The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-11-30
PRACTICAL RELIGION,
A SERMON. .BYIREV. CHAS. G..
FINNEY.
The Need of Practical Christian
ity as Exemplifled by the Life
and Teachings of Jesus Christ.

The Need of Practical Christian
ity as Exemplifled by the Life
and Teachings of Jesus Christ.
PART FIFTH.
l am happy to say there are some
men who deal on this principle of
integrity. And the wicked hate them
for it. They rail against them, and |
vociferate them in bar-rooms, that
they never will buy goods of such and
such individuals, that such hypocrite
shall never touch a dollar of their
money, and all that, and then they
will go right away and buy Of them,
because they know they will be hon
estly dealt with. This is a testimony,
to the truth of religion, that is heard |
from Georgia to Maine. Suppose all
Christians did SO what would be the
result? Christians would run away
with the business of the city. The
Christians would soon do the business
of the world. The great argument
which some Christians urge, that if
they do not do business upon the
common principle, of stating one price
and taking another, they cannot COM
pete with men OF the world, is all false
false in philosophy and false in his
tory. Only make it your iuvariable
rule to do right, and do business upon
principle, and you control the market.
The ungodly will be obliged to con-
form to your standard. 1t is perfectly
in the power of the church to regulate
the commerce Of the world, if they
only themselves maintain perfect in
tesrity.
x * X X X
And if Christians will do the same
in politics, they will sway the desti-
nies of the nations, without involving
themselves at all in the base and cor
rupting strife Of parties. Only let
Christians generally determine to vote
for no man for any office, that is not
an honest man and man of pure
morals, and let it be known that
Christians are united in this, whatever
may be their difference in political
sentiments, and no man would be put
up who is not such a character. In
three years it would be talked about
in taverns and published in newspa
pers, when any man is set up as
I candidate for office, "What a good
man he is, now moral, how pious,
and the like. And any political party
wauld no more set up a known Sab
bath breaker, or a gambler, or pro-
fame swearer, or a whoremonger, or a
rum seller, as their candidate for
Office, than they would set up the
devil himself for president. The car
nal policy Of many professors, who
undertake to correct politics by such
means as wicked men employ, and
are determined to vote with a party,
let the candidate be ever so profigate,
is all wrong-wrong in principle, con-
trary to philosophy and common
sense, and ruinous to the best interests
of mankind. The dishonesty of the
church is cursing the world. l am
not going to preach political sermon,
| assure you. But l want to show that
if you wish to impress men favorably
to your religion by your lives, you
must be honest, in business, politics,
and in everything you do. What do
you suppose those ungodly politicians,
who know themselves to be playing a
dishonest game in carrying an cleo
ton, think of your religion when they
see you uniting with them? They
know you are hypocrite!
REMARKS.
I. 1t is unreasonable for a professor
of religion to wonder at the thought
lessness of sinners. Everything con-
sidered, the carelessness of sinners is
not wonderful. We are affected by
testimony, and only by that testimony
which is received by our minds. Sin
ners are SO taken up with business,
pleasure and things of the world that
they will not examine the Bible to find
out what religion is. Their feelings
are excited only on worldly subjects,
because these only are brought into
warm contact with their minds The
things of the world make, therefore, a
strong impression. But there is so
little to make an impression on their
minds in respect to eternity and to
bring religion home to them that they
do not feel on the subject if they ex-
anime the subject they would feel.
upon it, nor care for it. And they
never will unless Gods witnesses rise
up and testify. But inasmuch as the
great body of Christians in fact live SO
as to testify on the { ther side by their
conduct, how can we expect that sin
ners will feel right on the subject
Nearly all the testimony and all the
influence that comes to their minds
tends to make them feel the other
way. God has left His cause here be.
fore the human race, and left His wit
nesses to testify in His behalf, and
: behold, they turn round and testify
the other way. Is it any wonder thai
sinners are careless?
: 2. We see why it is that preaching
does so little good and how 1t is thai
so many sinners become gospel hard
ened. Sinners that live under the
gospel are often supposed to be gospe
hardened but only let the church
wake up and act consistently, and they
: will feel. If the church were 10 live
only one week as if they believed in
the Bible sinners would melt dowr
before them. Suppose l were a law
r yer, and should 60 into court anc
SDread ont nv clients case the ISSUE