The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-10-01
International Sunday School Lessons.

sept. J0-heVlcW OF the Lessons
Sept. @5-Temperance. ..........1 Cr0 9:22..-T
FOURTH QUARTER.
Oct. Stree Giving. ..... Exodus IS :225j-335
Oct. 0-Ihe Tabernacle. Exodus 40: l.lG
Ocf. 18-The Burnt Offering. .... Lev. l: LA
Oct. SeThe Peace Offering Lev. 7:ll-lS
Oct. a-Nadab and Abshu.... ....Lev. 10: Ill
Nov. 8-The Day Of Atcncment. Lev. 16:l6SO
Nov. 13-The Feast of Tabernacles. Lev. S3:3SA
Nov. 2o-The Year Of Jubilee. -. Lev. Is: SIT
Nov. T-The Serpent In the VIII
uerneSS. .............Num. Il: j.
Dec. 4-Balaam. Mum. "A: 1913
Dec. ll-Last Days Of Moses. .Deut. S2:4l-5s
Dec. 1S-Rcview " the Lessons.
Dec. 25--The Babe and the King. Isaiah Q: 6.7
Is Happiness Possible!
The rejectors of Christianity regard
happiness as the great object Of pursuit.
If 50, can their method of seeking it be
successful? Reason, says the skeptic,
the infidel and the atheist can never, in
the nature Of things, enjoy real happi-
ness. That they may have some Of the
pleasures of intellect coming to those
who delight in science or philosophy is
admitted. That they may enjoy the
pleasures of social and domestic life.
even with keen relish, is conceded.
That they may have whatever enjoy
ment comes from the indulgence of the
appetites and passions that belong to
our nature is true. But all these COM
bined and in the highest degree pos
sible fall far below real happiness. And
it is utterly impossible that these
classes should rise any higher than
these pleasures. The Intellectual con.
ditions of happiness are wanting. They
deal in negations alone. They seal up
for themselves the fountain of happi.
ness open to Christians, and open none
other. They, as well a. others, in
stinctively long-hope for Immortality.
Conscious that the source of continued
existence is not in themselves, that
amid the ten thousand evils 10
which they are exposed they need
an Omnipotent support and de.
tense, and that the qualification
of clamorous desire is not al
ways within their reach. they cannot
rest. To be compelled to answer all
the most intensely interesting questions
that arise in the thoughtful mind with o
doubt or negation is to bring misery.
The more earnestly men think the
more intense their wretchedness. Is
there an almighty, wise and benevolent
God to order all for my good? lido not
know. Nature and history seem to say
no. Is il possible for me to be safe or
happy amid the perpetual change and
the often terrible interaction Of forces
which / witness here? / know not.
The analogy Of the past casts doubt
upon the subject Is there any escape
from the unrest Of heart and soul grow
ing out Of the war between conscience
and Judgment on the one hand, and ap.
petite, passion and custom on the otherl
l cannot tell. have found none. II
there be . just and happy God, I am
conscious that he must be ct variance
with me. Is there any way by which
reconciliation may be secured? know
Of none. Shall l live forever, or is
death an eternal sleepe Who can tell!
When die I shall leap into the dark.
It may be / shall be annihilated. It
may be I shall live happily. 1t may be
shall remain in torture eternally. All
is uncertain. Apd the very hypothesis
upon which doubt or deny all knowl-
edge on these subjects are themselves
uncertain.
To mind in this condition happiness
is manifestly impossible. The atfec-
tional conditions Of happiness are also
wanting. Think Of the brute passions
that clamor for indulgence in the face
of reason, conscience and sense of
true manliness! Consider the selfish
desires, such as avarice, ambition, 70.
righteousness and pride that furnish =
soil for envy and jealousy! Observe
the more malevolent passions, anger,
hate, malice and revenge! These all
have their home in the heart. They
make war there. They are fires that
burn there. Their qualification, while
giving raomentary pleasure, intensifies
the fame. And added to oil this are
the accusings Of . guilty conscience,
and the conscious dread that there may
be q Just God who will execute the pen
atty of His violated law. All these
must be removed or escape from misery
is impossible. But the skeptic. the in
fdel, the atheist, know nothing that
can eradicate them. Education, socie-
ty, policy, even scliishness. may restrain,
but cannot remove them. Goals are
not dead because covered with little
ashes.
But there are certain affections whose
exercise alone can produce happiness.
Reverence is ahappy affection when d.
rected toward God, tho infinitely ex-
allied and excellent. But to all these
classes this is an impossible exercise.
| for they doubt or deny the being Of
such ! God, or his worthiness Of our
reverence, or our knowing enough of
Him to revere Him. Trust Is another
lafection bringing happiness when right
| " placed. But whom can these classes
trust for the great interests Of an Inn
mortal. Not themselves. for they are
conscious Of helplessness. Not their
fellow men, for they know them to be
incapable Of helping in the great crisis
Of their being. Not God. for they doubt
or deny His being, His word and His
readiness to help. They have nothing
In which, none in whom to trust Love
| i also ) happy affection. These classes
i love their fellow men and enjoy the
sweetness q that love. But these ore
imperfect and cannot b loved with Al
the heart. They drop away BY death
and leave the heart empty and LAGER.
ated. And they have no perfect and
changeless being upon whom 70 lavish
1.-THE wealth Of their Affection. The bliss
81 such affection 4, therefore, impossi-
BE 20 them. Hope furnishes another
element Of happiness And the grandel
|and more enduring IL objects tho more
happiness il giyea. But these classe1
lean only hope 1of temporal good. And