Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-07-04

occasion. An abstract follows, but gives
only an imperfect idea of the production
as whole:
ROMANS, viii l9.-"For the earnest expecta.
tion OF the creation waiteth Tor the revealing
OF the sons OF God"
Paul is here speaking of the glorious
future which is yet in store tor man. As
he looks over the world and sees its
wretchedness and imperfection he is sus-
tanned by the thought that Gods plan
for the world is as yet far from its reali-
zation. Hitherto there is only prepare
ton; the elemental forces are not yet re-
duced to order; human beings are blind
ly struggling everywhere for something
better, they hardly know what. But
through all the turmoil and suffering
there is the deep-seated hope that peace
and order will at last prevail. The good
ness of God is pledged to this issue; and
while the whole creation groans and
travails in pain it waits with eager eX-
pectancy for the revealing of the sons of
God.
1t is not the worlds increase in wealth
and its wide distribution that is to make
men happy, but the growth of Chris tian
character. 1t is not leisure, neither the
eight hour system nor the four-hour sys-
TEN that is to ease groaning humanity of
its burden, but Christian faith and love.
1t is not free education, nor free libraries,
nor free art that is to bring in the golden
age, but our becoming the sons of God
in heart and life. The evils that afllct
the race, when traced to their proper
source, do not arise so much from pov-
erty or toll or sickness or war, as from
mans disregard of the law of righteous
ness. Man is an animal with selfish and
sensual instincts; but an animal into
which God has breathed the breath of di-
vine life, imparting reason and conscience
and the possibilities of the angel. He is to
"move upward, working out the beast and
let the ape and tiger die" 1t is the conflict
arising from this dual nature, that pro-
duces the tragedy of human life. 1t is the
bondage of the higher faculties to the
lower, that occasions the crime and injus-
tlce and misery of mans earthly life. Sal
walton is possible only through the tr-
umph of his gOdward nature. Christ's eff
forts to better the condition of men were
ever aimed at the heart and character. He
sought to make men hunger and thirst
after righteousness. He sought to make
men feel how near and dear they were to
God, their heavenly Father, and how
blessed were they who minded the things
of the spirit both in this life and in the
life to come.
But we are not always content to abide
by this method for the redemption of the
race. 1t seems, perhaps, too slow and
difficult of accomplishment. In their
restlessness and discomfort men are for
ever devising other schemes for bringing
in the golden age of peace and happiness
on earth.
1t is sometimes argued that the cessa-
ton of war would contribute incalcula-
bly, to human happiness and prosperity.
Avoid this enormous waste of treasure
and men, it is said; let this wealth re-
main with the people, or use it to sup
port the institutions of beneyolence. But
if wars cease. this treasure will not be
thus worthily employed unless human
nature be radically changed from what it
is at present. Prosperous peace has its
peculiar evils. 1t may be better that the
wealth of nation should be wasted in
war than be used to minister to luxury
and vice.
The schemes of modern socialists fur
nish further illustration of misdirected
effort to satisfy the need of expectant
humanity. One class advocate the doing
away with all private ownership of land
as the panacea for human ills. Others
believe that human society will attain to
and happiness and innocence by
putting all capital and all industries un-
der the control of civil government. The
simple objection to all such schemes is
that they demand for their successful
operation the existence among men of
such no lesty and virtue as would of it.
self create Paradise on earth without
the peculiar devices which are proposed.
Another futile method by which men
attempt to bring in the Kingdom of
Heaven is the attempt to enforce virtue
and morality by the strong hand of civil
government. Great and wise men, like
Plato and Sir Thomas More, have been
tempted to give us their conceptions of
aperfect commonwealth I'm which vice
and idleness and extravaganza and lux
ury are stopped by forcible constraint.
But the truth is, no one man, no body
of men, however wise and powerful,
could devise system of laws and regu-
lations which would ensure order and
virtue and happiness in human society.
If the angel Gabriel supported by the
heavenly hosts should come to earth, he
could not do it. For the reign of right
is not to be brought about by
any such external machinery. The Son
of God came down to establish it. But he
does not make use of outward con-
strant; he employs only moral and
spiritual forces. "My kingdom is not of
this world; the kingdom of God is with
in you" When all hearts are loyal to
this king, when all souls are enlightened
by his light and animated by his life,
then and not till then will wickedness
cease on earth and peace and righteous
ness prevail.
Members of the graduating class:
After four years of almost daily inter-
course with one another and with your
teachers the hour of separation is at
hf nd, when each of you must take diff
fe.ent path in life and enter upon new
scenes and duties. 1t is inevitable that
there should be a tinge of sadness when
you think that the old college bell has
no longer any summons for you, that
you are soon to leave the shady walks
ard the quaint library and the familiar
rooms of your college home. The wide
world into which you al about to scat
ter is full of strangeness and uncertain
ty; you may be in doubt as to where