Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-09-18

o the .decaying constitution Did she 10
commence ono great, benefcent reform? 1
Not one permanent ameliora,ion was
,lrectod philosophy WIS clothed with 8
absolute power and yet absolute power
~ nothing for Humsnity.-T Il
|, could accomplish nothing. Had i. (,
been posi- Bile, Aurelian would have c
wrought change. Society can be
the human race can be ad.
yanceJ, only by moral principles diffus' 9
ed through the multitude. ..1t
And now let US take an opposite in.
stance; Let Us see IL amelioration follows,
when in despite Of tyranny truth finds
access to the common people; and
Christianity itself shall'lufnish my OK
ample. .n.o sls.s. jit...ll,
Whom Christianity first made its way
into Rome, imperial city, the scat Of
.woolth, philosophy, and'luxury. Abso.
lutte government was already establish.
cd and had tho will Of Claudius been
gained, or the conscience Of Messalina
been reused, OF the heart Of Narcissus,
once a slave, then prime minister, been
touched by the recOllections OF his mis-.
fortunes, tho aid Of the sovereign Of the
civilized world have been engaged. And
did the messenger Of divine truth mako
his appeal 10 them? Was his mission
10 the emperor and his minions? to
the empress and her fatterers (? to serv.
Lille senator's ? to wealthy favorites 81
Paul preserves for US the name Of the
first converts; the Roman Mary and
Junia F.; Julia Nerea and the beloved
brethren all plebeian names. unk nown
10 history. Gree! them" he adds,
"that be Of the household of Narcissus."
Now every Roman household was com.
muni,y Of slaves. Nafcssus himself,
n freedman, was the chief minister oi
the Roman empire; his ambition had
llcli him no moments lor the envoy from
Cavalry the friends Of Paul were freed
mans slaves. When God selected the
channel by which Christianity should
make it's way in tho city OF Rome, and
assuredly be. carried forward to acknowl'
edge supremacy in the Roman empire,
he gave to the Genliles favor in the
no usehold Of Narcissus; he planted truth
deep in the common soil. Had Christi.
anitty been received at court, would have
havebeen staed by the prodegai vices ol
. tho age; il lived in the hearts Of the com
mon people it sheltered itself oPpres'
, sion in the ca,acombs and among toinbs;
/; it m ade misfortune. and sorrow its com
pauion, and labor its stay. 1t rested on
. a rock, for il rested on the people 4
|. was gifted with immortality. for it struck
n roo, in the hearts of the millions. 81
III So completely was this greatest Of al
g reforms carried forward in thcvale o
i. life, that the great moral revolution, tn
9 great step Of Gods Providence in tn
o education of the human race, was no
= observed by the Roman historians
}. O Once, indeed, at this carly period. Chris
/. tians are mentioned |; for in the reis'
n Of Nero, their purity being hateful 4
tho corrupt, Nero Abandoned them I
pcrscc ation. In the darkness Of mid
night, they were covered With pitch an
set on fire to light the streets Of Rome
and this singularity has been recorded
But their system of morals and religion
., though II was the new birth Of th
world. escaped all notice. D ,,t1 E
Paul, who was Roman citizen. wa
u beheaded Just outside Of the walls, Of III
eternal city and Peter, who was a pl'
+. |beian, and could not claim the dist ~
q ton OF the axe and the. block, was ex
el cuted on the cross, with his head dow
twards to increase the pain and the il
tdignity.. Do you think tho Roman en-
sEsror took notice Of tho names of the
Tshen, when he signed their death. wa
rant And yet. as they poured truth 4
1,l 10 The common mind, what series
81 kines, what lines Of empotors can col
- II pare with them, in their influences
- The destines Of mankind -~s
iI Yes reforms insociety are only eGe
snt ted athroughlthe masses Of the peop
in. and ,.hroug gh them have continually
f "a Eken place. Now truths have been 81
or| cessvcly developed, ana becoming
the common property Of the human fam
in. have improved irs condition. This 2
ie. gress is advanced by every sect, preei
not| " because each sect, to, obtain vaiidi
Ter. does OF necessity emhody la truth byle
or,l ~ political party. for the conflicts
The pasty are the wars Of ideas !; by ev'
are nationality, for "a nation cannot exist
tllv such, Till hun,a nifty makessit spec
sed l,,rus,ee Of some part ofits wealth for
| be ! ultima ate benefit of ALL The irsesisti
in. tendency Of the human race is thefef
eds to adsan cement, for absolute power
Ium never sue ceeded, and can never succ'
.,helin suppressing single truth. An i
4 oil once revealed may find its admission
in to every living breast and live there
ned Like God, it becomesimmortal 'and 4
t.Mt tnipresent. The movement Of; thesa
Eat. fcies is upwnid,. irresistibly upward
,the The individuahis often lost, Pfovide
cen. never dsowns iithe race, !saq sIiisaa.s
hsas No .priocipleoonce promulgated,
up, ever il been Z forgottensA No q" tm
oon, tramp I" off, aesPo.'s fout.sver trode'
note one idea. world cannot retrosfi
} a The dark .ses cannot return. Dynas
ples perish cities are buried, |; nations
ious be>ny ,vietims 10 error. sor pareyts
,t.-mIIigh,s Humanity has always been oq
can can advspcsa gaining maturity universe
ex. and poWHrsoJ Il iiiiw gfH ,soamg.t 4