The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-01-22

j z II wolves in the distance Is heard
hy the little party. TIE horses. sse
urged forward a. 1heir highest speed.
S l3n ibe whole pack Of the pugsneIs,
gaunt, hungry sud feroc.ous, hsYe
overJsksH the fugilvss, and sre shout
to leap INTO the sleigh. The mother
SEXES her youngest child and throws
Il a. INTO the midst of the bowling
beasts. t. kill sud cevo1r the help
less innocent delays the wolves few
O. msnts. sud the remainder of the
c mpany hurry on. Again the wolves
surround them, and another child is
thus sacrificed. Ano;i e. sud an
other Is trzsted in the same way
uadl the mother soIe reached
her home. L is sid that when
s4e related to hcr husband the story of
her escape he sc I'd an ak aud split
her hesd open, asserting that a mother
Who would save her owa life at so
great q sacrifice was not fit TO live.
This Judgment was too severe. But
what shall be said of that person who,
if nc Is only able to gain heaven him
self. 10 quite willing that all the rect
of the world should be excluded
Away with the idea of a three-tent
heaven.
We learn from this incident that
some people talk very crazy on the sub
iect of religion. "Lat US make three
tabernacles, one for Thee, one for
Moses and one fer Elias, not knowing
what he said" In religious matters
how much there is Ills mot know
ing what be said " There is more
downright nonsense talked regarding
religion than concerning any other
theme. You will observe this in our
Sunday school literature. Some little
boy or girl is portrayed as an angel ;
never discbeyed parents; never told "a
lie; never did anything wrong. II w,
read such story in the NV York
Ltdger, we say it is lie, and hurl
anathemas az B inner who will per-
sist 10 publishing fiction. When the
same narrative appears in Sunday
school book we sag, "Well, l. may be
d lie, but 1t is pious lie, anyway, and
let it CO."
This tendency is seen in our talk of
special providence. A child is taken
very sick and the father, Instead OF
employing physician, secures the
services of quack. The treatment is
oppose 10 ell medical science. Thu
child dies. The minister, standing
over tie little C; fiji, saye, "a mystic
rious providence batH done this" 1t
is u lie; quack hath done this.
No other public teacher is permitted
to say so many maniiestly absurd things
unchallen9ed as the preacher. When
nonsense finds its way in the editorial
column, into our courts, on the plat
form, il meets with exposure. Wher
known ebsurditles come from the So
cred desk, decorum forbids reply
The congregation say, "Oh, that is re.
ligion; let it 60" BE- taCit under
standing between pulpit and pew, the
audience feel in duty bound to swal
low everything tue minister says. Le
us stop talking on religious themes, al
did Peter, mot knowing what hi
said"
Learn from this subject that TIT
arousing of religious emotions Is no
all there is of the Christian life. Pete
is in ecstacY lsmId these surroundings
} He is desirOus to remain on the noun
forever. He says in rapture: "It il
good for us to be here " He would
rather remain there than 60 down from
the mountain and engage in the practi
cal duties Of life. But his request j
denied him. Sometimes in reYiva
meetings you have felt the same way
Sermon, song aud prayer baYe stirred
your religious nature to its very depths
You have sald "Ob, that this meet
ing might always continue; oh, that
might live forever amid these sur
roundings, and in this frame of mind !!
But religion Involves more than that
There are duties outside of the revival
Lopgfellow in one of his poem
pictures a youth who in winter seizes
banner and begins the ascent of
mouutsin. He gradually leaves be
hind him the fields, the workshops
the dwellings, the neighbors. AS h
rises higher and higher he shout
"ExcelsIor !" His voice grows fainte
and fainter until heard no more. H
E has gg2 2Re SO g high that the attmospher
not sustain life, and he dies. S. it i
no uncommon thing to see professet
Christians taking the banner of tn
cross in a revival, and crying s'Halle
lejahw 'Amenl" rise higher an
higher emotionally, until they lesv
behind this practical world. They los
sight of duties appertaining to ever
day life. They are too high up to Civ
much attention to such matters as tell
ing the truth, keeping their temper
restraining the tongue from slsnde
and paying their debts. They hav
become too religious to give attentio
to these things. But this class of per
sons soon reach an altitude where tn
atmosphere is too thin for them t
live, and they die.
1t is not the emotional, but the prac
teal part of religion that is most diff
cult to observe. II is easier to shout i
a revival than to go home and put up
stove and fit the pipe without at leas
thinking swear. Il is related of des
con in one of the New England State
that he would, in prayer meeting, pro
nounce the words "blessed Jesu :" IN
tone so pathetic that it moved Ii
congregation to tears. That same ma
has recently been arrested for stealth
sheep. l. is one thing to say "blesset
I Jesus" on Sunday and another thing t
let the sheep alone on MondaS. 1t i
one thing tt be religious on tue noun
of TRANSPORTATION, and another thin
not to deny our Lord in the world be
low. Irstesd of this balloon religion
let US have one that touches tn
ground.
Prosperous Southern City.