The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1895-11-05
THE ADVOCATE.
CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP.
Sermon delivered at the Centen
nial Exercises OF the FIRST
Presbyterian Church


Philippians, 1:27.
The word translated conversation
you will find to mean "to act the part
of a citizen" so that the translation
~ found in the margin of the revised yer.
sion is the more nearly correct--"Only
behave as citizen worthy of the Cos
pei of Christ"
DIR. Farrar gives it thus: "Play the
citizen in a manner worthy of the
Gospel of Christ"
Centuries before, when Isrel was in
great straits with powerful foe
whose army almost enclosed them,
their leader melted them to their ut
most bravery aud effort as soldiers
with the cry: LET US play the men
for our people and for the cities of
our God !" Paul, the great Apostle
to whom the Gentle church looks as a
leader calls to even a grander and a
nobler heroism :, "Play the part of a
citizen worthy ofthl Gospel of Christ"
Nelson's words to his fleet on the eve
of their great engagement England
expects every man TO do his duty
have become immortal. They have
spired tho heart of British soldiers
z TO heroic effort in more than one con-
hict. / would like TO emblazon these
words of Paul upon banner aud
spread it TO theN breeze in the face of
every soldier of the cross, in the face
of every one who loves a happy home
and the gift of Christ, TO the world
who loves peaceful, prosperous ma
ton; liberty, free inslitulions-aI the
gift of Christianity as they go 10 the
polls TO exercise their citizenship,
where great moral questions are at
issue, when me.S of questionable char
acter and motives are asking to be
placed in officisl position.
believe our country is God-given
heritage. can see his hand fashion
ing and directing its destiny from the
time columbus started on his vo age
OF discovery unto the present. | be-
lieve our country is what it is--in
free institutions, in happy homes, in
all that makes it the most desirable of
all lands on the globe because it is
observation-disclosures il is dominated by
Christian sentiment. II is what it is
for good, for the prosperity and hap
peness of those who dwell in its bor-
der just so far as the Bible and Bible
principles govern and mold and shape
the ideas and customs of its citizens.
This New World was consecrated to
God and taken in his name as no 9TH
er country ever was. When Column
bus stepped ashore upon the New
World, with tears of joy running
down his cheeks he fell upon his
knees, kissed the earth and thanked
God, and then rising, planted the cross
and displayed the Castilian banner
and solemnly dedicated the New
World 10 religion and morality. lie
first gave it to God, then to Ferdinand
and Isabella, recognizing divine and
human government in its possession.
So, afterward, when this part of it
was claimed, it was by those who
loved God and His word and sought
place to serve Him as their loving
hearts prompted. The Pilgrim Faith
ers kept Gods Holy Sabbath, off the
shore, though tempest-tossed and sick
of the wave, they would not disturb |
the Holy hours OF the Sabbath by go
ing ashore, but waited. The first book |
opened on its shores was the Bible.
The sound that broke the stiffness of |
it's forests was PRAYER and song of
praise. and it has passed through buri-
ais, revolutions and commissions and |
still lives and prospers, because many
Christian souls bear its interest and
its rulers OH arms of faith to God
continually.
I hope / do not speak to any who
think the gospel of Christ has nothing
~ do with their citizenship. Paul
cbemed to think it had an important
part. Some there are who would be
VERY glad if religion did not touch
civil life. Those who cry out "Busi-
ness is business and religion is relig-
ion" are anti-Christian, and it Is not
Christian TO object to mixing religion
and politics. Some seem to think
religion will be hurt by the mixture.
It is very poor religion that would
be hurt. 1t might hurt your politics