St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-03-16

cation by our Lord to the Scribes and Phari-
Sees that Is religious moths, they tithed
mint, anice and cumia-tithed. not articles
OF trade, not staple grain, but insignificant
and comparatively worthless herb-to
the neglect of the weightier matters
required of them by the divine law
AS directed against them the proyerb was
most apt, as they did in such sense strain
out gnats aad swallow cames All secul.r
and social life show how it is peculiarly of
human nature-to guard against the diminu-
tive than the defiant evils; care more for the
body than the mind, and more for both than
OF the soul. The text, with emphasis, is true
also OF our criminal CODE the conscience of
the Pharisee is carried into our earthly juris-
prudence. Surely have we strained out
gnats. The text applies as well to differ
ent systems of religion, atheism the
denial of the first great cause, the Creator
because of the many difficulties attending
the belief in personal God, yet he believes
that matter uncreated has existed from all
eternity; believes that what is impossible to
spirit is possible to matter; materialism,
moving and developing, of and in itself, life
and intellect aud motion, and the higher
| functions of spirit itself. He cannot believe
in an absolute God doing these things, vet
he believes them increased, developing out
of atoms the imperial imagination and the
mighty reason of man that sways sceptered
influence thus swallowing gnats. The text is
| equally trenchant and true of those who
deny the truth of revelation. 1t is also true
as to the matter Of morals and reforms, more
concerned about the outside than the inside,
more about phenomena than about principle,
more about setting our houses than
our hearts in order, more about the manners
of piety than the morals of piety-forever
straining at gnats-straining at gnats and
swallowing camels, humps and all.
DIR. DUNN AT THE METHODIST CHURCH.
The Rev. Dr. Dunn had full house to
which to speak yesterday morning His SER
mon was Upon Christ, the Light of Life, with
text in John viii, 12; Then spake Jesus
again unto them saying, am the light of
the world: he that followeth me shall not
walk in darkness, but shall have the light of
| life.
There are many false lights in this world,
which, when followed, lead to ruin. These
false lights are often found to be PERSONAL
tiles. individuals who have sought to lead
the world in the ways of DEATH Bv nature
we are in spiritual darkness. Chaos is
everywhere to be seen in the moral world Of
God. What is needed to-day, as in Gods
world of nature at first is the stern, merci-
full command in obedience to our faith, Let
there be light. To make such command
possible with his creatures in sin, God sent
forth his son to atone for humanity and to
! tighten the dark places of earth. And so
Christ becomes mans hope, and hopes eter-
nal reward. This text would be egotistic
from mere man.
First-The blessedness Of light. Its value
| is inestimable. Imagine the world without
| it. The great Teacher declared himself the
| light of the world in the moral universe.
| What the light is to nature, Christ is to the
| spiritual life of man.
Second-The light beauties. The sun is
the source of all beauty. Thus Christ is to
the spiritual nature of man. He is our holt
ness.
Third-The light is the great revealer. SIN
Thy light shall We see light Christ reveals
our position, our hopes, our end. He mani
tests God in the flesh.
Fourth-The sun WHITES. The source of
life. So Christ is the light of life.
Fifth-Light is universal. No matter
what the theory of its existence,
it reaches all lands, all people SO
Christ died for al and seeks to reach all. He
lighteth every man coming to this world.
The man may refuse him, just as person
may hide himself away from the light of the
sun.
Sixth-The light is most plentiful, reach
ing the world over. The desert may not
have water for its travelling caravans, but the
light is abundant. Jesus, the light, is abund-
ant for mans needs. Toknow Him is to know
enough for the present.
Seventh-Light is sef-revealing. The
world knows light from darkness. When
Christ reveals Himself to the soul He is
known by His own presence. The blind man
| knew this one thing.
Eighth-Christ, as the light, must ever
shine Science tells us the sun will be ex-
tinguished. So the scripture: The sun shall
be no more thy light by day, but God shall
be the eternal light of His people False
lights shall go out, but Christ will ever
shine.
| Ninth-The light is swift in travelling;
| $4,000 miles in one second. Christ is
| swifter than that in coming to the sorrowing,
doubling soul.
Tenth-The sun rules the systems above
| us. So Christ is the great center of all sue
cess and blessings and peace to His people.
No need to walk in darkness. Bring forth
| fruit since you may.