The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1889-03-06
S E r MO- N
Preached by the Rev. M. D. Hoge, d. D.
at the Beoond Presbyterian Church,
Sunday Morning March 3D.

TExT.-Epn. iv: 26 and 80: "Be ye angry
and sin not let not the sun go down upon your
wrath" Be ye kind to one another tender
hearted forgiving one another even as God for
Christ's sake hath forgiven you"
The subject I am about to discuss is
one requiring most careful and judicious
treatment. 1t is full of intrinsic difficult
ties. 1t is so because, for one reason, the
ethical system of the Gospel has always
been under disability in consequence of
misconception of it's true character, and
because it is in such antagonism to the
natural propensities of men.
The teachings of the sermon on the
mount, from which the duties enjoined in
the text are derived, have been pro-
nounced impracticable in the existing
state of society, and however beautiful
when contemplated abstractly, yet liable
to the fatal objection that when tested
xperimentally it will be found that the
standard they present is too lofty for
human attainment. However praise
worthy as well meant digest of morals,
of what use, it is asked, is theory which
cannot be reduced to practice? What
possible advantage is there in maintain
ing a hypothesis which is unworkable,
or in urging the claims of a stem SO
repugnant to the natural inclination OF
men which is confronted at the outset by
the prejudices, the maxims, and the Gus
toms of society?
That such is the popular estimate OF
the impracticable character of the Chris
tian code of morals is but too painfully
evident from what we daily see around us
Only yesterday l read statement in
an influential religious newspaper which
will serve as an illustration Of the point
am making. 1t was asserted that in a
debating society composed of young men,
many, if not all of them, from Christian
families, it was deliberately resolved
after serious discussion, that it was i'm
possible to conduct business on Christian
principles. (What examples these young
men may have had OF business character
and conduct among their own parents
and guardians that forced them to such
conclusion is another question, but the
fact that they so decided is what con-
Germs us now.) If q society Of educated
discussion, adopted resolution express
ing their conviction that even common
business AFFAIRS cannot be conducted on
religious principles, can we wonder that
men of the world are incredulous with
regard to the possibility of regulating
the aOhoLe of life IN accordance with the
ideal presented in the Sermon on the
Mount, forbidding US, as it does, to resist
evil; commanding US when smitten on the
right cheek to turn the other also; to
bless those who curse US to do good to
those who hate us to pray for those who
perseoute and use US despitefully; re-
quiring us to feed our enemies when hun.
cry; to give them drink when thirsty
and to forgive them from our hearts for
the insults and injuries they inAict on us
Oh no; we are told all this will do very
well for Utopia, but for the actual world
in which we live, full of fierce rivalry
and competition, full of fraud, injustice
and knavery, where the weaker goes tc
the wall and where the strong are moi
only fttest to survive, but the only ones
who can possibly survive-these subli
mated ethical theories must be crush ed
out by the stern necessities Of practica
life. Hence the ridicue that is hespeC
on those who attempt to regulate busi
ness, politics, and the antagonisms o
modern society on Christian principles
What a far-away, dreamy, unreal sounC
the beatitudes, as they are called, have il
our day, full as our day is Of the fran
tic pursuit Of pleasure, wealth, and Office