Smyrna times., 1858-07-15
Publishe d by Request.


81 rho kingdom of heaven is like INTO leaven whic
woman took, and hid in three measures of meal Ill
the whole was leavesed" "-MArT XIII. SO.
By ." kingdom of heaven" is meant the Chris
tan religion, considered both in its internal ant
external character,-as existing in the hearts
of men and as manifested in ecclesiastical or
CARNATIONS and also in relation to ITSELF ant
TO those embracing it or, 10 use two usefu
words which are, as yet, hardly allowable il
the pulpit, considered subjectvely and objec
lively. By "leaven" is meant ferment, ol
yeast, which, when brought in contact with
substances susceptible of fermentation, anC
at proper temperature, acts upon the particles
nearest to it, not only changing their cha.
racter, but giving them a leavening power
whereby they chunge other PARTICLES, and thus
fermentation spreads throughout the whole
mass. So, Christianity sezing upon a single
heart, changes it, and imbues it with leaven-
ing power, and spreads from heart to heart, and
50 shall spread until the whole world is eaven-
ed with It's divine power.
The text beautifully describes the progress
ences of the Christian religion, permeating the
individual, the family, and society. The So.
cialist takes hold of society and would pick the
whole fabric to pieces and reconstruct it en-
iIrely. The political reiOrmer asks for a ma o-
rity the feelings and views Of the minority are
Of small account. Christianity takes hold of
the man. 1t asks for the individual however
luwly and poor. 1t needs but particle, and
even the smallest and outer.ncst particle Of the
mass, and ii viii thence work through the whole
body.
|. Its first work is with the individual. 1t
finds him in bondugc TO sin, and it delivers him
from that bondage. Inveterate evil habits may
have bound his feeble powers with chains more
Calling and degrading than those of the galley
his noOlest faculties may be cast down and en-
shaved, and his carnal and sensual nature press
ed into the service Of Sltan,-and, harvesting
the selfish passions to his chariot, and dragging
the spiritual powers in dust and chains, Satan
drives With whip and spur his poor captive down
to nell. But the moment Christianity takes
told Of the victim and pervades his heart with
Its lhe-giving power, his bondage ends, his
chains fall off; no matter hove deeply his fetters
may have worn into him-no matter how alb
ject and degraded his bondage-the moment
the regenerating influences of the Christian
religion have possession Of his soul, lie stands
before God and Ills holy intellIgences free
man. For
He is a freeman whom the truth makes free,
And all are slaves besides
II. From the individual Christianity proceeds
to leaven the family. The potent influence of
Christianity to refie and elevate the household
lies 10 the divine sanction which it gives to the
marriage union; the protection which it throws
around its purity and sacredness; and in the
clearness with which it traces the relations and
defines the reciprocal duties of husband and
wife, parents and children; and, not the least,
in the exalted and dignifed position which it
gives to woman, the presiding genius of the
household. There can be no real and perma-
nent elevation of the family until there is
secured to woman, its tutelary spirit, the means
Of developing the noblcst and loveicst female
yirtues,-and through Christianity alone can
she attain the perfection Of moral beauty. The
morning and evening sacrifice of praise and
thanksgiving, the light and power of the sacred
Scriptures, and all the holy and hallowing in-
fuences of the religion Of Christ, are powerful
elements in the moral elevation of the family.
They will make the homestead ga place of
pure and holy breathings. embosomed in an at
mosphere of virtue and truth where the young
heart will drink in the sunny influences of re-
liglon like the opening flower, and develop
them in the rich foliage and clustering fruit OF
purpling maturity and green old age"
iii. But Christianity passes through the three
measures,-the individual the family, and So
eety,-until the whole lump is eavened. This
opens to us an extended field of thought, but
we shall confne ourselves to two points of view
only:
l. Christianity alone can advance society to
the highest phase of civilization. 1t gives Vigor-
ols life to every clement of high social order.
When it appeared at Rome, Pagan civil.
zation had attained it's acme of power and
splendor; but Christianity, gradually permea-
ting society, removed its barbarities, and stamp
ed upon it a more lovely character and more
excellent glory. 1t brought into disrepute tn,
theatrical and gladiatorial exhibitions-solten
ed the judicial cOde-improved the condition o
prisoners-extinguished slavery-put an end t,
the arbitrary power of fathers over children.
and lifted woman from the degrading position
of a pander to the lnsts and menial to the de
spotic will Of man, to the enjoyment of her IN
alienable rights.
Wben the destructive flood of Goths an