yourselves, nor suffer
ing Others to go in; you have boasted Of
your superiority, and Aattered your.
selves that your pIeposterous claims
would be allowed by the gieat Searcher
of fhearts--you have pointed the finger
OF scUn at your unfortunate borthers,
and sisters, who have fallen into the pit
OF moral and social degradation; and to
cal the climax Of you absurdities, you
have held fast 20 the old Jewish doctrine
.of "ag eye ioraa eye, and c tooth, for q
tooth, "and armed yourselves with Stonet
clubs, and ck-bats, to hurl at the
heads Of oil who are less holy than you
Imagine yourselves to be; thinking that
il is much easier to gain reputation
for holiness be the affection of an abhor.
rance of dsviltry, that TO abstain from
the practice of il!
There is the woman, seduced from her
allegionce TO what the world calls vir
tue, with heart wrung by sorrow; with
affection blighted, hopes betrayed, and a
soul appalled, at contemplation Of the
ruin wrought by the blind sophistry OF
the passions, OF the temptations OF want,
or the impulses Of unreasoning love! Is
she the victim of indiscretionY Grant.
ed. Has she violated the laws OF our
civilization Granted. Has she listen
ed to the voice of the deciever against
the dictates, end entreaties, and war.
nings, and expostulations of her better
naturef Granted. Has she exposed her
self to the malidictions of her own SCI,
and the rude and internal assaults of
ours? Grantedj and what then7 Will
you commit still greater wrong, by
casting her down into the deep "pit in
which there is no water," by crushing
ou; Of her already broken anl bleeding
heart the only hope remaining, thus
booming her TO thousand living dea this
by the stern DEGREES of your uncharita.
bIeness7 If so, fro atoay! There is a
chance for you! But be careful. Frst
be assured Of your own imma ulateness.
This business of throwing stones belongs
to certain class of men and women; q
class to which yoE. do not belong! Have
you fnith2 What of in Devils believe
and tremble. Have you virtue9 How
eo7 from necessity, OF from choice7--
You have not fallen; from the absence Of
temp ptotion! You claim 10 to be sinlsss;
because you have RETAINED from over,
acts Of evil Your hearts; corrupt, by
your own onfessions-would, il they
could be allowed to speak, read you a
lesson that would cause you to blush
with shame, and to run from the pres
ence of the most degraded, crying out,
"God BE merciful to me sinnern 3.
Let female sinners alone, il you have
not courage 10 raise them up, and BILE ss
them by kind words and tender charities,
and display your godliness and courage
by assslts upon those who are less to be
pitied, and better able TO endure the
penalty of your displeasure. Here is
bad specimen of degraded humanity
the DRUkARD. He is the victim Of tempt,
ations tolerated by your civilization. if
no, rendered potent by your example!
Besides, how do you know but his deg.
radiation has been caused by your super
cilliousness ofpride, or BY the pressure OF
want, Occasional by your extravagances,
or by distinctions set up By your assum:
ed superority, or by your neglect of the
duties you owe TO society, or by being
denied the luxury Of worship ping God on
cushioned seats, or knesling. ID the
presence OF smooth faced divinity; in