Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-03-03
FROH THE PULPIT.
THE MODERN MANIFESTATIONS OF THE
FATHER OF SIN.
The Ruler of the World of Darkness as
the Enemy of Manlsind-His
Many DISCUSSES.

The above was the subject of discourse
yesterday by Rev. A. NJ. Growden, pastor
of the First Christian Church, on Eighth
street. He took for his text: Satan
himself is transformed into an angel of
Light"-2 Cor, XII. IA. "Be sober, be vigil
liant, because your adversary, the devil,
as a roaring lion. wslketh about, seeking
whom he may devourn-1 Pet. ", 8.
Satan" said the reverend speaker, sis
versatile; more so than we imagine. The
painter has represented him as hideous
creature with horns, and hoofs and glaring
eyes. When we we're children foolish
nurses frightened US by representing him
thus. | am not afraid OF an apparjtion,
OF darkness, Is my enemy; he studied my
weak points and his willing agents on
earth are ever ready to entrap the unwary
Sometimes he knocks at the door of the
heart; there is nothing terrible in his APP
pearance, Paul says he appears as an angel
of light. He daZzles, fascinates, until you
fall beneath his power.
again he assumes a business air and
loftily addresses the State. If you will
allow my lottery to come in, I'll see that
you lose nothing. Just make it legal; it
will pay you millions every year. Can
any State, young or old, afford to have its
escutcheon so smirched by pitch from the
lower regions? The devil is very much
interested in the Christian. He influences
you to doubt the omniscience of God He
would lead you to things that God Twill
not notice" as though God could counte-
nance evil. He leads you to doubt Gods
warnings, His prOmises-yea, His very
being. If he cannot force you or surprise
you into sin he will cause sleep to over
come your spiritual vision. Death fire.
quentiy assumes the form of spiritual
sleep. There is a modern disease known
as Lord s-day lassitude. There are some
cases in every church. The preachers are
puzzled by it. 1t can be diagnosed but it
Is difficult to cure.
SIT commences with yawn on Saturday
night. It's progress is marked by INDECENT
joints and greater yawns the next morning
You feel tired; you have time to be tired
that day you think. You persuade your.
self that you need more sleep on that day
than any other. You are giving yourself
up to the wiles of the tempter. Beware
Spiritual death, the most terrible of all
deaths, may result. Don't allow the fire of
love to die; don't present at the Judgment
seat of God the ashes of selfish life
Shame on those who thus desecrate the
best day of the week. WHAT would Chris
tianity be worth if all of its professors were
like you?
Excess of pleasure is an evil. God will
condemn no man for loving music, whether
it proceeds from human organs or the
throat Of Bird for listening to ripping
water or the boom of the surf as with
white crests the waves dash on the silver
sands; for listening enraptured to the thou
sand and one voices of animated nature;
for loving to tread lightly over the silver
daisies flowers are Gods undertones of
encouragement to the children of EARTH
Who would not watch intently as the
sparrow builds her nest? Who would not
enjoy picture, a cabinet of minerals, or a
burst of inspiring music? But God will
and does condemn you when you allow
any of these pleasures to seduce you from
the path of duty. God desires your happi-
ness. Nature is one continued song, but
its joys may be abused. Christians are
exhorted to forsake not the assembling to-
gether.' They remind me at times of tru-
ant boys dawdling on the highway instead
of being in Gods house preparing for
eternity. There is time enough every Lords
day for all to enjoy fresh air, genial sun
shine, and also to attend to the calls to holy
duty.
Manhood, measured by the manliness
OF Christ, is the churchs need to-day. He
enjoyed nature: he was acquainted with
the fish of Galilee, he knew where to find
them; he walked the sea beach at early
MORN he watched the birds of the air, they
spoke to him of Gods love; be walked
through golden corn fields, but when did
any of these things lead him from duty?
There are feminine butterflies of fashion,
professed Christians too, who spend more
time on the follies of excessive adornment
than in the culture of the soul. When the
glittering diamond, the necklace of pearls
that cost some diver his life to get them;
the silks and satins are laid aside at life's
final moment, what will you be worth be-
fore God? Speak not of wealth, or position,
or your "set," or g:ddy hours spent in the
ballroom, or OF conquests won in the
frivolous world of Irritation.
God cares not for such idle tales He
gave you q soul for cultivation; it is the
richest jewel of your life. He gave you
personal beauty, desiring you to use it for
His glory; a captivating address, he desired
voil TO win through it stars for the diadem
of Jesus. You have selfshly burned out
your life; what can you expect in eternity,
but remorse and the pangs of an injured
conscience. Plain Mary up yonder will
shine as the stars for ever, and you
will be banished from the glory of Gods
presence. That simple woman of our
neighbor whom you never visited when
she was sick, whom you never helped
when she was needed, whose coffin you
bought not when she died, is at the right
hand of God her Father. You might have
been very near to the throne, but, obi how
far from it now The little ragged children
you turned from your door when they
ciamored for bread, are brighter than
angels now. God took care of them; they
sing the everlasting song of gladness. You
wall over the ashes of a useless life. AS
you SOW you reap.
You see that protested Christian mer-
chant; he helps to pay the pastor, but he
ships rum TO Africa and prays long and
loud that God may convert the heather.
His neighbor sings in the choir I want to
be an angel but through the week uses
dishonest weights and measures. His
Office is filled with demons. They infest
his shelves, they fill the pages of his day.
book ledger and journal. The devil more
than Christ is manifested through him.
Through such men the devil derives
thriving trade. Can such believe that God
will say Come We blessed of my father p
Can God say these words truthfully to the
man who, owning houses and lands,
wrested that humble cottage from the
widow and turned the orphans into the
street? When the ponderous books of life
are opened / would rather be the orphan
OF the widow.
Observe that young man who walks
under cover of darkness to hide his SINS
Y ca, in the brightness of MONDAY the dark
ness of the demon world covers him, for
he that hides dark soul and foul thoughts
benighted walks he under the midday
sun, himself is his own dungeon Once
be was pure, but harboring diabolical
thoughts. they have. conquered him the
devil is manifested through him. One by
one good influences were broken; he
laughs at piety now, but it is hellish
laugh. Unclean birds nestle in his heart;
the roaring lions cruel fangs bite into his
flesh; hopelessly he goes down to darkness
and to death. Young man, your only
safety to-day is to take Christ into your
confidence, emulate his virtues, overcome
self, resist the devil and he will flee from
you. Mothers and fathers, whom do you
allow in your parlors?
you say none but those who move in
the highest circles, my children, have the
best of Influences Do they know what
progressive euchre is Do they know the
difference between q waltz and gallop?
You would not allow young men to en-
z-o:afo If ro11r daudhtare would