The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1884-09-10
Why Should we Think 1t Strange !?

The remark was made in our presence
lately, that it seemed strange that it re.
quired SO much persuasion to induce
men to do right-to do, indeed, what
they themselves confessed to be right
And yet why should this surprise us Il
it not simply another proof of the doc
trine Of depravity? If the heart Of man
is fully set in him to do evil, if all his
inclination and bent by nature Is in the
the direction of evil, then certainly We
may expect that it will require much
urging to turn him into the bet er way.
1t is easy for water to run down de.
| clivity, for that is its nature, and it is
| difficult to make it run in an opposite
direction. In the latter case force must
be used, persistent effort must be put
forth, to secure the end sought.
And it is just here that we find the
secret Of so many disappointmcnts in
our modern efforts at moral reform.
Men of a philanthropic disposition look
cut upon society, and beholding the
evils which affiict the race, set tnemsel-
YES to the work Of reform. They food
the land with tracts pamphlets and
books. They clothc themselves with
the thunders Of eloquence, and from the
pulpit and platform seek to arouse a
slumbering people. And they do pro-
duce some results. The drunkard is led
to sign the pledge, to cease for time
his drunkenness. The libertine turns for
a season from his Gebauchery, and our
reformers boast of their success. But
alas few months roll away and then
comes disappointment. The dog returns
to his vomit, the SOW to her wallow in
the nlirc
And in every generation this is re-
peated. Earnest people in all our large
cities have been the victims of this dis
appointment again and again, until they
are led to despair almost of our effecting
any permanent good in the earth. Yet
there is no room for despair. There is
no room, however, for better methods.
The fact is, these persons, though we'll
meaning, have mistaken the nature upon
which they are working. Like water it
will seek its level, and as that level is
reached by return to its old habits of
vicious indulgence, they need not be
surprised when the subjects Of their well
meant though mistaken efforts are in
the end just where they were in the be-
ginning.
The ancient Observation-Disclosures in
their day-were puzzled over this anom-
ally in human life. But we, who have
revealed to us divine remedial system,
should not be puzzled. The impossible
lty of mans reforming himself, or of his
reforming his fellow man, is the justifica-
ton of the scheme of salvation revealed
in scripture. Had man been able to save
himself God would not have come to tie
rescue. Had human souls within them
selves the power of reform, which is only
another name for lifting themselves into
purity, out of sin and moral deflement,
christ would never have left his throne
in glory to die in our behalf. God Meth
sr attempts nor effects any work Of sup
ererogation. Had the light from the
light from the stars been sufficient for
he worlds need, no sun would ever have
,een hung in the heavens.
And Gods method of ehecting reforms
Is proposed by himself, must commend
tself to every dispassionate judgment.
lie changes the nature SO that it hates
what it once loved, and loves what it
nee hated. When this effected in re-
the subsequent work is in
he same line of holy living. Hating sin
nd loving purity, characterizes the re-
enerate nature more and more as the
york of sanctifcation progresses Hence
he pathway of him whom God has re-
ormed is like that of the just, (which
hineth more and more unto the perfect
ay."
We would impress upon the minds of
II our readers that reformation and reg
should always be regarded as
ynonomous terms. The first cannot ex-
It where the latter is absent. True re-
,rm is change of heart. 1t is the new
firth, radical transformation of nature
.hich can be wrought by the Holy Spirit
f God alone. Let our reformers, men
nd women, plant themselves upon this
round and their work will not be in
ain in the Lord.