Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-12-06

/
pense with all moral training and the
/ knowledge of God in the world, and
then aggravate passion by the quicker
sense which culture gives to the imagi-
nation, the more we improve the intel
lect the more we deprave the heart
Now, since these things are so in the
| literary world, we should ''reJolce with
/ trembling" We should rejoice because
of the establishment and growth of the
church, the preaching of pure gospel
and the dissemination of orthodox
| Christianity in this land. The Church
in this land is coeval with the State.
1t has grown with its growth and
strengthened with its strength. Yea,
the Church has outgrOwn the State in
per centage of increase. A pure gospel
| is largely preached. Orthodox Christi
anity is generally disseminated. The
being, eternity and immutability ofGod
the divinity, eternal sonship and in
carnation of ChriSt-the divinity, per-
sonality and operations of the Holy
! Spirit-the inspiration, authority and
immutability of the Scriptures-the fall,
guilt and depravity of man-the free
ness, fulness and attainableneSS of sal
vation-Justiicatio by faith-Sancti-
| fication through the truth and by the
| Spirit rit-Perseverance in faith and holi-
ness-the spirituality and universal OBJ
| legation of the divine law-man'S ac-
countability- general judgment, and
| the great veritieS of heaven, hell and
eternity, are generally preached and be-
| lieved.
While these things call for joyful
thanksgiving, reflective minds will ''re-
joice with trembling" Attempts are
| being made to destroy the very founda-
tions. Almost every article of Christian
faith is called in question-sO that the
/ inquiry often arises, is there nothing
settled? Time-honOred doctrines and
practices are being assailed. The schools
of philosophy and science, falsely so call
ed, are arrayed against the Bible. The
mistakes of Moses are paraded with
blatant assurance, as if they were in
deed verities; and the immutable Word
of God is tried in the crucible of fallible
human reason. The greatest cause for
trembling is within the Church itself.
Those who assume to be teachers in
high places, have itching ears, and often
poison the very fountain of knOwl-
edge by calling in question the doctrine
of inspiration, the atOnenent and a
state of endless punishment. Add to
this, that the demand of the Church is
| largely for an aesthetic religion, a SEN
suous worship, and an enlarged ritual
ism. All these considerations admon-
ish us that we should rejoice with
trembling"
We should rejoice because of the
progress moral reform has made in our
land. Great moral issues are marching
onward as with a giants tread; they are
looming up on every hand; they engage
the attention of the statesman, the jurist
and the civilian. as well as the theolOgi-
an, the moralist and the Christian. Like
an apparition, they will not down at the
bidding of the demagogue. The great
est acumen of the greatest minds is en-
listed in their behalf. Political parties
are feeling their potency, and are either
| trimming their sails to avert the mighty
shock, or are bowling to their high be-
/
irresistible impulse that is driving them
on. Political corruption, venality, false
hood and traductiOn of character, Sab
bath desecration, profanity, intemper-
ance, public immortality and licensed de-
bauchery, must hide their heads in the
presence of decency, virtue and religion.
That this work of moral reform is on
the advance is evident from the OTgani-
zation of National and State Sabbath
associations, temperance societies and
the increase of temperance sentiment,
law and order societies, the restriction
of the Sunday mail service, moral re-
! formatOry legislation, both State and
National, the public advocacy of these
measures by eminent statesmen, public
sentiment and the popular vote. These
considerations loudly call for joyous
expression of gratitude. But there is
much here to temper our JOY. When we
consider the public apathy-pOlitical
opposition, the systematic organization
and strength and wealth of the rum pow
er: the divided sentiment among reform
ers themselves, the indifference and in
consistencies of Christians as manifest
in the amount of cheap temperance
sentiment exemplified by voting with a
solid phalanx of saloon keepers and
hangers-on of the bar-room and the
brothel, for free whisky and no Sunday.
These facts should so humiliate us be-
fore God that we should rejoice with
trembling"
We should rejoice because of tempor-
al prosperity, both national individual.
Nevertheless he left not himself
without witness, in that he did good,
and gave us rain from heaven, and fruit
full seasons, filling our hearts with food
and gladness." ''ThOu crOwnest the
the year with thy goodness, and thy
paths drop fatness." 1t is God who has
given us national prosperity, prestige
and greatness. and made us at peace
with all nations. Notwithstanding our
personal demerit, our national sins, S,profl-
gacy and corruption-Our base ingrati-
tude. and the cold indifference of multi
.tudes. God has withheld no good. The
toll of the husbandman is rewarded by
our barns being filed with plenty-the
mine has yielded its rich store of coal
and iron and the precious metals, the
rock has poured out rivers of ol-com-
merce has enriched us with the treas
ures of the EaSt-the mechanical arts
have urished-skilled labor is in de-
mand-honest toll has been rewarded
and capital yields a sure return. We
got not this possession by our own pow
er, 'but thy right hand and thine arm
and the light of thy eOuntenance, be-
cause thou hadst favor unto us"
All that we are as a nation, the attain
ments we have made in art, science, htera
ture. agriculture, mechanics, commerce
all that we enjoy as individuals in oul
homes, in society, i'll church, and i'll state
are to be attributed to God the giver of al
good. And realizing that happy IS that
people that is in such a case" 30 give
thanks unto the Lord, for he is good; fol
his mercy endureth forever" But wheT
we reflect that so many despise the riches
of his goodness, and forbearance and
| 90, ffarinn. NOT knowing that thE