The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-07-17

ting" (Heb 4:Isl to the errorist ant
disobedient, for it was the divine ex
positor of right and wrong, and it lay
bare their false pretentions, "desires'
and dereliction. This was the chic
cause of their hatred, they were de
voted to their own ways, and desired
no divine light to expose them. And
as Christ brought the light daily to
expose the filthy, uajust and unholy
nature of their ways, "dninosities
(were increasingly engendered. and
the cause Of Christ dishonored." un-
til, at last, they dishonored him by the
ignominious death of the cross. This
is the way, and the only way, that they
could absolutely settle" the questions
of right and wrong in that day. and
men of like character and nature now,
who oppose the light because their
deeds are evil, would settle every dis
agreeable question and creature by the
same process OF reasoning (l2) if Un-
Gle Sam would permit it. But our
great exemplar did not hesitate to do
the Fathers will because of its LA
bility to engender animosities, and en-
tail dishonor on his own just, right
eous and holy cause. No, it has stood
the test in honor and in dishonor, IN
peace and in war, in love and in
hatred, in wealth and in poverty and
through all the changing, desolatlng
scenes of ages, and it still stands un-
sulled and honored in spite of all its
traitorous friends and foes, Of earth
and hell. Jesus says, "Offences will
come" and he also says, "Blessed is he,
whosoever shall not be offended in
me-" Therefore we ought to do his
will, and if that offends the world and
''engenders animosities," we should
not be offended by, or fall out with
Christ and his cause. Let the of
fences come, duty is ours, leave the
results with the Lord. Do not fear
for, but work for that cause, which has
proven its own divinity in spite of the
vascilating and inconsistent characters
within its own ranks, and many will
still continue to hear the voice of the
Son of God and live. If we know the
truth and we love it, we will give it.
discuss it, and defend it, publicly and
privately, that all may understand it
and be saved.
If Christ had thought as Mr.. Houtz
and many others think in this day,
Pharisaism, Sadduceeism, Exorcism,
and all the other isms of his day and
of our day, would still claim a divine
origin, and have no opposition. But
the Gospel was given as the light of
the world, and we need not fear to let
it be seen. 1t is transplendently clear,
and will be always discerned readily
by the pure in heart whether seen in
private or public discussion. So
thought Luther when he went to meet,
in public discussion, the Papal dele
gate at Worms. So thought Paul
when entered the arena at Antioch
against circumcision, (Acts I5:) and
the question was settled, 'absolutel.
settled" by an appeal to the Apostolic
decision. But this question was not
absolutely settled" in the sense of
satisfying all for many afterwards
fought against the divine decision, and
engendered cruel animosities, and
brought dishonor upon the cause of
Christ by their perversions, yet Paul
never declined to discuss the issue
with them privately or publicly. That
question was settled, absolutely set
tied" for all time, with Paul, and it is
settled forever in the hearts of all
those, who are resolved to build upon
the foundation of the Apostles and
Prophets, and on Jesus as the chief
corner stone. (Eph. 2 20; l Cor. 8:
II.) Let us also make our appeals for
divine truth, to those whose privi-
lege it was to lay down the condi-
tons upon which sins are to be re-
mitted or retained; and settle all
questions absolutely and forever, by
their word Uohn II: 20, aI.) Let
us not strive to satisfy or please men,
but let us please God, and enlighten
all who will be saved, regardless Of the
animosities that may be engendered
by the private or public conflict or dis
cussion for truth. Let us not fear to
fight the fight of faith. Paul fought
the good fight, he kept the faith. he
finished his course, and he beheld
with the unbeclouded eye of faith a
crown of dazzling beauty, bedecked
with the immortal jewels for whose
enlightenment and salvation he had
stemed the flood of cruel prosecutions,
''animosities" and death, He con-
tended for "The Faith" not through a
morbid desire for contention, but
because it was his bounding duty.
(I Cor 9:I6; Cor. 6: Az and he
discharged it with feariessness and
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