Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-06-12
WINKING 1T WRONG DOING.


And the times of this ignorance God winked
at; but now cOmmandeth all men everywhere
to repent.-ActS xvii: 80.
From the text it may be inferred that
even deity can excuse transgression when
it proceeds from ignorance, though human
law has declared that ignorance is no ex-
cuse for crime. 1t follows that intelli-
gence coupled with offending is certain
Of condemnation, and it behoOves all men
of perception who believe in a future
state Of existence, to weigh well their
conduct, and so live, that when the sum-
mons comes to join the innumerable cara
van, they may go with full confidence
that their acts here will entitle them to
consideration in the world that is to
come.
The time was when ignorance might be
palliatiOn for wrong doing. That time
has long since passed. Not only has the
religious world had King James version
of the revealed word of God, but it now
has newer and what is claimed to be a
more perfect translation of the new testa-
ment. The old and the new differ some
what On both essential and nom essential
points of dogma, according as they are
viewed by the different sects, but both
agree as to the Importance of intoxicating
and practicing the cardinal virtues
which are comprised in the single com
mandment: Chou shalt love the Lord
thy God with all thy soul, with all thy
might and with allethy heart, and thy
neighbor as myself" Love to God is the
first requisite of Christian life Love Of
ones neighbor-regard for his interests,
his wishes and his property-is the other.
How many protesting Christians live up
to the letter and spirit of this command
ment! There is no apparent difference
in the conduct Of those who profess
Christianity and the common run of
humanity. They are as sharp at driving
bargains as the rest of the world, and as
ready to take undue advantages They
love their neighbors just as much as other
people do-for what they make out of
them. They are religiously inclined only
for few hours on the Sabbath day; for
the remainder of the week they are as
selfish as the rest of mankind, and as self
seeking and oblivious to the interests of
others.
These men cannot plead ignorance as
An extenuation of their offences against
the divine law. From infancy they have
been taught that to do good to others was
the first duty Of the followers of Christ
that the golden rule comprised the whole
essence of Christianity. Theyy yet remain
selfish, grasping, avaricious, covetous.
What shall be the judgment upon such
men On the day of final reckoning? 1t
can only be that of condemnation. Know
ing the law they have not observed it.
Knowing their duty they have, from sell
fish motives, utterly neglected it.
The time has gone by when transgres-
siens against the moral law by those who
profess Christianity can be winked at.
The public will hold them to rigid &C
countability for their conduct. If they
give the lie to their professions they will
be adjudged hypocrites, and viii suffer
opprobrium. The cause they profess will
also suffer on account of their dereliction,
and thus great harm will be done There
is no reason why man who processes to
be Christian should not be one IN the
fullest acceptation of the. term. Ii he
does not carry out in his daily life and
conversation the principles that should
actuate him, he has no cause to be offend
ed if he is denounced by the world at
large as one not entitled to the respect or
confidence of the community.