The weekly union record., 1864-07-02
Fer the CSIoS REcozp-l
The Voice of Reason---A Sermon by q
Laborer,

" hereiore, seeing We also are composed Aooas
with 80 great cloud Of witnesses, let Us lay aside
every weight. and the sin which doth 20 easily
besei and le; with patience the race that
Is Sc, before us.--He6rers. xxi, l.
The postle Paul has left record upon the
early history of The Christian church, which an
intelligent Christian people may dwell upon
with delight Born Jew, educated sod in-
structed in ell that related 10 the civil and
religious policy of that nation, be entered upon
the career of manhood bold. defiant Pharisee.
His zeal in support of the Jewish church led
him to persecute the followers of Christ even
uuto death. Relying upon The stern doctrines
Of the Mosaic law and Levitical priesthood. the
saul Of Tsrsus" believed be was doing Gods
service in ridding the world Of what be believed
to be false teachers of religion, and blasphemy
against the faith OF bis fathers Bat God bad
raised him up for noble p1rpose, and, as be
j0urueyed toward Damascus, intent on the work
ui persecution. light from heaven penetrated
bis mental vision, and revealed TO bis under
standing The moral grandeur of The Law Of love
The proud Pharisee was changed TO a meek
and devoted follower of the despised Nszsrene
Obedient 10 the voice from heaven, PAUL co.
gsged ell his powers TO build up what SAUL
sought TO tear down aud destroy. In bis new
calling We see him the same bold aud fearless
advocate. whether as teacher of the GeDtiles,
or eypounding the scriptures to the Israelites-
whether declaring to the Athenians the "US-
KNOWN GoD whoni they ignorautly worsbipped
or defending himself against the accusations OF
the Jews. before Festus aud Agrippa-at all
times, and in all places, bis voice proclaimed
the words of eternal TRUTH with an eloquence
and power, both persuasive and commanding.
No man was too high 10 station TO be above
the anathemas of truth aud holiness. and none
were too low to be without the limit Of Gods
in6uiie love. Both Jew and Jentle received
equal attention from the abors OF bis ministry.
and were alike called upon 10 prove By their
works the sound reality Of living faith, for.
said be. Faith without works is dead" Re-
ferrlng to the custom OF contestants striving in
race, surrounded by vast multitudes of people,
he represents the christian as striving in race.
and 10 encourage the followers of our Lord TO
run manfully in the christian race, be shows
them the necessity Of faith iu the promises of
God aud in the chapter preceding the tex, he
rec0unts many instances OF the remarkable
power which unyeldng faith gives to its
possessor, and representing the persons thus
referred TO as so many witnesses surrounding
the christian continually, be adds Wherefore,
seeing we also are compassed about with so
great cloud Of witnesses, let Us lay aside every
weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset
Us and let US run with patience the race that
is set before us
10 an ordinary race. where physical speed
and endurance are the only powers 10 be cnlli-
waited, ard some pecunary prize is the object
TO be attained, only o3e can win. and if the
contest is for wager, what one wins another
must lose. The christian race is not based on
this, but on nobler principle. All who strive
10 the christian race may win-not prize OF
earthly vanity that perisheih with the using.
but glorious crown OF immortal honor. the
wearing of which yields peace, JOY, happiness
and love. And though one or all win, none
are poorer, but all are richer for the cheerful
influence of divine love is felt by all, even by
the ungodly, in proportion as the light of
eternal truth is taught and prac' iced around
them. The doctrine of christianity is doctrine
of practical duties which carry their reward
with them, while the penalties of disobedience
follow swift and certain npon the head of the
wrong-doer. The live christian feels this great
truth in his inmost soul, and rejoices in the
performance of every duty for bis spirit, taught
Of God, has an abiding faith in the goodness
and wisdom Of that Being who prescribed the
rule of his life to the end that Joy might per
wade the universe; while be who has q name
to live in Christ, but is dead, feels none of the
Joys that flow from the consciousness of q pure
heart, or acts of kindness toward bis fellow men.
aud sees in the precepts OF the gospel Only
deprivation OF those falsely called good thugs,
which his base heart desires. The superiority
of man over the brute creation consists in the
possession of those higher godlike faculties of
intellectual and moral endowment that proclaim
him child of God, an heir of Immortality His
existence is not given him to live for himself
alone but for his race The man who lives for
the qualification of his own selfish purposes.
uumirdful of he supplicaiing voice of his fellow
meD-who labors not 10 elevate the degraded
to alleviate the pangs of sorrow or bind up the
bruised and broken heart in short the man
who does not by his own example teach the
lessons of love and good will 10 his fellow man,
falls far short of fulfilling the mission he was
sent on earth 10 perform. The great object Of
the christian religion is to prepare the heart for
the duties of life, and guide mankind to the
enjoyment OF those hallUwed pleasures which
only the wise aud good are permitted to enjoy
Christianity is doctrine OF an intelligent faith
which works-yes, a faith which works works
by love and purifes the heart. Ii enters into
all the relations of life-prescrbes the duties
of the husband, the wife. the paren., the child
the brother. the sister, the neigh Dor, and the
citizen Of the state and nation. That frame Of
mind which yields joyful obedience to all the
laws of the divine economy is the grand
accomplishment OF christian faith and duty
Looking upon all mankind as the children
Of one common parent. heirs of one common
heritage. the true christian seizes upon tie
present as the only time for usefulness, and goes
forth in bis abors OF love to bless and cheer The
sorrowing hearts of the children of men. Man
considered as an individual has no superior on
earth. all being equals lie goes TO bis labor
returns 10 his repose, and seeks his congenial
pleasures beneath the broad canopy of heav, D.
breathing the atmosphere of universal freedom.
This is his biTthright-a right belonging to
each individual OF the human race-a legacy
from Heaveu-the gift of God. Order is
heavens first law" and in communities where
no regulations exist for the establishment of
order, it becomes necessary, for the protection
of the weak and innocent against the aggres
sions Of the strong and vicious that some sort
of social compact be entered into for the secu
rity of peace and order among men. Were it