The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1878-11-05
swtNs. OS BaNs AND
DtESsING.

The following are extracts from a
sermon delivered in his church IN Chi
cago by Rev. David Swing, Oct. 9th.
Let us mark now some OF The colors
of the rainbow thrown across our
clouds. The imitation of Christ in-
wolves "righteousuess There can be
no valuable christianity where the de-
/ ciple differs from his master in this
/ particular. Righteousness IL that re-
lation of man 10 man upon which sOci-
ETY. Is founded. Take away righteous
ness, and each man is at tho mercy Of
the strongest. aud the people become
az once like herd of sheep in land
abounding i'm lions. When one of our
religious journals took recently the po-
sition that no christian cDnld take ref
uge in a bankrupt law and pay a small
part or no part of money obligation,
it spoke with fearful cl0seness 10 what is
Christianlike in world Of morals. IL is
not TO be conceived OF that a Christ
man will ever see any arithmetic that
can transform 10 cents iutO dollar or
reveal moral that eau take from q
neighbor and mover pay back. The
Christlike life, having incurred debt.
will go forward paying it regardless of
any temptation offered by earthly and
defective legislatures. and will help
build up the only opinion IN harmony
with the master namely. that bank
rupt law, 10y death only, may give n
Christian release from his promises. |
H." not meau 30 imply that al persons
who have saken what they call this le-
gal refuge are hvpOcrites and are uR-
worthy Of the esteem of good men,
mean only this: that they are erring
Christians, Christians under a cloud,
and as poor Kempis only saw part OF
his Lords characterin the fifteenth cen.
tuiy, so these other souls, living in the
Mute anth century. have failed to mark
aud measure tue lofty morals OF Jesus
Christ.
To- illustrate the relations between
such a philosophy as that of Jesus and
the decline Of physical and material
aims aud ends, note the changes IN the
costumes Of men which have taken
place since Christianity began 30 On.
large the estimate OF mind. Not all Of
such reform must b. placed to the
credit of religion. for common sense
would perhaps have grown, even had
Christianity never appeared; but this |
claim, that, such "A being as Jesus
Christ pervading the nations, common
sense" found ia him powerful leader
and companion, who helped win a
quicker aud broader victory. The pur-
pie and tine linen have disappeared
from the dress even of kings, aud grad
nally all men have put aside rings aud
Jewels aud personal decorations. The
men OF the niueteenih century attire
themselves with perfect pl8iuuess. COM
pared with all the civilized past, be-
cause gradually has escaped the long
hidden fact TINT a man l. great only in
mind and soul.
Some historian. know not at this
moment which one, was recently quot
ed by IA Quaker writer ~ saying that
were we nov % meet au English
gentlemen OF the times IL James II.
we should think him mOuntebank es.
capped from the theatre: a short
WASTED, bright c"lored doublet and
petticoat, with pautaloons Of blue or
red silk, o.namented wiIh ribbons up
To the pocket and across the thigh, aud
meuts. The sleeves OF the coat came
no further than the elbows. wnere they
we're turned back aud formed a large
cuff, the cuffs OF the shirt bulgiug forth
from beneath, ruff d at the wrist aud
adorned profuselv with ribbons
ROuud his neck he wore q caryat II
Brussels lace, tied with ribbons under
his chin. HIS hat was high crowned
aud was ornamented with plumes OF
feathers Beneath the knees hung
long dropping lace ruftl-s, a rich falling
collar Of lace hung over the shoulders.
High-hcelcd shoes, tied with bright
ribbons or fastened with large buckles,
complete the costume ~ q gentleman.
That, against such an eXiltation Of
The material aud such corresponding
degradation of the mind, tue simple
grandeur OF Christ has arrayed itself IN
the late generations is not a matter OF
doubt Openly the Quaker religion and
the Methodist religions have assailed
such deifcation Of dust and indeed. all
the shapes OF the Christian worship
have conspired T. pluck the lace and
the ribbons from the modern gentle
man. And under the same philosophy
woman has made much progress, but
wonderful as woman II Ia her modern
condition Of right and education, yet
il is safe TO say that IN all those mat
ters which ak for calm thought aud
for an intellectual rather tnan au emo
tional impulse. woman always lags
hundred or five hundred years
behind her less childless companion. 49,
Never having enjoyed personal liberty
or an education equal - that given
men il would be only a miracle should
che suddenly spring INTO such mental
power as mark the eminet men
Of that age. She will initiate Christ ia
charity or virtue long before she will
grasp these features of the Master
which were more Intellectual 10 Will
perhaps be a full century before the
woman who buys -. 900. 900 worth Of
diamonds for her personal sdornment.
OF who at fashionable resort will new
or repeat a toilet, will have disappeared
from the Christian nations. but vanish
she at last will. for the more intellect
ual times are rapidly Withdrawing that
class, and at last she vail need 20 be
sought for IN dusty history along with
that fashionable English gentleman.
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