National Republican., 1877-01-29
THE 7TH COMMANDMENT.
TERsE COMMENTS UPON THE VICES OF
THE AGE.

Rev. David Wills, ID. d., breaches on Adul-
tery-Trashy Literature, Stage lCorrup-
tion, Dancing, Mercenary Marriages and
Easy Divortes-An Leading to the Viola
fion oftho Commandment.
Rev. DR.. David Wills growing fame for
eloquence and square up-and down Christianity,
and tho announcement that he would preach
upon the Seventh Commandment, attracted O
large congregation to his church (the Western
Presbyterian) last evening.
After quoting the coinmandment-"Thou shalt
not commit ndultery"-Dr. wills said: All
Scripture Is given by Inspiration OF God; Some
against the false modesty OF modern timcs-with.
out provoking q smile. blush or a tear from the
purists Of the day, The Apostle rebukes this
hypocritical squeamishncss when he says, "Unto
the pure NIL things arc pure, but unto them that
arc defiled is nothing pure" The tcxt is an int.
grnl part Of the grand system Of divine law. pub.
Prophets and Apostles have spoken against tho
outbreak Of dcprayIty disclosed In the text, and
the pure and loving Son OF God has dealt with II
so mercimlly, and vet 80 Justly, as to eyince tho
great turpitude OF this sin, and his boundless
compassion for this class Of sinners. with these
illustrious examples before us, and with the tide
Of oflicentiousness surgnR around us, would II not
betray a mawkish scntmentality on the part OF
the pulpit no, 70 ~ l,s voice against vice SO
The term adultery in the text has generic
signincation, and Is Intended to embrace all the
impurities and dcnlcments OF the flesh. The
reaeon that any ono Of this whole class OF sins Is
selected and specialized Is that the marriage
relation lies at tho fOununtlon OF MI uomestlo
peace and public virtue; and TO invade It's sancti.
Ties is to loosen all the lgaments OF society and 70
throw vide open hS ssS 4 % Inc S ss, mpor o
tance to every interest and hope OF the human
family.
cArsEs or ApuLTIny.
Let us now consider some Of the chief causes
which lead 10 the violation ofthe seventh Com.
mandment.
In the nursery by committing the care OF chill.
drcn TO depraved nurses and servants. The
sensational stories related to little children are
always hurtful to their morals All indelicaees
OF speech and behavior which they witness lay
the foundation for futuro degeneracy and dis.
honor.
. A second cause is tho literary trash
OF the times. Men and women must sometimes
read for entertainment, and we are not prepared
should we be compelled to condemn the Parallels,
the Pilgrims Progress, and some of our best
greatest care and the incest discrimination In the
pursuit Of this Kind of literature. The i'm.
mense influx OF yellow. backed novels Is a greater
j. Tho third cause Of the evil condemned in the
text is the corruptions Of the stage. We have no
purpose TO denoincc the legitimate drama, for wo
lyatiun Of nations. But the stage, at the present
time, Is proverbially school Of vice, and Is as
When the dramas of Shakespeare are displaced
by The stranger" "The Gamblers Wife," and
public sentiment on this subject.
I. There is an aspect of tho dance against which
the text protests As to dancipg In general, there
regard II as n harmless and graceful amusement,
which safely satisfies the craving of the young
psnment i % Of % iasSIonabe % Ire, Il msSes pcopIe
graceful, they say, land sometimes graceless, tool
Il is a better educator Of the heels than Of tho
dancing of children and women, we have yet to
perceive the poetic beauty Of grown man going
hS S. SaEs T9 h t 1T bis
and heavy the spectacle calls up the image Of an
elephant whose very footsteps shake the ground;
minded nd Of The i,fu antics Of monkey or baSoon;
II he is tall and slender, who knows when his OK.
se,siys i,n gyra.ioIs may GrinE him down liks the
are an innocent and refining amusement, God
pity the men and women OF this land.
MARRYING ron MONEY,
s. NIertehAry matches arc favorable to a viola.
tOn of the Seventh Commandment. The mar
aections, and il ii be put on any other basis It is
constantly liable TO be shaken to pieces by every
storm Of temptation and passion. When men and
women marry mainly for money or some more sor-
did ond the most fatal consequences are likely to
follow. Many have been married on Garth who
pronounce them husband and wife, but the law of
God declares they were never united In affection,
and are, therefore, living in state of adultery.
EASY DIVORCES.
9. The granting. Of divorces on insulticlent
bidden In the text. Tho laws in some OF the
States are fearfully lax on this subject, allowing
the marriage bond to be broken on the most llmsy
and speelOus pretcXts. There Il only one ground
of divorce recognised In the New Testament, and
the Saviour states 1t In these words: "Whosoevor
shall put away his wife, saving for the cause OF
fOrnication, causeth her to commit adultery, aud
whosOever shall marry her that is divorced CON-
mitteth adultery"
Thank God, our women arc the purcst and loy.
Hest OF the race Let US ever protect them from
sanderous assaults and inslnuations. Let us
shed q tear over those unfortunate females who
have fallen ON their integrity and strive by all
lawful means TO rescue them from life Of sin and
shame. Finally, tho Gospel Is q sovereign rem.
edy for all the evils Of life. Let US appropriate
its provisions, and VIC arc safe for this world and
fer that which Is to como.