The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-21

DR.. Paxton Admits IL IL bad World, hat
Not Altogether bad.

NOT ANO9etner bau.
Tho Rev. DR.. Paxton preached to large
congregation at the West Presbyterian Church
yesterday morning from this text. Ecclesias-
ties Wilt. 14-15: There is n vanity which Is
done upon the earth that there be righteous
men unto whom It happeneth according to the
work OF the wicked: again. there be wicked
men to whom 1t happeneth according to the
work OF tho righteous. Then commended
mirth. because a man hath no better thing
under the sun than to eat and to drink and to
be merry, for that shall abide with him in his
labor all the days OF his life whichGod hath
given him under the SUM-"
This is part OF what DIR. Paxton snid:
'As to this world and human life. 1t is Just as
we look ut 1t. how wo take it, 1t shall be
pleasant or painful. a tragedy or a comedy.
with more good in It than evil. or tho reverse;
more hate and trcachery than love and loyalty:
or curses turning to blessings. sorrows to
mcekness. and suiferings into sympathes. l
say II Is lust how we take 1t, for as 1t was in
Solomon's day II is now
There was an old philosopher who found
human condition so ridiculous and vain that
he never appeared abroad without jeering
and laughing countenancc. There was another
philosopher who never walked abroad to con-
template human condition without sorrow
ful look and tears in his eyes. Well. both were
on one side OF it and very weary
world on tho other Solomon rather
agrees with the laughing philosopher. and
tells Va Tint since everything down here is
merely vanity, dying joys. transient griefs
that what ought to beup is often down and
what ought to be- down is often UP. there is no
use in crying over it every day. nor straining
our puny strength to reform every evil. cure
every vice. hang every villain. nor make peo-
pie stand and deliver clean dollars. without u
speck upon them. or spot of widows tears. or
advantage In n bargain. II SO. tho Lords
treasury would be empty. according to the So
cialists. who affirm that all property is rob-
berry. that wrong was done somewhere. by
somebody to somebody. whenever a million
dollars are in one man $ safe.
"Ofcourse We respectable neorlc. we Chris
the lake. borrowed boat and net to catch enough
fish to sell and get money to pay the duty ut
course we know such people are either knnycs
or tramps. who want to 1--we III idleness on tho
snptfh of Ga ins and Of others
but let Us get a laugh out OF the'world. a
oy EnS Zoo Iai ws
but VIII viii have lost tho faculty Of daughter and
be noticed. The heathcn philosopher laughs al
the world. Solomon advises US to laugh nth
1ns MSr to laugh tho wsd No mter
fools these mortaIs be- the man who ridi.
eules them Is one o. them There Is no excuse
to laugh With tho word-to eat and drink and
But. when Think Of it, man cannot laugh
At tho world: he can ear, only laugh ut himself
see not what is outside Of US. hut only what is
in us. in our eye and mind. We SEQ it with a
syne or bs opn5a "a Upnon on
NPRF But Of hoSsn a our may "pnsns ~Sn
are aimed. they. never fail e disclose ,9ur.
own quality. and to show forth the kind OF
hs ns Usually S Sps i"seaS a
one denies disinterestcd Kindness or inyncblc
honesty he exposes the selt!Shness OF MS Own
that may break when the bribe is big enough.
For all seems yellow to the jaundiced eye,
as il is il he has mind to- The man who said
that If God had consulted him before He made
wStn mt ' really E Stands s u.s. all
NET at 5"mG timo or oti S5 fG" nd fault
Trus it has rot into our heads that an honest
man ought to succeed. But why should an
energetic. and capable? Does God anywhere
psoHSe US tn.t sodiness shall bring gain in
:" But in tho long run wisdom. not folly.
Egqsyas ho good make
even than the wicked. for vice has more mar
tyrs than virtue. Take heart of hope, 30
fierce rcformers. ye scorners OF unhallowed |
gold we are forging ahead. 1t Is very bad |
world. still very bad. 1t gossips. it ISLANDERS,
it is full of scandals it Is stepped in vices. it
is n prodiGal. wretched. ragged. smelin Of
swine and not one third Of the way to heaven |
rs yet-but it is a world worth saving. and it |
Is getting better. For there are saints in |
every nook and corner Of 1t there are heavenly |
ns1enr Is
We cannot redeem. we deplore tho vices we |
cannot eXterminate. and Christ is patient and |
pitiful. and God has all eternity to work in. |
Don't rail- don't abuse. don't take it to heart |
SO much Be cheerful. be grateful. shed n |
smile There will be more good men after We |
arc all dead. and lots for them to do.
But along our little narrow path to the |
great beyond. let us pick upa wounded man
Whenever wo can. share with him our bread |
then tie our shoestrings and say nothing |
hour repents. or softens or gives. or gropes for
ror. or shut the gates OF heaven IN his face
make yourself miserable because the heather
nor vice supplanted by virtue. for, OF all crea-
lures. man alone can laugh and the God who |
made him surely meant him to taste all limo;
cent pleasures. and have his Joyous laugh and
share OF mirth. or he would not have made him |
capable Of laughing"