The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-01

Tue no sntains shall bring peace to the peo-
Rie' and the little hills, by rlghteousness.n Thus
= Is made clear that everywhere Righteousness
goes before peace = its part, les root, its
fundamental source. And no wonder; for God
has established His throre for righteousness.
And as the God of peace, to make peace the
inhabitant of this earth, He has laid the princi-
pie OF the text at the basis of the revolution
His grace has proposed to effect; and will have
1t honored, held sacred, by all who would enjoy
peece. And now, what can the citizen OF the
United States deem more important than to
know what this work of righteousness lnvolvesY
To endeavor 10 show this will occupy our
second head of discourse.
The worker OF righteousness" is in one place
declared to be accepted with God" 1t is
therefore doing that which peases, because
" honors God. Enoch was said to ''please God,"
and his ways are described in the short SEN
tence, "Enoch walked with God" II is said
that Solomon pleased God" when, in answer to
Gods, ASK, what shall l give thee?" he said,
"Giye me an understanding heart TO Judge thy
people, that ! may discern between good AMI
bad" solomon was just seated on his throne,
and to show that God was pleased and to
sbcw the bearing of that case upon our
present object let me say God gave him wisdom
above all before or alter him; and not only that,
but enormous wealth, and length OF days. and
great honor; and He gave him reign of abso-
Lutte peace. Now we can see that the work of
righteousness" nvolves-First, a strict regard
in all our ways, as men end citizens TO the re.
quirements OF the Divine wilt Working
Righteousness is doing right, God being tue
thou shalt not" found plainly written, define
the right. For 'all his commandments are
righteous" David, as man and as a king,
stuck the true vein when he said (aud III pr
yate and III public hle he acted upon 1t, save in
the case OF Urian the Hittite, OF which he bit
terly repented), 81 esteem all thy pIecepts con-
corning all things to be right, and hate every
false way" Hence his administration as king
is ma6e the standard by which every reign after
wards is tested. 1t is indeed remarkable that
good, king, and one approved of God, is de
sclibed as doing that which was right in the
eyes of the Lord, as did David his father. And
worthy to be noted Is it, that those we're not
approved of God of whom it could even be said,
'he did right IN the sight of the Lord" since
father" What a strict construction, then,
does God put upon this work OF righteous
ness Surely, 1t involves something more,
something deeper-seated than an external form
OF obedience, OF even divine precept 1t dis
closes to us how t1u1 it is, that There is way
that seemeth right to a man, but the end
thereof are the ways of death" 1t
comments most severely upon those ways OF
men which are fashioned after the principle of
beingSonly legally right. But not simply magis
trates have been taught concerning this work
OF righteousness. The people have a lesson in
the event of the disruption under Rehoboam.
That was the work of God. He rent the king
dom asunder, and only lett small portion to
Dayid's line, for His promise sake to David, and
tor His great purpose sake, respecting Dayld's
son and Lord. The reason for His severe visi
tation thus inculpates king and people: "lRey
have iorsaken me, and have worshipoed the
gods of the heather, and have not walked in
my ways to do that which was right in mine
eyes, and to keep my statutes aud my iude-
meats, as did David" The truth is, God has
been careful to reveal Himself as an admins
traitor OF government, and to make it appear
that the precepts He enioins upon men grow
out of and exhibit His own method OF con.
ductng the affairs OF government And thus
Il is before men actually the Model Ruler;
and He would be initiated in his principles ami
| DV npOOleS and nations. And in this lmi-
talion OF Him-this practical use of the prin-
clples underlying His throne and actuating
him, all with reference to the declaration OF
His glory and honor as the Chief Magistrate of
the Universe-we have this "work of righteous
ness" Now, secondly, this further involves
strict regard for the best interests OF men. As
il looks back ward and find its model in the
Divine administration, so it LOOKS forward and
finds its aims in sympathy with the
Divine purposes. When a nation conducts
its affairs as the Divine Ruler does.
| it will begin to aim to attain the
same ends, as God proposes to Himself. and will
effect, in the accomplishment OF His purposes.
| And, as God has made His great law of righteous
ness to look TO human good, as well as to HIS
| proper glory,-so, while He administers His
government to show that He whose name is
| Jehovah is the most High over all the 9arth."
! At the same time, His very rule OF men Is di-
rectly employed for their establishment in the
GLORIOUS liberty OF the sons OF God;" aud to
participation in this liberty it seeks to bring the
very creation it ''delivers from the bondage
| ol corruption" The kingdom OF God is, In iced,
the refuge, lhe retreat into which the burdened
and weary slaves of the foul author of all op.
preston and misery are invited to flee. And
His government in Righteousness is held forth
as their guarantee OF safety from all harm for
eVermore. And II is none the less lifting to be
considered by citizens that this state OF safety
is styled ''eternal hle." Now, most itdng is 1t
that nations do all that is right TO show their
power and resources and dignity, and TO gam
honorable standing among otner nations. Yea,
this nation can 90, and conform to the mind
and will of God. Yea, more; this will be the
result, II its ways do conform to His. But, 1t
falls lar short OF its true end if it stops here.
No nation is formed for its glory merely. A
nation is provider, guide, protector. Its
people, the subjects OF its authority are the
proper objects OF its provisions, its guidance,
its protection. Whatever may contribute 20
their personal prosperity the nation must fur
nish by It's distribution Of privileges, its defn
tion and recognition OF RIGHTS and by opening
avenues for industry and talent, to traverse
freely in pursuit OF every good. And 1T must
defend all honestly and peacefully engaged in
such pursuit, against the Seldshness and
criminal ambition of such as would re
sist or harass them. Nor has 1t fulfilled
its energies to the intellectual and moral cul
ture of its people, and the encouragement of all
influences, especially those OF the kingdom o
God, which may contribute TO their well-bene
in Its fullest sense. And in this, il ii initiate
the Divine model it Will be mo respecter O
persons, but will spread its benefits with libera
hand to those every where who honor its autho
rity, and withhold them from such only "a
refuse that honor, by resistance OF its righteoI
requirements and the violation OF its laYtu
provisio ons. And when we speak OF the nation
we do not conhne ourselves to the magistracy
and hold them alone bound to this. We accep
the great underlying principle OF our instltu
tions, "the people, the power" and hold TIN
up as 2e Divinely prescribed order for them, il
that capacity. to follow. Indeed, it is idle t
look for work of Righteousness in official pos
| uDns. ii ii he not found in men as men, and a