Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1860-04-04
A Short and good Sermon,
BY TIMOTHY TITCoNB.

The universal fact based on universal
experience, is that there is nothing in the
world that makes so poor return for its
cost, as sensual pleasures. No man ever
traded extensively in this line without
becoming bankrupt in his happiness
II does not pay, and cannot be made to
pay, and every man should see and un-
derstand this ii he would keep an ac,
count OF his receipts and expenditures.
Let me help you to open book of this
kind. Credit sensual pleasure for a spree
"a night OF hilarity, produced by drink
ing and feastlng, and then turn to the
other side OF the account, and debit it
with the solemn details of oost-monev
enough to furnish bread for a hundred
hungry mouths-a day of languor, pain
and Incidence damaged reputation,
which may interfere with the projects and
prospects of whole lite-a loss of self,
respect and deadening of moral sensi-
bility-- "A reduction Of the capacity of en-
joyment and Of the stock Of vitality-the
sullen pangs OF n reproving conscience
the tears of mother and the seyerer an
guish Of a father-all these and more for
an hour OF artificial insanity How does
tie account look now?
Suppose we try another. Credit sem
sual pleasure for the elicit indugenc of a
powerful passion. Then place the cost
upon the debit side OF the leIger-shame
and fear-conscious loss of purity--the
possession of a foul secret tha, is to be
carried into all society, and into all rela. .
tlonshlps-dlsease and remorse, or what is
worse than all this, hardness, brutality,
and the formation of habits whose only
end is ruin. | may not through fear of
giving offence, enter into all the details of
the debit side of the account. rhev may
DC found and read of all men in grave.
yards, in hospitals, brothels, in garrets. in
cellars, IN ruined families and ruined
hearts and ruined hopes. Now does the
thing pay?
| have presented only the private side
of this account, and that but imperfectly.
There is q public side. The innumerable
paupers whose life is supported by the
State owe their pauperism directly or in :
directly in three cases out of four to sem
suality-to strong k-licentousuess
or some form Of extravagance that pros
ceeded from a devotion to sensual pleas.
ure. Idiots begotten in drunkenness. lu,
natics through various forms of sensual
vice, criminals who are Gagged in every iail
and prison like wild beasts, diseased crea-
lures alike loathsome to themselves and
Others, crowded into numberless pesti-
lent hospitals-all these are public bur
dens imposed by the sin of sensuality.-
If we run through the whole catalouge of
crimes we shall find them all growing di-
rectly or indirectly out of this comprehen,
sive vice. In fact it may be said that al
crime with its consequences is but man.
Hesitation of the dominance of sense over
re ason and conscience.
In this view--and no one knows better
than its victims that it is the correct view
sensuality rises into the position of the
great scourge of mankind. 1t is the mo-
ther of disease. the nurse OF crime, the
burden Of taxation, and the destroyer of
souls. Oh, if this world would rise out of
the swamp Of sensuality, rank with weeds
and damp with deadly vapors-cull of yi>
pers thick with pitfalls and lurid with de-
ceptive lights, and stand upon the secure
heights of virtue where Gods sun shines,
and the winds of heaven breathe blandly
and healthfully, how would human life be-
come blessed and beautiful. the great
burden OF the world rolled Of how would