New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-05-24

Preached In the FIrSt Congregational
Church of New Orleans, May IA, by
Rev. A H. Plumb
After illusions to some of the evidences
Of the slow progress of religion as seen in
the recent developments of infidelity in this
country, in the desecration Of the sabbath
throughout the land, as the result of the
importation of European customs, in the
prevalence of intemperance and bribery,
and extravagant expenditure in all ranks of
life, and especially among our public men,
it was remarked:
There are other signs that the work of
righteousness is advancing but slowly now.
When a great commonwealth in the most
favored portion of our land, wherL the light
of the Gospel has been widely ditfused,
where Christian colleges have long in,
structed the young in their duties to their
fellow men, where some OF the noblest of
the advocates of civil and religious freedom
have lived and tolled for the rights of man,
where colored men have achieved honora-
BILE distinction as writer's and speakers, as
successful men of business, and above all in
vast numbers as heroic defenders of the
nations life-when such State refuses to
grant to its colored inhabitants the least
voice in the administration of the govern
ment which rules them and taxes them,
and for which they fought, as one State
after another has lately done, every clear
sighted friend of humanity and lover of
Justice not to say every Christian, hangs
his head in sorrow and mourns over the
perverse injustice of the act, mourns over
the lamentabl5 encouragement thus given
to the cruel hatred and violent oppression
still exercised toward the colored race and
their friends in many of these Southern dis
tricts.
lNFa-os,r.,.. ,,-l,n,, I,o,,oo 1ass. n,4n.4,f.,,l
of enjoying a firm and wise administration
of government in the interests of human
rights, an administration which should put
an end at last to the long list of bloody
assassinations, still lengthening week by
week, which should guarantee proper free
dom of speech and protection from assault
for opinions sake tosthe poorest and hum
are again and again deferred, till the heart
is made sick, the Christian who watches
and works and prays for the coming of the
Redeemers kingdom in all hearts and all
lards, inquiries why the work of the Lord
in establishing righteousness and peace in
our own land fingers in this way.
In looking for some of the probable rea-
sons for delay in the progress of religion,
we may find one reason in the lack of faith
in the ultimate triumph of religion. 1t is
the belief of a small portion of the Christian
Church that the world is not to be con.
FefteQ, society not 10 DC reformed.
There may be Slight Improvement
here and there for time, but on the whole
things are to grow worse and worse, they
tell us, till the world is burned up, and then
in a new heaven and a new earth the Re.
deemer is to reign, This class of Christians
is always scanning the heavens for tokens
of storm. They have no eyes for the cheer
ing signs of the times which mark the age
as The most hopeful the Church has known.
Like birds of evil omen, they continually
sound the notes of alarm. You can not
converse with one in the most casual meet
ing but his voice has the same doleful tone.
Every untoward event is proof to him not
merely that the cause of God is making
only q slow progress, but that it is hopeless.
do for the world. It can only get itself
ready to leave it. They forsake the pumps
to get safely aboard the hfeboat, assured
that the great ship with the throngs crowd.
ing its decks is soon to go down; or if they
still labor for it, their efforts are despairing,
and can not be as vigorous or as long
sustained as if hope nerved their arms,
and their hearts were cheered by bright
anticipations of bringing the ship, with
most Of its precious burden, safe into port
after all. Ts.. rt a|.
Now to indulge in this view Of the pros
pect, of our race it is believed is not only to
utterly misinterpret prophecy, not only to
fly in the face Of the great plans of Goo, as
revealed in the Scriptures, and BY the gem
eral current OF Providence, but it serves
also very materially TO retard the progress
OF the cause oftruth. God has conditioned
the advance Of his cause very muck on the
faith and courage and labor of his people.
We are bidden to look for and hasten the
coming Of our Lord, to subdne every thing
to himself. Manifestly, for us TO lose hope
and to expect little success Is just the way
to hinder his work. In our late war an
eminent but strangely weak adyisero Of the
public mind At one time openly counseled
the earnest prosee utson of the war for three
months longer, with the understanding that
ifnOt then successful we we're to abandon the
cause. What possible suggestion could have
more Encouraged our@ enemies TO desperate
ehdurance and valor, on what could more
strongly have tempted every weak hearted
self-seeking member Of our forces to defer
any very hazardous Undertaking, any very
arduohs exploit; ;untilthe three months were
pasty We did not succeed in three months
nor in nine, but We succeeded at last be,
cause we believed success possible, and at
all cost were determined to gain Il. No serv.
ice can be hearty which is mot hopeful.
We can not do our best when We believe
Our labor isin vain. The coming Of ChTist'a
kingdom ID hindered by the despairing htful
character 0f the labor and prayers Of many
OF his children. bY their lack of hlghcJarage
ana vigorous oNpaatant faith.
Another reatoa fgr delay in the progress
OF religion is our Undue reliance on other