The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-02-25

madu ess TO try TO convince Ourseifes tuas
we are not SO bad alter all. We are told
that the ostrich, when pursued, sticks its
head in the ground that it may not see
It's pursuers, imagining that IT 1t cannot
see them they cannot see it. So 1t is II
we try to persuade ourselves that we are
pretty good, we remain just as
we we're and run great
danger. 1t is utterly useless for us to
trv to alter ourselves by our own efforts.
If we are under the righteous condsmns.
ton of God, then no effort OF our own
can save US from that state. Therefore
we are shut up to cry to God Tor help.
at the same time not appealing to his
Justice, but to his mercy through Jesus
Christ. When a criminal has been fairly
tried and declared guilty, 1t is toolishness
Tor him to appeal to justice when he
knows that he is guilty and deserving OF
the sentence, but if anything, he should
appeal Tor mercy. The Bible teaches US
there is forgiveness with God. WHO Is
a God like unto Thee-who pardoneth
transgressions and retsineth thine anger
for ever" Gods trying object In tor
giving sins is to bring about lear
for HIM; tear that secures an obedience
to and love for Him. Gods for
givene.s is mover granted to anyone ex-
cept to bring stout this kind OF fear.
Some look upon God as merchant
waiting TO deal GU. money to them
whenever they have mind to ask Him
for it-csn go on SHINING till they come
to their death. bed and then they have
nothlng to do but to apply for pardon
and it will be granted. Whist tits here
that He is ever ready TO grant forgive
ness, vet il is to secure our love for and
dependence upon Him. Forgiveness is
made possible to US to teach us Gods
hatred for sin, and how Wishful He Is for
US to love and serve Him.
UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Rev. Mcclure, ID. D., delivered an
eloquent sermon last night from the text,
Eccles. viii, 4: "Where the word of the
King is there is power" Some persons
think tina: solomon was not the author
of this book of Eccleslsstic3, but as 1t was
sscribed to him by those who were
learned in history among the older He
brews, l think that that is enough TO nix
the authorship upon him. The text ad-
vses obedience to the civil power. In
the days of Solomon this obedience
was enforced by the sword.
1t seems probable from the surround
ipgs that Solomsn spoke of the power
which be himself welded. Let Us look
for moment at the power OF Jewish
hing. The Mosaic law, was, 1t is true,
the law that swsyed the nation, but 1t
made no reference or provision IN regard
to a Kings power. We cannot judge of
the Kingly power OF those days by con-
temporan eous records, but by what was
written afterwards. A King was given
to the Jews in the "anger OF God" Saul
being the first. The laws which gov
erned the nation were taken from
the surrounding he sthen countries. They
exercised the right Of command over
the property OF their subjects. They
were clothed with despotic power over
the persons of their subject, also over
their lives. Under lsrsels kings this
power, with few exceptions, was a most
despotic one, and was only bounded by
the cspsbli,y of the individual to crush
out opposition. Let us look higher u.
the King OF Kings. Speak of His pow
or. He built out of space world, plan
cts revolving in their orbits, and
an entire system of worldly mo-
ton. The power which lie brings
TO build worlds cannot be judged by man,
but his power over sin is one that the
human mind can comprehend. The still
small voice" which spoke to Elijah has
spok en- to you and has had the effect
W hich the wtirlwind did not have. He
speaks 10 everybody and everything On
tue face Of the earth. Nothing exists
that is not part of his kingdom. At
present He speaks to US personally ana
we must take 1t to ourselves. Cnder
this kingly power this command
is different from what it would
be among men. There is no such power
a. that OF the absolute one of God.
There is to men no right OF resistance or
revolution. When human king be-
comes despotic, common law gives the
subject the right OF rebellion. But as no
thought or doubt can ever arise as to
Gods business, there can be no rebellion
of moment, and even if there were, it
would avail nsught. Notwithstanding
this there is rebellion, for man sins
against His laws. Why He permits sin
to exist, why he does not crush it out |
cannot tell. Among men II
they grow tired of any one
government, they can change their hsbi-
tstion and ruler, but this cannot be done
IN the spiritual world. His power is om.
npotent in all lands and in all planets.
1t is idle to deny the power OF God and
think to escape 1t in that way. Inc
evidences of this power OF God
has often been shown in all its fearful
scenes of war and destruction, or in the
holy love shown in the Bible. If this Is
not so, why does that man lngersoll go
about the country decrying It's influence
(apart from the money he makes lit has
no strength
Trust in the power Of God and all will
90 well with thee, my beloved brethren.