Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-05-20
&eading fur the Sabbath.
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
[Original.]
DAMN THEMSELVES.


DAMN THEMSELVES.
Robert Burns, in one of his poetic, but
perhaps wayward moments, was passing BY
the grave of suicide. Upon the stone, erect
ed to perpetuate his memory, he penciled a
stanza, of which the following is the last
coupet:
"Poor silly wretch, he damned himself
To save the Lord the trouble"
The error of the poet consisted in making
a particular application of general princi-
pie. Many persons leave this world under
circumstances which preclude all hope for
their eternal welfare; but the right to pass
sentence upon all is the peculiar prerogative
of God alone. 1t is, however, absolutely true
that all those who are lost and sentenced to
spend an eternity in the pit of endless woe,
damn themselves. God damns no man. All
that he does is simply to pass a sentence in
rigid conformity with the acts of each indi-
vidual. God takes no pleasure in either the
temporal or eternal misery Of any Of his
creatures. We bring upon ourselves all the
misery, both of body and soul, which we suf:
fer. We sin, and by an eternal and unchange-
able law of the universe, sin is followed by
suffering. The moment that any of the ply
sical laws of the universe are violated pain
commences.
A man with small and insignificant in
strument, cuts the femoral artery. 1t re-
quired but little muscular strength to accom-
plish the act. 1t may have been an accident {;
but the result is precisely the same as if it
had been meditated upon for year and de-
liberately performed. No sooner is the scis-
sure made than the crimson current of life
begins to flow out. Unless speedy assistance
is rendered, the man dies in fearfully short
time. Not because God killed him but be-
cause he killed himself He is self:murder-
er. He may not have designed to take away
his life, but if he was not careful to prevent
it, the criminality is the same. Before tine
uncompromising majesty of the law, he stands
physically condemned and executed. The
only way God could have saved his life would
have been to reverse or suspend the physical
laws of the universe. This he will not do. 1t
would be undign6ed-it would be more-it
would be unjust to reverse the action of
good and holy law so as to accommodate one
careless or deliberate transgressor. Such
mode of procedure would destroy every SEM
blance of justice. 1t would take away every
incentive to well.doing, and remove every
restraint calculated to deter from transgress-
ing.
Now, there are moral as we'll as physical
laws. If there were no moral creatures in the
universe, there would be no need for moral
laws. Physical laws would be all that would
be necessary. But man has moral as well
as a physical nature. The laws which apply
to the body, will not apply to the soul. Be-
tween these, however, there is no conflict.
They exist in perfect harmony. Obedience
to the physical laws of the universe, secures
bodily happiness and disobedience is followed
with absolute certainty, by pain, suffering
and the death of the body. Obedience to the
moral laws of God secures the happiness of
the soul and disobedience to these moral laws
is followed by remorse, regret, and the death
of the SOUL
That man who leads life of disobedience
to the laws of health, is poor "silly wretch"
He shortens his days and fills those few days
with pain and suffering He inAicts upon
himself much misery which he might have
avoided, and often entails upon his posterity
woes unnumbered.
God has provided a Saviour. To reject
this Saviour, as many do, is all evidence of
folly unparalleled. Literally, the "poor, silly
wretch damns himself" by refusing to be
saved. God has no pleasure in the death of
the wicked. He takes no delight in hearing
the hollow groans that 60 up continually from
the pit of despair. God did not send those
hopeessly, miserable beings to that fearful
place. He does not keep them there. Sin
peoples hell, and it is sin that keeps its prison.
ers there. God pronounces the sentence of
condemnation upon the wicked but it is
righteous and holy sentence, approved of by
all intelligent creatures. Fools on earth may
charge God as the cause of their suferings,
but no inmate of perdition will ever bring
this charge against God. These lost souls
will have no love for God, and they will curse
him, but not because he treated them uDjustly.
WHAT FAITH IN GoD DaIs.-Faith justi.
ies, because the believers obligation to justice
are all Cancelled by Christ his Surety.
Faith sancti6es, because the believer for
sakes his own righteousness, which at best is
but as filthy rags, and accepts the righteous
ness of Christ.
Faith purifcs, because it begets hope, and
he who "hath hope in him puri6eth himself,
even as He is pure"
Faith strengthens, because the believer
forsakes his own strength, which is utter weak
ness, and lays hold on the mighty arm Of God.
ale stays on his God"
Faith gives courage, because it enables the
believer to penetrate the darkest clouds and
see that there are more with him than against
him it makes him cry out, "Thoug h an host
should encamp against me, my heart shall
not fear"
Faith gives joy in the midst of sorrow, be-
cause it tells the believer that his light attilc-
ton, which is but for moment, worketh out
for him "far more exceeding and eternal