Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-06-09

idea OF social economy that has outlived
its day and has withstOod thus far the
influences of Christian civilization
Here, again, is the Grisette society oil
the infdel part of France, little better
than free love or pOlygamy. What
think you Of the comparison? That II
is a fair comparison cannot well be
called in question. But il would be nc
compliment 10 common intelligence to
construct an argumentin these premises
to show the superiority OF the claims OF
religion. The statement OF the two
theories in fair contrast is all that is
needed. He who needs more is too
dull or too polluted to be worth arguing
with.
But this religion is equally necessary in
our political relations. Here we find
our interests as they stand related TO
and are governed by law. All laws,
local and general, in the city, State, Ma
ton or international, are here involved.
But here some one is ready to say,
"StOp; you must not introduce politics
in the pulpit. Preach the gospel and
let politics alone" If you mean by poll
ties party measures and men, with their
trickery and rascality that disgrace the
name OF the country, | will let them
severally alone, except to do what can
TO destroy them root and branch. But
if you mean the great principles that
underlie our national prosperity, say
avaunt! My Masters interests are in
volved here, and cannot permit these
interests To- suffer, even to acCOmmO-
date class Of time serving, tricky poll
ticians. That this part of the argu-
mcnt may be brought within the small
est possible compass, let us attend to
the following propositions:
|. The Moral Law, which is the law
of evangelical religion, is the best Bill
of Rights that can be found in the world.
Taken in its letter and spirit, as cX-
planned by Christ, the great teacher,
it covers the whole range Of
human rights, privileges and obligations.
2. This divinely given bill OF rights
has stood the test of criticism and OF hu-
man experience from the earliest ages OF
the world, and has increased in the pow
er of its claims ON our regard, tine longer
and the more severely il has been tried.
3. All experience and all history
which is but the record OF experience,
shows that the more closely the laws OF
anv nation have been modelled after
this divinely given bill of rights, the
better has been the system OF govern
ment so founded.
4. All experience and history show
that the more perfectly such system OF
government has been administered in
the true spirit and temper of this God
given bill of rights, the better has been
the condition bOth'Of rulers and people.
5. All experience and history show
that whatever of wrong and oppression
and suffering have existed, have been
brought about by departing from both
the letter and spirit otthis great moral
law.
And the sum of the whole matter is
this, that Righteousness eXalteth ma
ton, while sin is the reprOaCh oil any
people"
True, nations have risen with these
principles and yet have fallen and are
only known on the pages OF history. But
they have fallen by their own corrup-
ton and not because Of the truths they
NAV have prOfessed in theory, but dis
regarded in practice.
As the stone columns of ruined cities
still stand unaffected by the attritiOns
of time while the cities no longer exist,
so these principles Of right still remain,
while the nations that disgraCed them
have passed into oblivion.
H. Thus far the claims OF religion have
been presented only on the ground OF
their influence over our temporal we'll
being. But this is but small part OF
the weight OF these claims. Their Inn
pOrtance increases in proportion to the
greatness OF our spiritual and eternal
weil-being over our temporal interests.
When we can answer the question,
"What shall q man give IN exchange ior
his sOulp' We will see more OF the value
OF evangelical religion. In order to pre-
sent these claims i'm this department
with sufficient breyity, | must again re-
sort to the statement OF the argument in
briet propositions.
/. Man is an immortal being, cit is not
all of life to live, or all OF death to die.
,. Man has sinned, and is already in
spiritual death.
3. God, in the exercise of His sovcr-
eign love and mercy, has provided
wav by which the sinner may be saved
from the consequences OF his sin and
be made forever pure and happy in
heaven.
1. In this plan of salvation all needed
agents and means have been provided
and placed in our hands, while infinite
wisdom has so arranged the whole SyS-
TEN as To harmonic the Divine SOW
ereignitv with human agency and ac-
countabllity.
). BY this plan OF redemption the soul
may be saved and restored TO the glories
OF heaven; but without it the soul must
be lost forever.
Is. This evangelical religion, the claims
OF which we are presenting, Is the name
OF this whole scheme of Salvation-the
bond that unitCs the believer with Christ,
I. God the Sovereign Ruler has ap-
pointed 4 day of judgement in which
the destiny Ui every soul viii be fixed
forever, either in heaven or IN hell, ac-
cording rs these claims OF religion have
been received or disrygardcd.
Here then is the sum Ut the whole
matter. Religion is necessary to Us in
all our relations in life, rs individuals,
families, societies and nations, and
especially necessary as morally account.
able and immortal beings. If the prem
ises be admitted the conclusion cannot
be resisted. The claims OF religion are
paramount to all other considerations.
Here then is the truth that | have
prepared for you at this interesting
period in your lives. You are now in
the spring time, the season OF flowers
aud songs and gayety. But this theme
will serve You not only now, but better
in the summers heat and labor that is
at hand-bettcrstill in the rich autumn
of ripened life, fruits veto come, and
better suu, far better in the dreary
winter of age that comes with his snowy
locks and i'll health will shut the scene.
For me. when I fOryCt the darling theme,
Whether thp blossom blows, The summer nay
RuSsetS the plain; inspiring autumn CLEANS,
Or winter rises In the blaCkeTing east
Be my tongue luu'e, nd fancy paint no more,
A ma 1sll In inv nv heart rafllSp In heat