Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-02-27
ORR COUNTRY,sD DANCERS.


OUR COUNTRY'S DANGERS.
In the Lutheran Observer we find lengthy ex-
tracts from a sermon, delivered at Holidays
burg, on the 22d of Nov, by Rev. L. Knight,
from Tim. 2, Ia. ssThe text, he says, i'm
plies that the early christians were in danger of
losing their religious liberty-that they were
in danger OF not leading quiet, peaceable
life in godliness and honesty and inquiries,
s.Are We in danger of losing our civil and re-
ligious liberties &c. We may infer from the
text that there is danger, because this Scrip
ture was intended as rule of faith and action
for air christians in future time.'' Lurury he
regards as one source of danger to the civil
and religious liberties Of this country, being
enemy to any form of government, and has
been the overthrow Of those who were proof
against the mighty armies of the earth. Han
nibal, the great Carthagenian general, after tlc
battle of Canine, in which 1000 Romans were
slain, with whose dead bodies the son of Anil
car made q bridge, and sent three bushels of
gold rings, taken from the fingers OF the slain
Roman Knights, to Carthage, had Rome in bis
power; but he retired to Capua where the
Carthagenian soldiers soon forgot to conquer
In the pleasures of the luxurious city, and in
stead of Hannibal taking the city, the city
took him and his mighty army. Luxury was
their overthrow. 1t afterwards proved the rtl-
IN of Rome herself, and other ancient repub-
lies. Let US not fatter ourselves that we are
in no danger from this insinuating and enchant-
Ing foe. There is false, too fastidious or
squeamish refinement finding its way into the
churches, and even into the -pulpits of the
country, and is sapping the very foundations
of christianity. st. Paul said, , Tim. iv, 3,4,
''The time will come when they win not en-
dur, sound doctrine, but after their owu lusts
shall heap to them teachers, having itching
ears, &c. And as to extravagant indulgcnces
In the pleasures of the table, and the exhorbl-
tant of costly dress and cquipage; though
the crops should fail and the times grow pinch
ing hard though many rich become poor. and
the merchants become bankrupt though pes
thence should walk in darkness and destruc-
tion waste at noon-day; and though thousands
fall in the East and in the South, in the West
or in the North, one half the survivors would
import the most costly silks, cloths, bIandies,
wines and gewgaws-clothe in fine linen and
fare sumptuously every day, while the other
half might go in rags and starve. Licentious-
ness and drunkenness are ever the foul COM
panions of luxury. More than Ten millions of
gallons Of rum have been consumed By the in
habitants of the United States since the sign
Ing of the Declaration of Independence, cost
ing in dollars alone more than fire billions, and
has sent seren millions of drunkards into eter-
nifty; has caused pauperisIn, crime, imprison-
ment-the cost of trials and punishment, add
ed to that of the liquor, loss of time, &C.,
would amount to a sum sufficient to build
&c, 900 miles of canals, so, 900 miles of railroad,
support all the colleges, seminaries and church,
es Of the country, educate all the children,
keep all the poor, and send the Bible and mis-
sionaries to every heather nation on the globe.
is 1t wonder we groan under our taxes7 is
1t a wonder that we have such enormous na-
tional and state debts7 Is it not wonder
that we yet exist7
Another source Of danger to the country is
political corruption. This is found in all ranks
OF our office bearers; and if occasionally an
exception is found, ore 1ho has the nobleness
of soul to resist bribery and stem the desola-
ting tide of political corruption and dema-
sogueism, in vindication of right, truth and
justice, he is soon forsaken by all the number
less and nameless parties of the country. con-
sidered eccentric, and laughed at for his pains.
The time was when ministers of the gosneI
were expected to discourse freely from the
pulpit on the political condition of the coun-
try. As an evidence of this we have only to
consult the published sermons OF ancient di-
vines This was in the days of Washington,
Hamilton, Jay, &c. But alas my country
men, how changed the times. No,0 a minister
bf .ae c.,ssnel, who ought to know at least as
much as another humble citizen. dare scarcely
express his opinion in public or private; II he
hsYs the presumption to exercise his humble