The Russellville Democrat., 1890-07-10
CL0AKS FOR SIN
Sermon by Rev. T. Dewitt Tal'
 mage at Winfield, Kas.
Outward Morality. Elegance of Manners. the Cloak of ofice, All Used to Cover an Alarming Degree
 Of Moral Depravity.


 Of Moral Depravity.
 Tho following discourse upon the char 1cterfstics of the times was delivered by Rev. T, Dewitt Talmage, during his Western trip, at Winfield, Kas., from the texe
 But now they have no cloak for their sin. --Jobn xy- 22
 Sin is always disguised. Decked and glossed, and perfumed, and masked, 1t gains admittance in places from which it would otherwise be repelod. As si- lently as when it glided into Eden, and as plausibly as when 1t talked to Christ at the top of tho temple, it now ad- dresses men. Could people look upon sin as it always is-an exha- lation from the pit, the putrefac- tion of infinite capacities, the ghastly, loathsome, God-smitten monster that uprooted Eden and killed Christ, and would push the entire race into dark ness and pain-the internal charm would be broken. Before our parents transgressed sin appeared 10 Nthems the sweetness of fruit and the becoming as gods. To Absalom it was the pleasure of sitting upon a throne. To men now sin is laugh ter, and permission to luxurious grati- fcation Jesus Christ in my text sug- gests fact which every body ought to know, and that is that sin, to hide its deformity and shame, is accustomed to wearing cloak, and the Saviour also sets forth the truth that God can see straight through all such wrappings and thieknesses. 1 want now to speak of several kinds of eloaks with which men expect to cover up their iniquities, for the fashion in regard to these garments is constantly changing, and every day be- holds some new style of wearing them, and, if you will tarry little while, l will show you five or six of the pat terms of the cloaks.
 First, remark that there are those who, being honored with official power, expect to make that a successful cloak Tor their sin. There is sacredness in office. God Himself is King, and all who hold authority in the world serve under Him. That community has com mitted monstrous wrong which has elevated to this dignity persons un- qualified either by their ignorance or their immortality. Nations who elevate to posts of authority those not qualified to fill them will feel the reaction. Solomon expressed this thought when he said: "Woe unto thee, o, land, when thy King is a child and thy Princes drink in the morning While posi- tions 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 ad- miratio for their occupants. Yet this dignity which office confers can be no apology for transgression. Nebuchad- nezzar, and Ahab, and Herod, in the day of judgment, must stand on the level with the herdsmen that kept their flocks, and the fishermen of Cali lee Pope, and King, and President, and Governor must give an account to God, and be judged by the same law as that which judges the beggar and the slave. Sin is all the more obnoxious when it is imperial and lordly. You can not make pride, or injustice, or cruelty, sacred by giving it throne. Belshazzar's decanters could not keep the mysterious finger from writing on the wall. Ahab's sin liter ally hurried him from the throne to the dogs. The imperial vestments of wicked Jehoram could not keep Jehu's arrow from striking through his heart. fa NIV~, save her from being thrown over the wall. No barricade of thrones can ar rest Gods justice in it's unerring march. No splendor or thickness of official robes can be sufficient cloak of sin. Henry VIII, Louis XV., Catherine 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 be- fore Him who on the white horse goeth forth conquering and to conquer.
 Again: Elegance of manners can not successfully hide iniquity from the eye of God. Thatmodel, gentlemanly apos- tie, Paul, writes to us: Be courteous. !" That man can neither be a respectable wording nor consistent Christian who lacks good manners. He is shut out from refined circles, and he certain ly ought to be hindered from entering the church. We can not overlook that in man which we could hardly excuse in bear Ono of the first effect of the grace of God upon an individual is to make him a gentleman. Gruffness, awkwardness, implacability, clan nishness, are fruits of the devil; while gentleness and meekness are fruits of the Spirit. But while these exeelences of manner are so i'm portant they can not hide any deform- ity of moral character. How often it is that we find attractiyeness of person, sauyity of manners, gracefulness of conversation, gallantry of behavior, thrown like wraths upon moral death. Tho flowers that grow upon the scorie of Vesnyius do not make it any less of a volcano The sepulchers in Christ's time did not exhaust all the whitewash. Some of the biggest scoundrels have been the most fascinating If there are any depending on outward grace fulness and attraetiveness of demeanor with any hope that because of that God will forgive the sin of their soul, let me assure them that the Divine justice can not be satisfied with smiles and elegant gestculation. Christ looks deeper than the skin, and such ragged cloak as the one in which you are trying to cov- CT yourself will be no hiding in the day of His power. God will not in the judg- ment, ask how gracefully you walked, nor how politely you bowed, nor how sweetly you smiled, nor how impressive ly you gestured. Tho deeds done in the body will be the test and not the rules of Lord Chesterfield.
 Again; Let me say that the mere pro fession of religion is but poor wrap