The record-union., 1893-10-20

publish short letters from correspondents on
topics of interest TO the general puoiic. Inc
matter in these communications Will be IN
derstOod TO represent only the views OF the
writers. All communications must pc ac-
companied by the name OF the writer, not Ior
publication unless so desired, but as a Suafaa-
tee OF good faith.-ED5.
Mr.. Horner's Discourse Criticised.
EDS. RE CORD UNION: In your issue on
Monday last is an extract from Mr.. Hor-
ner's discourse of Sunday. There are
some very noticeable things therein.
First-While in common with other and
orthodox preachers, Mr.. Horner usurpS
to himself the title of REV." and thus
processes to make the religion of which
he IS the Sacramento exponent Christian,
he is evidently very determined to sub
vert that which forms the foundation OF
Christianity and directly to annul its
teaching. Second-In TWO distinct state
ments he gives the lie direct TO some of its
plainest teaching. For example, he says:
lit is an old lie, friends, that stolen joys
are sweetest" 1t may not have been in
territorial on his part, but only due to an
oversight, yet, in any event, Scripture
asserts that ''Stolen waters are sweet
Pro. ix., II. And Mr.. Horner declares
that such is "a lie."
Again. Mr.. Horner asserts that it is
lie that there is pleasure in SIM" This.
too, in the face of Heb. XII, 20, where it is
said that Moses chose rather to suffer
affliction with the people Of God than to
enjoy the pleasures Of sin for a season."
If sin yields no pleasure, whatever
yields pleasure is not sin. Am l to un-
derstand that Mr.. Horner is indOrsing the
saloon, dives. dance halls and gambling
dens? That frequenters find pleasure
there is evident, else they would not go.
Sin yields no pleasure; these then can
not. according to Mir. Horner, be SIN. \ ct
this he would. [ am sure, be slow to
assert. These are sin.
In the face of the experience Of human
nature. to put the matter on the lowest
basis, Mr.. Horner asserts that sin gives
no pleasure. Such thoughts and words
eminently qualify man to occupy the
position of leader of mankind i'll the
struggle upward. That Mr.. Horner is a
leader Of a religion cannot be doubted.
But is his religion Christianity? Let his
words speak for themselves.
He says: 1.-The sacred books of the
world are nothing more than the express
sion of the human soul in its search for
the divine" The Bible is included in
these sacred books" And this sis moth
ing more than the expression of the
human soul in its search for the divine"
The Bible expressly declares the reverse
of this for itself. All scripture is given
Dy INSPIRATION OF OOU III u6CldT0S. AuQ
Paul said that what was revealed to him
he spoke mot in the words which mans
wisdom teacheth, but what the Holy
Ghost teacheth.'' Holy men of old
spoke as they were moved, not by the
soul III it's search for the divine" but by
the Holy Ghost, is the kindred thought of
Peter.
And such is the claim of the whole
Bible. The burden of the prophetic
Scriptures is: "Thus saith the Lord"
the communication of something from
God to man. The books of Moses assert
a number Of times "The Lord spake unto
Moses" The historical books unfold the
intervention of the Lord in the affairs of
men. The words of Jesus are expressly
declared to be of divine origin. He said:
Il speak to the world those things which
l have heard of Him" tine Father)-John
viii, 26. Yet Mr.. Horner asks us to be-
lieve that the Bible is nothing more than
the expression of tho human soul in its
search for the divine. He takes a passage
of Scripture when be finds it pleases him
and suits his theories, but as whole the
book is false, for it makes false preten-
sions. Y ct upon this book Christianity
is built. Can any wonder that we inquire:
Is MIR. Horner's religion Christianity?
w. G. II.
Sacramento, October 18th.