Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-01-16

of Christianity. The Christian relig-
ion proclaimed truths which satisfied
the highest aspiration of the human
intellect and gratified the legitimate
craving of the human heart. Christ
proclaimed truths which had baffied
the researches of the most profound
philosophers of pagan antiquity.
| 1.-THE Christian religion gave the
pagan world rational idea of God.
1t proclaimed God essentially one
and self existing, God existing from
eternity unto eternity. 1t spoke of a
God who created all things by His wis
dom, and Whose experimenting provi-
dence watches over the affairs of Ina
tions as we'll as of men, without Whom
not even a bird can fall to the ground.
1t spoke of God infinitely just and
merciful, infinitely holy, infinitely
wise. This idea of a Supreme Being,
so consonant to our intellectual con-
ception, was in striking contrast with
the low and sensual characters which
the pagan world ascribed to their di
vinity.
THE Christian religion not only
gave man sublime idea of his Crea-
tor, but gave him also a rational idea
about himself Hitherto man was a
mystery and riddle to himself He
knew not whence he came or whittier
he was going. He was cropping in the
dark; the past and the future were for
him buried in impenetrable darkness.
The Christian religion impaired to
him knowledge of his origin and of
his destiny and of the means of attain
ing it. 1t rescued him from the fright
full labyrinth of error III which pagan
ism had involved him.
But it will profit us nothing to be
enrolled in the army of the Lord in the
church militant unless we are person
ally clothed in the panoply OF Chris
tian Righteousness. The only virtues
to be put to our credit are those that
we personally achieve.
"All the works of God have striking
characteristics. They all have the di-
vine stamp of individuality, There
are no two stars alike in magnitude
and splendor, there are no two leaves
of the forest alike, there are no two
grains of sand absolutely Identical,
| there are no two human faces alike in
| this vast congregation before me. there
are no two dispositions in all respects
| identical.
every one of you is a world to your
self Every one of you has separate
existence and a special destiny. Each
of you was created alone. You have a
separate growth, a separate sanctifica-
ton, separate death. You are judg-
ed alone, you are punished alone, you
are rewarded alone. There is no such
thing as a vicarious birth, a vicarious
growth, a v:carious sanctity, vicaris
Gus death and judgment. Each one of
you stands on his own foundation.
What man soweth, that shall he also
reap.
But above all, God loves each one
of yon personally. He does not con-
template the human family in the mass
as we view heap of sand. He has
loved each of you with an eternal love.
II calls each of you by name and
knows your individual disposition bet
ter than the most tender mother be-
fore me knows the name and DISPOSE
ton of each of her children. His love
beams On earth of you as efficiently as
if you alone existed in the world.
II always loved that utterance of st.
Paul. Christ loved me and delivered
Himself up for me- He did not say
Christ loved us, but lie, as if to remind
us that Christ's love for himself was as
strong as if it was concentrated in him
self. We all can say the same, and. if
Gods love is centered in us, so should
we centre our love in Him.
"The Christian religion gave not only
| life to his understanding, but peace as
well to his heart, 1t brought him that
peace of God which surpasseth all I'M
| Outstanding and which springs from a
conscious possession of the truth. 1t
brought him triple peace-peace with
| God, by teaching him to keep the COM
Iuandments; peace with his neighbOr,
by enjoying the virtues OF justice and
charity; peace with himself. by in
structing him to keep his passions sub
| ject to reason and reason subject to
| the law of God.
And for the honest sons of toll the
| Christian religion has a message of love
and consolation. She holds up to you
Jesus Christ as the model workman.
Ever since our Blessed Redeemer work
ed at the carpenters bench He has shed
a halo around the workshop"
1.-The Christian religion has now, as
it ever has, message for the capitalist
and workman 1t admonishes the
employer to compensate the laborer by
fair and just wages, and, what is more,
to bestow upon HIM kind and consid-
crate treatment and to keep in view
the golden maxim of Christ. 'Whatso-
ever you would that men should do to
you, do We to them"
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