The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-03-30
WHOLE NO., 533.

tho moral obligation done away? The Cos
pol enjoins it upon US TO give according 10
our ability, and opportunities. No man
can live in Christian community, and not
30 under n deb. of obligation to the Gospel.
This land has often moro than tenfold
valuo. Everything which ho possesses has
its value increased. Tho worship of God,
whether ho attends il or not, supports II or
not, is overy hour and moment, multiplying
his social aud pecunarly interests. Earth is
mado TO him swceter homo. What would
tempt him TO 90 with his family. and take
up his abode whore therc is no Sabbath, and
no worship OF God on that day? Tho dis
erect inGdul is not tho man to sock q homo
for his family in such community. What
has being mado moro evident than that tho
Gospel is tho power of God, not only in tho
salvation but in the highest intellectual and
and moral, civil and social elevation Of man.
! kind 1t is the Gospel that makas tho dif.
ference between an enlightened and civil
lied people, and "a people sitting in the ro-
gion and shadow Of death"
What, then. docs that man practically say,
who docs nothing for tho public worship Of
God 1o says will havo no such worship;
no Sabbath's heavenly light shall sbod ts
quickenirg beams on community. | will
/ have mono of tho blessings. of tho Chris
] llaUlIS anu ClfltLnSlOil, UOUt Va lit COHtUib>
tions which religion imparts; mono of tho
hopes Of a glorious Immortality beyond tho
! grave. But will live and havo Others livo
aud die az tho neathcn. will be, and have
others bo as ignorant and bcsotlcd as poll
luted aud wrotchod, as suporstitious aud
vile as tho most degraded hcathcn. would
| have this world as dark as crime and wick
odnoss can mako it. | would sec mothers
murder their female infants, aged parents
left to perish by the neglect Of their children,
tho widow condemned on the funeral
pile of her husband. In sord ! 60 for
all tho unulierdtie crufiiies, impurities and
denominations of the hcathen.
/ 5. Those who reject tho BibIo say em-
( phaticaIly "Wc uiU be as the heathen"
;. 1t is remarked by some writer, Tho Sab
bath and tho Bible can live only in union.
They are naturally dependent. The Sabbath
is the right arm OF the Bible. The Biblo is
! tho right arm of tho Sabbath. Destroy ono,
aud You destroy both. They live in each
other, and die in each other"
. Tho Blble is the great moral engine that
moves tho car % civilization which is to roll
on and roll on Till nation after nation
catch tho flying joy, and earth rolls the
glad hosRnna round" Whero tho light of
the Bihlo has never been seen, all Tcmans
ness. No one can doubt this, if he will only
take the trouble to look over tho map Of
tho world, and mark those places where tho
Bible has nevor been. Without u single ex-
I ception, no will find them to 20 Pagan or
/ Mohammedan countries.
| Who're the Bible is not, what sanctity has
| the marriage institution : What 10 tho Sab
! bath What tho worship paid TO God
What tho condition of females =? What tho
family relations : Every intelligent man
knows that where the influence of the Bible
has never beon felt, oil is moral death. But
/ just send the Bible to such nations scatter
abroad the leaves Of this tree of life /; let tho
/ people read in their own tongue tho Word
of God and soon the chains of superstition
fall off; the fires of the funeral pile go out;
the crocodile no longer fattens on tho flesh
and blood Of infants; the aged feel, as thoy
tread the verge of life. the sustaining arms
of atfectonate children; fountains Of living
and holy love spring up in the family circle;
the moral desert becomes like The garden of
the Lord. Where can you find, to-day, an
enlightened. civilized nation. that does NOT
owe her elevation to the Bible? To reject
this book is to reject the blessings OF a re-
fined, elevated society, and what is infinitely
more. Bright candle of the Lord Star of
eternity the only star by which the bark
of man could navigate tho sca Of life, and
gain tho coast of bliss securely No people
can reject the Biblo and not proclaim in
thunder tones. I'VE will be as the hoathen."
| G. That class Of young men who shuu all
reputable society, and seem TO enjoy life
only when they herd together in bar-rooms,
! oysrer.cellars, grog-shops. gambling saloons,
bathrooms and theaters, not only say, "Wo
will bc as the heathen," hut are already
under its dark shadows. What nro they to
all good society, but pest!lental atmot-
phere: When young man falls into such
society, and yields himself 10 its detase.
nents. Oh, what fall What dcsola,ion
is mado in his young and tender heart A
dissipatcd son :! How its sound strikes tha
mothers ear How it rends in agony Tho
/ fathers heart! The son who might have
shono in tho family circle as Tho morning
star, falls like Lucitrr from heaven, falls into
the most abhorred guilt of debasenent and
pollution, some degrees below heatheuism.