Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1858-02-18
Rough and Ready Sermon,
No. L.
BY TIE PRAIRIE PREACHER.

BY THE PRAIRIE PREACHER.
TEzr:-"Judge not, that We be notjudged," &c.
Mr. BELOVED HEARERs:--The words Sc
lected for our text on this occasion, are Of
divine origin, and when first uttered by
him. who spake as never man spake,' and
what may seem to you more wonderful and
rare, Giving as you do, in modern times.
he practiced what he preached.
The words of our text, it is supposed by
some writers, were uttered upon an occa-
sion, when he was addressing himself TO an
audience that had become addicted to the
pcrnicious habit Of scandal, or to be more
plain. he was addressing crowd of scan
dial mongers, as your humble speaker
will now in imitation of his master, endeav-
or to do, with your permission.
Don't start, my dear brother Brown, to
leave the house. until l whisper a word in
your ear. Only yesterday heard you
and neighbor Smith, hauling neighbor
Jones 'over the GOALS (behind his back of
course.) Nj. Jones was not doing just as
he ought to do. All, brother Smith, Jones
is falling off from grace; wouldn't sign
anything for the support of the gospel in
the Fegee Islands. or chrisllanize Japan,
because he thought it required his support
nearer home. Would't give cent tow
ards furnishing the pulpit with mahoga-
ny sofa and fifty dollar bible. end offered
as an excuse. that the money was needed
and would do more christian service a
nong the poor of the Parish. just as tho
brother Smith. the Lord wouldn't look out
and provide for them without any of our
help. And to cap all, brother Smith, Jones
has refused to allow his wife and daughter
to attend the meetings of the sewing So
ciety. because, he says, more time is spen
there in idle gossip. than in works of phi
lanthrophy.
Brother Smith, it is shame to tolerate
such a man as Jones, in good society like
ours, ard l. for one, go in for expelln!
him from tie church.
Hold on, brother Brown, and let us Sc,
how it stands with you, sir. before brothe
Jones is sunk into shades of oblivion, ant
banished from respectable society by you
dreadful judgment upon him.
Was it not you sir who drove that poo
orphan shivering from your door. whe1
she had applied for brief shel,e, from
the inclemency of the weather. and NOR
sci of your food to keep her from starving
Because an act of charity to her. woul'
not be known among your neighbors, o
lauded from the press.
Was it not you sir. who turned tina
poor widow with her six helpless childrel
into the street! leaving them withouta roo
to shlter them from the wintry blasts. be
cause sickness had prevented her from
paying her rent to you, which you inten
ded to send to China to convert John Chi
naman from the error of his ways and hi
heathenish appetite for rats and puppies.
Oh ye vile hypocrite! Think you nc
. that widows curse, that poor orphan
J prayer is registered in Heaven against you
t Begone! Ciothe yourself in sack -clot
: and ashes! Sit down low in the dust {
n humility, until you. learn that he who note
t the sparrows fall, will harken to the wild
{ ows and orphans cry.
8 How is it with you, my sisters? Ar
t not your lips tainted with the vile loatf
: some poison Of scandal? Does it not win
$ its Shiny coils into every, circle in wh's
: you meet, watching for its prey? aud whe
! by chance, some poor helpless victim
n comes within its reach, does it not cage
|, ly dart upon its prize. and crush it With
n its whitening, foul embrace? Yes; ar
E how eager you are to enjoy the scene, an