Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-04
SUNDAY READING.
SERMON FOR TIE MILLION.

sbhhoS FOX fHE MILLION
From the Macon Telegraph
Iniquity stalks abroad in open day. With
brazen front she elamors at our street corners.
she sets her nets by the wayside-she enters
our houses-she corrupts our young men
she ruins our young women-she controls
our populaee-she paralyzes the church.
she is leading us to destruction. The heavens
are black with threatnings-all earth is vocal
with warning-all providence is protest
against our sins. God wooed us in our pros
perity and we waxed fat and kicked against
Him. He has sent adversely and we rebel
yet more. Our land ravaged by war, our
dwellings, burned, our towns and cities de-
stroyed, our wealth wrested from us; nany
of our best and bravest slain-mourning in
almost every home, sorrow and gloom in
every heart-the past lost, the future having
no promise-all this is the terrible voice Of
God calling us to repentance, lest worse be-
fall; and Iniquity is allowed still to stalk
abroad, gathering her forces against Jehovah,
growing holder day by day, and sweepingthe
land with wider ruin. More and more we
pursue evil, break down every barrier an
Almighty hand has built across our path.
overlap all distractions, defy argument,
scott at entreaty, repel all calls to repent
ance, quench the Spirit lift the hand against
God and continue pursuing eyil-rushing on
TO death
Aud now comes the Question. why's il
that sin prevails so aiarmingly against all re-
monstrance, against every power and infu-
ence that can be brought to bear, and even
over the teachings of Gods word?
In the first place, We may say that public
opinion is depraved. Its standard of right
is low and lowering. 1t has no rebuke for
many vices-nay, for many crimes. Some
vices 1t encourages, because they are fascina-
ting; Others, again, are popular because there
is money in them. Should an honest legis-
lator seek to arm the law with authority to
suppress the schools of vice and to close the
theatres of temptation, that dot our thorough
fares, stand masked at our street corners, or
hide themselves in secret haunts or along
blind alleys, public opinion will not sustain
his efforts. Should a God-fearing magistrate
attempt to execute the inadequate penalties
now affixed to crime the wicked combine
against him and defeat his efforts to main
tain good order. Public opinion is not ar
rayed on the side of right.
Secondly-therei is a school in society itself
which prepares its constituent members only
for the pursuit of sin, and for the death
which follows. 1t is that of the gay and
goddess world Of pleasure-hunters, against
which the pulpit warns in vain. The wise
man says, There is a way that seemeth
right unto man, but the end thereof are the
ways of DEATH" The way of the giddy
throng whose highest idea of happiness is,
that it is social pleasure, seems right to these
deluded phantom-worshippers; but the sad |
truth is, that they are crowding the way to |
death, and yet they will not be warned
But behind society we find the family and /
the individul sinner, and with then. the cor
ruption begins. They make society, and it |
is made in their own likeness.
; In the head of the family you shall find
man of whom all men speak well. He lends |
dignity to his calling, however humble in
itself, by his industry and integrity. He is
enterprising, energetic, and, what
he world prizes most, successful. Absorbed |
IN his pursuits, one triumph achieved only |
paves the way TO another, and stimulates to
higher effort. He prospers. Wealth and
honor, with all their fruits, accumulate
about him. Thus, years pass away, and his
children grow up, basking in the sunshine
If his prosperity-and old age finds him,
must we say it?) only a sinner, having
pursued evil all his days.
A professed believer in the Christian re-
igion-an attendant upon its services
LIBERAL supporter of its institutions-wit all
his his life gives no answer to the high
laims it makes upon him. His influence
s not given to the Church; its sacraments
AVE no signiicancy in his life of unbelief;
nd in his household Gods word does not
ssert dominion. No family altar is there
prayer is unknown-and all the precepts
4 life taught there taught from the code
f honor, or Of worldly prudence, not
bundled on the highest and most imperative
f all the grounds of obedience-duty to
Tod. Under such tutilage what are we to
xpect, but that the sons will grow up idle
nd dissipated, and the daughters irreligious
xtravagant and worldly-minded2
Finally, cause for the prevalence of
in may be found in the delinquencies of pro-
sssing Christians-in their neglect Of per-
onal duty and of family religion-in their
LIKENESS to the world in character and prin-
iple and conduct.
All these causes unite in resisting good
promoting evil, and spreading
throughout society the leprosy of vice,
yhich neither law, religion nor force can
radicate.
We hope that our readers will ponder up
n these things, which have been suggested
} us and in part expressed word for word in
sermon preached in this city ON the 18th
February by Rev. DIR. Myers. We highly
Dmmend the sermon, which has been pub
shed, and hope it will be productive of
reat good.