The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-01-19

er SATAN AND 4rr Blutr.-w
ste opposed, on principle, % a politi
cal or general nsIri paper interferinJ
in any way, With tho various theologi
cal questions that should Of right onl.
DO discussed in tho pulpit and by ii
religious press. To this end, We hay
carefully abs.aiped from endorsing 0
eondemning any, but have soumsnde'
the good works Of all the religious Dc
nominations. We have also dsclinoI
at all tines to publish anything tba
might lead to a discussion Of religion
nliters through our columns; and v,
make our first deviation fren this rule
in printing the following sermon. no
because We have changed our view
upon tho subject, bu. at the request o
an esteemed friend, whom We deligh
10 hsnor.-Ths sermon given below
was delivered at Scranton, PsnuSylya
mia, on Sunday, December IA, 1873
BY Rev. A. A. Thsyor, on the subjso
-"sa.ln and The Bible" Tho ora
tor opened with the text
CHOW art thou fallen from Heaven, o
Lueiier, son Of the morning. How art thoI
east down 10 the ground, which did wehtst
the nations. "-IIl. xiv. u.
"But every man Is tempted when be 4
drawRAwAy 10 bis own lust and entiesd
Then when lust bath conceived II brisgctt
forth sin; and sin, when II 10 finished,
bringelh forth death. r-Jamss |. II.
Mr.. Thaysr then Iaid-
Three thousand years ago there were
millions Of people who believed thai
Satan had just as much power as God
The early Egyptians believed the dew
Il TO DO twin brother to the Deity. The
ancient Psrsi.as supposed that tho ONT
eternal God had two sons-the one wa
the King Of Light, aud the other tht
Prince Of DarkueIl-and both had
equal power.
Nearly all tho supGrsti,ions Of The
oldsn times assumed that a personal
Satan and bis myriads Of subjects
shared Tho control Of the universe with
the benifcsnt powers. The seed o.
Abraham the Jows-WorO the only
valiant defenders Of the omnipotenl
power Of the ous true God. The an
t,goniIns Of nature aud Of human liz
have always COMPOUNDED the iguorant
The problem Of good Aad evil is 4
ghost which will not clown" and th,
ehsapes. solution Of its presence seemI
10 have been the supposed existence Of
Satan and bis allies.
And while systems Of religion hav.
been very 10th 70 part with tho doctrine
Of The persenal agency Of evil spirits,
science has always been their implaes'
bio enemy. 10 the early tmos th'
most popular physician was . priest
because ho could exercise The devil,
Every form Of disease was supposed L
BE- possession by a demon. But, ahei
the medical profession became more
exalted in the eyes Of men. and The
practitioners became nero learned
medical science soon drove out the idea
Of supernatural possession by evil spir.
| lis. Every form Of disease vas found
" DO q condition Of the human system;
tho state Of q living body. in which che
natural functions Of the organs are in-
tsrruptsd or disturbed.
People found tia. tie patient vsI
not to DO cured by some nys.eriou.
espjur.tion Of alchony and magic; moi
By some fsu,astie nonsense mumbl0d
over With disgusting eantor,ious and
profound qaaekOry Of manner; nor by
wearing aniulsts ord charms; DOR By
the supernatural virtue in stones aud
Jewels and horse-shOOs. But tho sisE
mus. DO healed in some rational way,
The diseased functions must DO read,
ju,ted. Wisdom, and knowledge aud
profound skill mus. uso The actual
remedies Of nature. initead Of loudly
sailing upon invisible spirits in tho air.
Natural science was no less an enc.
my to the demons which we're suppo.
scd 10 control tbs elements. Plaques,
aud storms, aud torusdoes, aud blight
aud mildow, aud gr,sshoppers, aud
tho murraiu, aud The wolves aud The
owls, we're once thought to BE- undsr
tie direct supervision Of evil spirits,
They lurked behind every stump after
dark. They hid under every leaf
They were specially bold to 60 up aud
down ehiuneys. They oiten made Ply.
rotechnis displays in tho clouds. They
opened the furnace daors Of hell, aud
showed trembling sinners tho asshs,
Of Northern lights The pious held t.
the satanic possession Of people who
uars called witches. Demons furnish
ed a convenient solution to every start.
ling casualty 10 nature. and TO every
suggestion sfeyil 10 the human heart.
Bat Rhea the serene face Of natural
scisnee rose upon The world, all thes,
,tropgholds Of Satan aud bis impi uer,
Demolished. The hobgoblins dispersed
| into more deluded countries, aud lef
intelligent psopl. to sleep o night
aud to hear the wind whistle through
She cracks without turning pale, Of
f,iuting away because suothetsd in th'
.elothsl.
Bot Satan. last torsifc.tiea /, reli
zion. He has eulrsnchsd himself 30
lind the Churches. He sits at hi
ease. entirely defiant, like . god. Ant