Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-04-11

was al - place few hours after the
rnflans had zone into the rail train and
demanded that the passengers throw up
their arms, and then these ruilians took
the pocket books. and satan comes and sug-
gcsts 10 "A man that hc throw UP his arms
in hypocritiral prayer and prctension, and
then steals his soul. For the mere prcten-
kion Of religion we have abhorrcncc. Red
wald. the king after baptism. had an
altar Of Christian sacrifice and an altar for
sacrifice 20 devils, and there are many men
now attempting the same thine-half u
heart for God and hal! a heart for the
wurld-and il j. Il dead failure. and il is "a
caricaturo Of religion, and the only Sue
cessful assault ever made on Christianity
Is the Inconsistency Of its professors. You
may have a contempt for pretension 10 re-
liginn, but when you hchold the cXccllency
of Jesus Christ come out in the life Of one
Of his disciples all that there i good and
noble in your soul rises up into admira-
tiun, and Won cannot help H. Though
that man be far beneath you in estate rs
the Egyptian slave 81 whom we are dis
coursing WAS beneath his rulers by an ir-
rcvocablc law Of your nature Potiphar and
Pharaoh viii always esteem Joseph.
When Eudoxia. the empress, threatened
Chrys0stnn with death, he made the re-
ply. Tell The empress fear nothing but
sin. Such scene ~ that compcls the nd
miration of the worlu There was some
thing in Agrippa and Felix which de-
manded their respect for Paul, the rebel
against government | doubt not they
would willingly have yielded their office
and dignity Tor "A thoGsandth part Of that
true hcroism which bcamcd in tho eye and
1. IL. I. Il.
apostle Paul did not COVER before Felix.
Felix covered before Paul. The inildel
and wording are compelled 10 honor in
their hearts. although they may not culo-
eizc with their lips, Christian firm in
persecution. cheerful in poverty, trustful
in losses. triumphant in death. | find
Christian men IN all professions and occu
pations and ! find them respected and
honorcd and successful. John Frederick
Ohcrlin allrviating ignorance and distress,
Howard passing from dungeon to lazaretto
with healing FOR the body and soul; Eliza
beth Fry going to the prohigacy Of New
gate prison Il shake its uhduracy ~ tho
angel came To tie prison at Philippi, driv-
ing open the doors and swapping loose tho
chain as we'll q, the lives of thousands Of
followers Of Jesus who have devoted them
I selves to the temporal and spiritual wei
I fare Of the rare are monuments Of the
+ Christian religion that shall not crumble
+ while the weird lasts y man said Ia mo
+ in the cars: What i religion: Judging
/ from tho character II many professors %
religion do mot admire religion said:
Now, suppose we went To AN artist in the
+ city 81 Rome and while in his gallery
asked him, What Is the art Of TaintinPl'
Would hc take lis uut in Il low alley and
F show u "a mere daub Of - rretcnder ut
I painting, or would he take Us down into
the corridor, and show Is the Kubens,
and the Raphaels and the Michael Angc-
los When We asked him What is the art
OF paintings he would point 10 the works
Of these great masters and say, That Is
painting. Now, you propose To find the
mere carcaturc ~ religion, TO seek after
that which is the mere preieusion Of holy
life. aud .uu call that religion. point you
10 the splendid men and women whom
this gosi.l has blessed and lifted and
crowned Look at the masterpieces Of di-
wine grace II you wan, To know what re-
ligion is
Persecution Reveals HeroIsm.
We learn also from this story OF Joseph
that the result II persecution is elevation.
Had e not been for his being sold into