Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-30
SINS MANY CL0AKS
Nay Hide the Real Nature From the
World, but Are of No Use
S SHIELDS FOR TRANSGRESSORS.
Theories and Professions Not Enough to
Take Man to Heaven,
EXCEPT HE SEEKS THE TRUE WAY
FFHoIAL TELEeRAM TO THE prsrKrcH.l

WINFIELD, KAN, June 29-Dr. Tai
mage deals in his sermon to-day in charac-
teristic style with the various garbs in
which sin masquerades in modern society,
and, in stripping the monster of its dis
guises. he aims not only to reveal its de-
formity to the world, but to put his hearers
on their guard against self-delusion. His
text is John xv., %: "But now they have
no cloak for their sin.
Sin is always disguised. Decked, and CLOSED
and perfumed, and masked, it gains admitrance
in places from which it would otherwise be re-
PEELED. AS silently as when it glided into Eden
and as plRusibly as when 1t talked to Christ at
the top OF the temple, it now addresses men.
Could people look upon sin as 1t always is-an
exhalation from the pit, the putrefaction Of in
finite capacities, 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 trans
gressed, sin appeared to them the sweetness of
fruit and the becoming gods. To Absalom
1t was the pleasure of sitting upon a throne
To men now sin is laughter and permission to
luxurious qualification. Jesus Christ in my
text suggests fact which everybody ought TO
know, and that is that sln to hide its dstorm-
ity and shame, is accustomed to wearing a
cloak. and the Savior also sets forth the truth
that God can see straight through all such
-wrappings and thicknesses. / want now to
speak OF several kinds of cloaks with which
men expect to cover up their iniquities for the
stantly changing. and every day bebolds some
new style OF wearing them, and, if you tarry a
little while l will show you hve or six of the
patterns Of cloaks.
INCoMPETENCY IN OFFICE.
First, remark that there are those who, be-
ing honored with official power expect to make
that successful cloak for their sin. There is
~ oAH .ad fis md
all who hold authority in the world serve under
Him. That community has committed a mon
strOus wrong who has elevated to this dignity
persons unqualified either by their ignorance or
their immortality. Nations who elevate to posts
of authority those not qualified to I'LL them will
eel the reaction. Solomon expressed this
bought when he said: Woe unto thee, D
and when thy king is a child ana thy princes
drink in the morning." While positions of
trust may be disgraced by the character of those
who MI them believe God would have us re-
epectful to the Of1ces though we may have no
Jdmiration for their occupants. Yet this dig
ity which Office confers can be no apology for
.ransgression. Nebuchadnezzar, and Ahab,
and Herod, in the day of judgment, must stand
the level with the herdsmen that kept their
docks and the fishermen of Galilee. Pope, and
King, and President, and Governor, must give
n account to God. and be Judged by the same
Aw as that which judges the beggar and the
lave Sin is all the more obnoxious when it is
imperial and loroly. You cannot make pride,
or injustice, or cruelty sacred by giving it
throne.
Belshazzar's decauters could not keep the
mysterious finger from writing on the wall.
Ahsb's sin literally hurled him from the throne
TO the dogs. The imperial Vestments of wicked
Jehoram could not keep Jehu's arrow from
striking through his heart. Jezebers lueenly
pretenson could not save her from being
thrown over the wall. No barricade of thrones
can arrest Gods justice in its unerring march.
No splendOT. 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 them2 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 eonQuering and to
conquer.
Again, elegance of manners cannot success
fully hide inIquity from the eye of God. That
model gentlemanly apostle. Paul, writes TO us:
BE courteous" That man neither be
naspectahla sorldling nor a consistens Chris
tian who lacks good manners. He is shut out
from refined circles and he certainly ought to
be hndered from entering the church. We
cannot overlook that in man which we
could hardly excuse in a bear One of the
dIvldual is to
MAKE HIM A GENTLEMAN.
Gruffness, awkwardness, applicability, clan
nishness, are fruits Of the devil; while gentle
ness and meekness are fruits of the Spirit But
while these excellences of manner are SO i'm
portant, they cannot hide any deformity OF
moral character. How often it is that we find
attractiveness of person. suavity of manners
gracefulness OF conversation, gallantry of be-
havior thrown like wreaths upon moral DEATH
The flowers that grow upon the scorie of Vesu-
ViuE do not make IL any less of volcano. The
Bepulchres in Christs time did not exhaust all
the whtewash. Some OF the biggest scoundrels
have been the most fascinating II there are
any depending on outward gracefulness and at
tractiveness Of demeanor with any hope that
because OF that God will forgive the sin Of
their soul, let NE assure them that the divine
Justice cannot be satisfied with smiles and ee-
CANT gesticulation. Christ looks deeper than
the skin, and such n ragged cloak as the one IN
NO S5diSS In he aar Of His n5Wer COD %i viII pe
not In 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 be
the test. and not the rules Of Lord Chesterfield.
Again: Let me say that the mere profession
of religion is but poor wrapping Of a naked
soul The importance of making A public pro.
fession OF religion IL the heart be renewed can
not be exaggerated. Christ positively and with
the earnestness of the night before his crucfx-
ion commanded it, But it is the result of
Christian character not the cause of it, Our
church certificate is a poor 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 although they give no signs of re-
newal. IT Satan can induce a man to build |
upon such rotten foundation as that, be has
accomplished his object We cannot imagine
the abhorrence with which God looks upon
such procedure. What would be the feelings
of shepherd If he saw wolf IN the same fold |
with hls docks however quiet he might seem
TO lie, or general IL among his troops he saw |
one wearing the appointed uniform who never |
theless really belonged to the opposition host. |
PROFESSION AvAILS NOTHING.
Thus must the heavenly Shepherd look upon |
those who. though they not His sheep, have |
climbed up some oSAer way and thus must the |
Lord OF hosts look upon those who pretend to |
be soldiers of the cross while they are His |
armed enemies. If any of you find yourselves
deficient In the great tests of Christian charac-
Ter, 90 not beg OF you. look upon YOUR pro-
fession of religion as anything consoatory. If
you have taken your presen. position from a
view that you have of Christ and your need of
Him, rejoice with 10y unspeakahle and full OF
glory and clap your hands Tor gladness, but If
you find yourself with nothing but the name of
life, while dead in trespasses and sins, arouse
the world may not be able TO see through it,
but in the day of divine reckoning it will be
found that you have no cloak for your sin.
Furthermore: Outward morality Will be no
covering for the hidden inIQuity of the spirit
Inc gospel of Christ makes no assault npon
Eooo works. They are as beautiful in Gods
eye as In ours. Punctuality, ,truthfulness aims
giving, affection and many other excelenees of
nIe tnat might he mentioned will always be ad-
htleu ol Ood aud man. but we take the posi-
t1Ou tLdt R"od works cannot be the ground of
our salVauon What we 90 right cannot pay
10I shdt We 40 wrong. Admit that you have
Al s1ose tIalls q Character which give merely
attne same time acknowledge that during the
course OF your life you have done many things
you ought not to have done
How are these difficult ma tiers to he settled
An, my iflenus. We must have an atonement
80. w OniIet, il no savation The great Redeemer