Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1890-07-11
REV. DIR. TALNAGE.
THE BROOKLYN EIVINE'S SUN
DAY SERMON
Subject: "ClOaks for Sin"


Sin is always disguised Decked and
CLOSED and perfumed and masked it gains
admittance into places from which it would
lt guided into Eden, and as plausibly when
lt talked to Christ at the top of the temple,
1t now addresses men. Could people look
upon SIN as it always is-an exhalation from
the pit, the putrefaction of infinite capaci-
ties the CHASTITY, loathsome God smitten
monster that uprOoted Eden and killed
Christ, and would push the entire
race into darkness and pain - the
Internal charm would be broken. Before
our first parents tranSgressed, sin appeared
to them the sweetness of fruit and the be-
coming as gods. To Absalom it was the
pleasure of sitting upon a throne. To men
now sin is laughter and permission to luxur-
ious qualification. Jesus Christ in my text
suggests fact which everybody ought to
know, and that is that sin, to hide its de-
fOrInlty and shame, is accustomed to wear
ing cloak; and the Saviour also sets forth
the truth that God can see straight through
all such wrapplngs and thicknesSes. want
now to speak of several kinds of clOaks with
which men expect to cover up their iniqui-
ties, for the fashion in regard to these gar
ments is constantly changing, and every day
ebehOIds some new sty lie of wearing them and
if you will larry little while | will show
you five or six OF the patterns of clOaks.
First | remark that there are those who,
being honored with official power, expect to
make that successful cloak Tor their sin.
There is a sacredness in office. God Himself
is King, and all who hold authority i'll the
world serve under Him. That community
has committed a mOnStrOus wrong who has
elevated TO this dignity persons unqualified
either by their ignorance or their immoral
ity. Nations who elevate to posts of author
ity those not qualified to fill them will feel
the reaction. Solomon expressed this
thought when he said: WOE unto thee, o
,yyhI INV [i11Cr &c chi and
Princes drink in the morning" While
positions OF trust may be disgraced by
the character of those who fill them, l
believe God would have us respectful to the
offices, though we may have no admiration
for their occupants Yet this dignity which
Office confers can be no apology for trans
erosion. ACKNOWLEDGMENT and Ahab and
Herod in the day of judgment must stand on
the level with the herdsmen that kept their
focks and the fishermen of Galllee. Pope
and King and President and Governor must
give an account to Coo, and be judged by the
same law as that which judges the beggar
and the slave. Sin is all the more obnoxious
VIXEN it is imperial and lordly. You cannot
make pride or injustice or cruelty sacred by
giving it a throne. BelshaZZar's decanters
could not keep the mysterious finger from
writing on the WALL Ahabs sin literally
hurled him from the throne to the dogs.
The imperial vestments of wicked Jehoram
could not keep Jehu's arrow from striking
u
tension could not save her from being
thrown over the wall. No barricade of
throne can arrest Gods justice in its I'M
erring march. No splendor or thickness
of official robes can be a sufficient cloak OF
sin. Henry VIII, Louis XIV, Catharine of
Russia, Mary of England-did their crowns
save them? No ruler ever sat so high that
the King of Kings was not above him. All
victOrs shall bow before Him who on the
white horse gOeth forth conquering and to
conquer.
Again, elegance of manners cannot sue
.ceSsfuily hide iniQuity from the eye of God.
That model, gentlemanly apostle, Paul,
writes 10 rs: "Be courteous" That man
can neither lee a respectable wording nor
a consistent Christian who lacks good
manners. He is shut out from refined Gil
CleS, and he certainly ought to be hlndered
from entering the church. We cannot over
look that in n man which we could
hardly excuse in q bear. One of the first
effects Of the grace of God upon an indi-
Vidual is to make him gentleman. GruE-
ness, awEwardness, impacab lity, clanish
ness fruits of the devil, while gentle
ness and mcekness are fruits of the Spirit.
But while these excelences of manner
are SO important they cannot hide any
defOrmity of moral character. How often
is 1t that we find attractiveneSs of person,
suavity Of manners, gracefulnesS OF
conversation, gallantry of behavior
thrown like wreaths upon moral death.
The flowers that grow upon the scOrie of
NeSuvluS do not make it any less of vol
vcano. The sepulchers in Christ's time did
not exhaust all the whitewash. Some of the
biggest scoundrels have been the most fas-
cinatlng. If there are any depending on out
ward gracefuIneSS and attractiveneSS Of de-
meanOr, with any hope that because OF that
God will forgive the sin of their soul, let me
assure them that the divine justice cannot
be satisfied with smiles and elegant gesticula-
ton. Christ looks deeper than the skin, and
such ragged cloak as the one in which you
are trying to cover yourself will be no hiding
in the DAY of His power God will not i'll the
judgment ask how gracefully you walked,
nor how politely you bowed, nor how sweetly
you smiled, nor how impressively you
gestured. The deeds done in the body will
r. the test, and not the rules OF Lord Ches-
.ertield.
Again, let me say that the mere profession
If religion is but poor wrapping o. a naked
oul. The importance OF making IL public
profession OF religion if the heart be re-
neWed cannot be exaggerated. Christ posi-
lively and with the earnestness of the night
DeIore HIS cruclhxlon commanded it. But it
is the result of Christian character not the
cause OF 1t. Our church certificate is a Door
title to heaven. We may have the name and
not the reality. There are those who seem
to throw themselves back with complacency
upon their public confession of Christ al
though they give no signs of renewal If
Satan can induce man to build on such a
rotten foundation as that he has accom-
plShed his object. We cannot imagine the
adherence with which God looks upon such
procedure. What would be the feelings of
a shepherd II he saw a wolf in the
same fold with his f1ocks, however
quiet he might seem to lie, or a gen
eral If among his troops he saw one
wearing the appointed uniform who never
theleSS really belonged to the OnpOSinr host ;