The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1856-09-09
From the Dover IN. H. Morning Star.
DISCOURSE,
Before the Society Of Religious Inquiry,
In Hillsdale College, Delivered June l5, go.
BY PROF. C. II. CHURCHILL.

Brethren and Sisters of the Society:
1t were a comparatively easy thing to set
before you in general TERMS pleasing view
Of the excellence Of virtue and the power Of
the Christian religion, themes by no means
unworthy our deepest thought, but the de.
sire to lead you in n channel which shall give
a truly practical value to your organization
has induced the selection Of subject less
likely indeed to crafty the imagination, but
which may bear moro directly upon your
life.
You are invited to contemplate for brief
interval, THE GUILT OF MODERN SINNERS
and THE CoRREsPoNDIYa DUTY OF MODERN
CHRISTIANS.
The relation of this theme to the stirring
events in our country, which now follow each
other in so rapid succession, and call so forci-
bly, for action, may possibly develop ideas at
which, as in the days Of Paul. some will
mock, but God forbid that aught Of truth
should be suppressed on that account. 1t is
probable, also, that in the promiscuous as
semblv which you have, invited to sit with
you, there are present those who entertain
holy horror against the utterance of any word
by minister of the gospel on the Sabbath,
and in the name of Christ, which may even
remotely effect the politics of the country, or
interfere with the success of elections. Such
should be informed in courtesy that the word
of God to-day will not be bound, or suffered
to deviate one iota from its legitimate course
to accommodate them, that n prudent and
early retirement may save their cars the
dreadful sound. "What have to do with
thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth" was asked by
an adroit politician, the prime minister of
"all the kingdoms Of the world" many years
ago. and has been echoed by Others ever
since. Like evil docrs in olden time, "They
hate him that rebuketh in the gate" Amos
V. 1O)-Though there be little hope of re-
claiming by the truth hearts that are so deep
| ly rooted in sin, so eminent and fourishing
in successful tillianv, as are many modern
sinners, yet the lightning of Gods word
seems to be attracted to such points, and to
| cxpond its glorious wrath with oil the moro
vgor MS the ''gnarlcd and unwcdgablc oak"
appears to resist its power.
If any apology were duo for giving ,his
word free course (which there is not,) il
might be said that the Christian philanthro-
pis is far more interested in the success of
our government and in the mannor If its ad
minisirasiou, than the moro politician can
possibly be. Tho latter reioices only in the
| oprartnnity il givos himself TO rise to nfiu
once and place; that accomplished, he docs
not hesitate to convert it t. n practical dcs-
po,isin. The Christian loves tvcry human
beings interest MS his own, and in the free
dom and happiness which our government
bcstows on millions, he milion-fold cxults.
What right. then, have the profane, the
| foul m)uthed, the vain boastcr, tho wind-bib
Der, the debauchcc, least of all tho oppres-
sor, TO monopolizc tho most magnificent
| sch me of government the world ever saw,
and to throw mp their eyes and hands in dis
gusting hvpocricv if n word is said by the
servants of the Most High to rescue it from
Outrageous injustice and wrong? God origi-
| mated government on earth, and has given
the principles by which it should be admins
tered; and the duty Of those who speak in
his name TO enforce all that his word teaches
on the subject, is imperative.
AS a basis of remark upon the subject al
ready announced, your attention is solicited
to passage Of Scripture found in the l1th
chapter of Luke, 50th and 5lst vcrscs:-
"That the blood of all the prophets which
was shed from the foundation of the world
may be required Of this generation. From
the blood Of Abel 10 the blood Of Zacharias
which perished between the altar and the
temple; verify say unto you it shall be re-
quired of this generation"
l. 1t is an Obvious inference from this por-
tenteous declaration, that the intelligent sim
ncr, j. G., one who is enlightened respecting
the common rcsuls of sin in the history Of
Oh
God takes of it, and the judgments He has
visited upon it, will be held responsible, not
merely for the direct mischief which he oc-
casions, but will he judged TO have copied
and endorsed all the cnormitics of other sin.
ncrs from the beginning of time. He is an
accessory after the fact to every similar trans
gression to his own. In the appeal to poster
ity which has ever been the solace of outrag-
cd innocence in times of darkness, and which
has come down to him from the martyrs of a
past age, he, like an unjust Judge, bribed by
the Infamous rewards of his own lust, gives
his decision practically against the innocent,
and in support of the wicked. Of this he is,
perhaps, not wakefully conscious; he reads
the story of crime, and condemns it in terms
"If had lived in the days of my fathers,
Wouit ii"'c oceu l'hth'' WIN 'h'' III
the blood Of the prophets" He shudders at
the retributon which overlook them, drops
the record, and plungcs into tho same abomi-
nations.
No one can fail to see that this increases q
thousand fold the proper guilt of sin, and
most fully justifcs the awful thrcatenings Of
God against lis commission; that it renders
sinners of this day MS much moro loathsomc
in Gods sight, as tho accumulated corruption
Of ngcs can make them. Their attitude to
wards him is that Of impudcnt defiance; hi'
denunciatons arc laundering on their track
yet they persist in disobcdicncc, trampline
on the rights Of man and mocking at tho
claims Of Jehovah.
Look at the spcctaclel Hero stand modcn
sinners, MS on a mount Of observation; be
fore them spreads an extensive landscape
throngcd with innumcrable human actors
On that broad arena, thanks to the graphic