The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-01-12

day morning, the 9th inst, and repeated last
evening, from Matthew 23d, Goth. "Thou
Blind Pharisse, cleanse 6rst that which 10
within the cup and platter that the outside Of
them may be clean also"
He commenced by alluding to the past year
with it's conflicts and changes. Men, dissat-
isfed with the present, had been reaching
forth after better state. They were con-
scious Of the need of reform, but their efforts
at a forward movement made it manifest that
great hndrances wero in the way. Truth
had been making progress, but error had at
least firmly held its ground. Many evils still
existed, and they were strong and deep
rooted. The world had heard much Of re-
form, and there bad been many attempts at
reform; but, though making great promises,
they had In a great measure failed, and it
was still true that the world reeded TO be
reformed. Now, what was the relation Of
the gospel and the church to existing evils
and to reforms, or the organized efforts which
were made outside OF the church against ex-
listing evils2 This was the veighty question
to be considered. Some had dogmatixed
upon this question without understanding it.
The good and wise had differed in opinion as
to what the gospel rule is by which Chris
tians are to govern their conduct 10 relation
to existing evils. The confusion had arisen
from the fact that the Scriptures give the
rule, not expressly, but only by implication.
1t had been said that the rule was to be found
10 the example Of the Savior and Apostles
The agitations under their preaching were not
occasioned by direct efforts against the social
and political evils of their time. they did
not by direct efforts place themselves in an
tagonism to such evils. They did not de
nounce unjust governments nor unrighteous
laws. They did not seek fret of all an out.
ward and general REFORM. Their principles
were not those Of the modern reformers. In
this view there was truth deserving more at.
tention than it had yet received.
The text afforded clue to the true view OF
the subject: "Ceanse that which is within
that the outside may be clean Also" The
best way to reform man outwardly, was
first to reform bis heart. So the best way
to reform a community was to reform its
individual members. Cure men of the m oral
evil OF their hearts, and the outward natural
evils would disappear Of themselves. The
following propositions contained, he thought,
the true view Of the subject:
lst. The gospel idea Of reform, was a re.
form commencing withn-the renewal and
publication OF the heart. Mere superficial
reforms were comparatively worthless. The
gospel made a wide distinction between evil
in its outward forms natural evils-and
evil in it's principle and substance IN oral
evil or deprnvity. The evils that appear
upon the surface are natural evils. Moral
evil in the heart is the cause of them. Thus
the natural evil Of intempcrance was caused
by cupldity and sensnality. Slavery viewed
as an outward fact was Il natural eyil-one
OF the forms which depravity has taken on.
The enslavement Of men was an effect hu
man se!hshness was the cause Of H. Abolish
tins effect by agencies that act simply upon
the surface; You do a good work, but YOU
abolish natural OWL, not moral one; YOU
do not weaken human selhshness. The great
evil OF the land, therefore, was not slavery.
but the intense selfshness that caused slave
rs. II was the mammon power strong in the
North as we'll as In the South. This heartless
spirit OF mammon was the great evil, and
between those actuateJ by it in keokuk and
those in New Orleans, there was no essential
but only an outward difference. Now, thu
problem OF true reform was to DESTROY thi,
spirit-to purify the heart. Destroy tn,
cause and the effects will disappear. Thi,
was what the gospel proposed to DO. Hence
I'd, The immediate great aim Of the COS
pei was the thorough reformation Of ind
viduaI men. The gospel was no. addressed
to Communities and nations, as such, bat I,
individual men, proceeding on the principl
that the work OF true reform advances Jus
as fast as individuals are reformed and n,
faster. In order to general reform, mel
must be reformed one by one. Instead
therefore, OF seeking q general reform di
rectly, the gospel sought only the reforma
ton Of individuals. There were two meth
DDS OF reform. One commenced upon til
81 outside, bringing all its force to bear agains
the forms OF eyll, THE effects Of depravitv,-
not distinguishing clearly between the eifsc,
and the cause, and working at best only
superficial reformation. This was the metho
of some misguided Christians, Of ultra men
and modern reformers generally. The othe
the true method - commences within: goe
10 work upon individuals, seeking to brin
them over 20 tho eide Of truth to,make ther
right in heart and mind. It's principle ID
that II the depravity OF individual men ca
only be destroyed, there will be no need 0