The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1861-06-13

CneSrlHB lntelllSehcej Bldu ILuIuS
of great JOY" What mercy it II
that God sent his Son, Jesus, into
the world to save sinners. Deal
| young friends, you and I are poor
sinners, we need q Saviour; We
cannot save ourselves, but we may
be saved. 1t will be our own faul
if we are not saved. Christ dice
for all-for every human being
and it is our Heavenly Father
will that all should be saved.
But I think I hear you ask
"Uncle William, who were tht
Pharisees?" They were a powerful
sect of Jews, at the time of oul
Lords birth. The word Pharisee
signifies to separate. They, like
too many professors of the pure
religion of Jesus, pretended to be
what they were not. Pride and
hypocrisy were their real character.
They professed to believe in ira
ditions; that is to say, in things
not sanctioned by the Word of God.
See Matthew, 9th chap, 18th yer.
They were avaricious, proud, and
very ostentatious. In fact, they
were q kind of Aristocracy, and
looked upon themselves as q privi-
legged order--the nobility of the
State. 1t is well for America, that
she is not cursed by such a set of
sycophants, and noxious spawn,
who enrich themselves at the ex-
pense of the industrious portion of
society. The Pharisees were upon
the whole, sound in some parts of
their creed, (see Acts, 29rG, 9th w
but their conduct was o continued
satire on their theological opinions.
Dear young friends, let us be honest
and sincere in our professions of
religion. There are, alas, too many
who,
"With lifted eyes salute the skies;
And bended knees the ground;
but they appear to forget that
"God abhors the sacrifice
Where not the heart is found"
The Saddueees were another sect
among the Jews. They rejected
the traditions of the Pharisees.
They were nothing more, nothing
less, nothing else than Deists; but,
like others of their school, they
pretended to look on the law of
God as binding, while they re-
fused to obey 1t, and lived to them
selves.
The Scribes were expounders of
the law. They copied the Scrip
lures of the Old Testament, ex-
planned the more difficult passages,
and decided doubtful cases of
religious duty. They were eligible
to a seat in the highest Jewish
Court, which was called the San
hedrim, a Court of seventy-two
members, in which they decided
causes of civil law, and
church matters. They were the
same as the lawyers, or doctors Of
the law, and looked upon themselves
as wonderful beings. 1t is sad to
think that in all ages the Church
has been, less or more, under the
influence of men, who have not
felt the power of the grace of God.
Let US be thankful that there are
SO many good, great, and holy men,
in the Churches of Christ, in this
country, to show unto us the way
Of salvation, and to tell US Of the
they feel in serving the
Lord in spirit and in truth. |
The Publicans spoken ofin Scrip
ture, were tax collectors. They
we're a dishonest set Of men. They
farmed the taxes, that is to say,
they paid so much to government,
and charged the people what they
liked, or much more than they
ought. They employed unprin-
cipled men, who were usually |
Romans, to collect for them. They
were great extortioners, see Luke,
10Th chapter, and 18th verse. There
are publicans still in the world
wicked men, who, when they get
into office, or power, act the Publ
4
can andplay the Sinner, by charging
more than they ought.
The Essenes, were sect of the
Jews, not mentioned in the New
Testament. They were Jewish