The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-11-17
Transformations Through Di-
vine Truth.

1t has already made In subdulng this
world. Blind, indeed, must he be who
fails to see in human history the footsteps
OF the Divine Conqueror, to mark the adj
vance Of Him who els glorious in His
apparel travelling in the greatness of His
strength" There is no inspiration, no
virtue in bemoaning the present evils OF
society, as though the power of Satan
was still unbroken by the cross, or as
though the morning star of hope had for
ever disappeared from the armament
above US.
Recall the period of His incarnation.
Consider the marvellous changes in human
thought and conduct that have been
wrought since that day. If sacred or
profane history can be at all trusted,
how low was the standard of public and
private rectitude two thousand years ago
when compared with that sense of right
which pervades Christendom to day
Vice, in many of its baser forms, was
without public condemnation even un-
der certain circumstances it met with ap.
proval. For example, there was not the
feeblest protestation made against bribery
and corruption, even when these crimes
were responsible for the most unhappy
social disorders
Then domestic life afforded no security
to woman. A recognized authority in
historical studies has told us that the
facility and frequency of divorce in the
Roman Republic, and under the earlier
emperors, cannot be overstated. The
most virtuous men in the city did not re-
gard the wanton, arbitrary Reputation
of wife as stain on their virtue In
tute OF love and gentleness; while benef-
cent moral culture in the tender years OF
childhood was unknown. Distrust and
bitterness were everywhere common.
The indissoluble bonds of marriage rela-
tionship had not yet laid the foundations
of one of the noblest OF human virtu, s.
domestic fidelity.
But mark the change Immediately
after the leaven of Christianity had be.
gun to purify the nations We utterly
fail to measure the benign influence of the
Gospel in the above named, as we'll as in
many other particulars. The public con-
science has been silently, yet surely, raised
to higher plane. II not always domi.
nant and potent in the interest of morali-
ty, we may we'll rejoice in its protest
against many of the burning wrongs that
still afflict society 1t is because truth
holds silent sway that shameful fraud can
not be now exposed without it's merlted
condemnation, that the woes of the liquor
traffic cannot afflict society without vigor.
our methods being devised for deliver.
ance, that a spontaneous uprising de.
mands the better observance OF the Chris
tian Sabbath, and that every effort made
to suppress the iniquity of Mormonism
and abolish loose divorce laws meets with
a generous response throughout our ma
ton.
Beyond all else, it is through the per-
vasive influence of Christ's holy truth
that the American home is more and
more the centre of hallowed afhnities.
We are not of those who see IN the social
changes incident to vast and growing
republic the breaking down of the family,
that divine institution ordained OF God
from the beginning The foundations of
the family are secure. The vital, i'm
perishable truth concerning it is abroad.
The divine heart is pulsating toward us
in love through His truth, touching in
this way every interest of humanity,
molding character, softening public and
private asperities, helping to extirpate
evils, and building upon enduring foun.
dations a kingdom of universal righteous
ness and peace.
0 ye workers in Gods vineyard, take
heart and hope That view Of the pro.
gressive steps made by our Divine Con
queror, which to human thought is 30 mar
row and imperfect, is fully and perfectly
open to the infinite mind. We see Only
as one who marks the hands moving
visibly upon the dial plate. God under.
stands the secret machinery within.
Each adjustment of wheel to wheel with
all nicely of arrangement is known to
Him; no secret calculation of spiritual
forces battles His thought no restriction
as to time oompels him to undue haste
The hour will yet strlke-the hour Of
truth supreme. The WI ole scheme of
love shall yet be contaminated. The
hand pointing to the hour we may family
see. Indeed, there may be seasons when
1T will seem to us to move backward, not
forward. But this is only our human
finiteness.
II is not so, but 90 it looks,
And we lose courage then;
And doubts will cone # God hath kept
His promises to men"
Our own age is full of hope But
nothing is more encouraging than the
certainty of truths transformations.
Mighty battles are being silently won for
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