National Republican., 1876-02-29
TIE Uses AND FATE OF scoFFEgs.

Yesterday NC printed number Of COM
munications in reply to Anti Christian
and sleepy Fellow, which go to show
that those Un-Chrstian writer's are nearly
alone, 50 far rs the Post O.licc Department.
is concerned, in their shameless aHn6'.-'tne
= dc'ascd matcriali---r-crlc OF cur corre-
d;r,,.;...r=- incline to ccnsure the publica-
tion of such m2terialistiC views as IS. F.
and ~. {. ayow, and would propagate,
but, upon reflection, we have no doubt
they will determine that we were right,
and that they were wrong in this respect.
Did not the publication of the irrevcrent
and sacrilegious COM munications referred
to present the contrast by which to meas
ure the prevailing opposing sentiments in
the Post Office Department and the COM
mUnity in general: no doubt it is only
persons of the highest moral courage on
the one hand, or fools on the other, who
set themselves up in these days as scofers
al the Christian religion. We have the
authority of the Scriptures for saying that
it is ''the fool hath said in his heart there
is no God. but we have not the same high
lad generally accepted authority for say
ing that men Of sound mind, cultivated
intellect and gifted pen and speech may
Iay this in book and speech as we'll as
heart. The fools who simply think it, and
keep the thought to themselves, appear to
be alluded to: but those representatives of
the devil on earth, who courageously
proclaim their contempt for the D city
.1F -.
defy His power as Satan did in heaven,
are characterized as unbelievers and
damned. "He that bclieveth shall be
"sayed, and he that believeth not shall be
"damncd. =" Sincere belief which works
out salvation, we are told, is evinced by a
practical Christian life. When heart is
imbued with Christian love it will bubble
over and make itself felt everywhere it
goes by dilIusing love and JOY all around.
1t will not confinc its benign influences TO
the church, the prayer meeting aud the
family altar, but it will, everywhere and
upon each occasion. eudeavor to substitute
happiness for misery, JOY for sorrow and
love for hate. l. is not necessary that
there should be AIRY undue excitement
about this letting the Christian "hrlt
shine before men that We know Of
Christian practices will advertise them.
selves. There need be no fear on that
score. We hear every day of the starving
poor that arc fed by the members o! our
Christian churches, and we are glad to
know that the evangelists and their co1d-
tutors do not turn away the destitute who
are cold and hungry and homeless with
the prayer OF the Pharisee, "be We warmed
and be yc filled, but that they are known
by their " fruits" " They do good by
stealth. Having relieved the necessi-
ties of pinching poverty by providing
labor for the unemployed and filling
stomachs with wholesome food, they
fisd streams of gratitude pouring
forth which they at once direct to the
great fountain of all good, and instruct
those benighted souls that they are in
debted to the teachings and example of
Christ for the relief which they have ex-
perienoed. And then they gather these
grateful souls into the sanctuary to hear
IRone about this wonderful Christ and His
teachings, and tlle seed takes root, and the