The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-25
ON CORRUPT POLITICS.
REV. DIR. HOGF, or WILNfNGTOS, N.
C., PRrhCHEs on THE sUBJECT.
His Subject Was "Using Time for Eter-
nity"-Powerfui Argument
Against the Practice.

OF Rev. Or. Moses u. Hoge. OF Richmond.
gave 4 hard blow 10 corrupt politics, In
an able sermon preached last Sunday
! morning.
| Dr.. hose took for his subject. Using
] Time Tor Eternity" HIS text was second
| Peter, third chapter and eleventh verse.
| a synopsis of the sermon is given below:
Seeing then that all these innings. etc.
Revelation and science agree that the
world We inhabit is moving steadily to-
wards great catastrophe, a. other
worlds have already grown old and died.
/ history recalls constant and nomentOus
/ changes, political power changing rom
continent 20 continent. civilizations de-
] caylng ana other CIVILIZATIONS arising.
! Nearly al. great nations have substau-
TALLY. changed their form OF government
in the brief period of our own natondi
history The present generation IN our
own South has witnessed q complete So
cial revolution. Change is the universal
law Of history. And even though the
world remains, even though all existing
institutions were permanent. we ourselves
shall he changed, ana IN the Crisis OF
death snail pass from present conditions
into r wholly new environment Seeing
that all these things shall be- dissolved
what manner OF persons ought We TO ne
SHOULD BE HOLY.
Tho answer Of the text Is. Holy per-
sons and a little reflection viii show
that all the circumstances and conditions
that make sin successful that make SIN
profitable. and that make sin pleasant,
are circumstances and conditions growing
out OF what is accidental and transitOry
in this life. Even in this life We see that
IL is the nature OF sin 10 bring It's own
punishment. but. in that other world,
where the accidents OF birth ana fortune,
tho nckle and fallible judgments OF our
fcllowmen, and the gathering receptions
OF sense. are all oblib,rated. and every
soul stands unmasked before God. Then,
indeed will the punshr cnt OF sin be RENE
diless. and the SHINING soul will eat OF
the fruit of its own way. As rational be-
ings. we should seek 90 Duiid character
that viii not only stand the test OF SHIFT
ing temporal conditions, but that Will
stand the test OF eternity. Such a cnilac-
nt. not even mere worldly integrity and
civil virtue. but holiness. Seeing that all
these things shall be dissolved. what man
per Of persons ought we To be IN all holy
conversation and godlness
KEEP iN SUBJECTION.
But this presents to us the great PROB
lem of living. how TO be IN the world and
not OF it. how 10 Use the world ana not
abuse b.. how TO go in and out among
its pollutions and keep ourselves unspot-
ted from ~. how TO adjust ourselves 10
present conditions and relations 80 as 10
build them into an enduring structure
how TO use time FOR eternity.
Here are these bodies that are TO be
dissolved but which bear such intimate
relation TO our spirited selves. How shall
We treat them Asccticism says. Milict
them. that their passions may be morti-
fed. and the spirit be purified. God $
Word and con mon senses say, Nurture
and develop them that they may De ht
| instruments for the service of God and
man, that brain may be clear bones
strong. and nerves steady. But keep them
! i'm subsection TO higher ends. Above all,
keep them pure as TT temples for the
\ SOCIAL RELIGION.
Then. there Is the world of literature, or
| art. of music. in which our higher sensi-
bilities take delight. An exaggerated
! Puritanism says. Touch not. taste not
| handle not an which things perish with
the using" But God has made recreation
| as necessary Cor our minds as sleep Tor
! our bodies Zine spent on these things
! that enable us 10 come back 10 work with
mind ana heart refreshed iS not Time
| wasted but time used for God. PROVIDED
| the new energy Of soul is used Tor HIM,
and all the gifts acquired IN these eNcf-
! cises or used for the highest and hottest
| ends.
| Then We are placed here in social rela-
| tiOns-with family and friends ana the
wider circles Of society. The monk and
| the hermit would sever all these ties 70
! avoid the temptations that may spring
| out of these relations. Ist our Lord gave
US q social religion. Ills first miracle
was % % wedding and Ills most disiinc-
! tive site was q feast. He has shown as
| how 10 sanctify the home. how 10 hallow
! friendship. and 20 cOnsecrate all social
| ties by religion Of helpfulness and love
~ BUSINESS LIFE.
! But what OF mans business liie' lt5
! hustle and conflict seem so far removed
from the place and love OF the heaN n TOT
| which We are striving. that D. seems as
| though there could be- no recOncilinS the
/ N.t "a
! own. 10 le not slOthfuI in business, ana
! Let every man abide in the me Gaining
| wherein he Is called. inQuestlonably We
! have much 10 learn IN the adjustment OF
J business TO Christianity. but there are no
! lneeporahle problems 20 the man who sets
! himself 10 fglfl the law Of Christ Not
20 speak OF the commonplace Of morality,
! such ns honesty. integrity. ana truth, the
| Christian b1a 10 watch. lcst ayaIl,e ~
! into his heart and De become bard 10 his
| foilowmen. The remedy IS In consocra, e
! ing your business and IT'S fruits 10 Goa
| That will keep business in It's proper place
| ms servant and not master. and all your
| business methods viii be the methOds
| that God would approve.
| CHRISTIAN N POLITICS.
! The Christian man has also relations 10
! the State. There are some respectable
| SCOTS that saw Christians should take no
part IN the affairs of government. because
thov belong % the kingdom 0f 'hri Z.
But there can be few errors more fatal IA
human welfare than that which would
| turn over the responsibilities Of govern
mcnt to the wicked and profane. or al
| least 10 those who lack the safeguards OF
| character afforded by the religion OF
| Christ. How. then. shall q Christian pear
| himself in politics. First or all. ne VIII
! not lie. In the present political connicl
| one hardly reads an article or speech
! on either side that does not contain as
| ingonu0us arguments and statements
| known 10 be false Then b. viii not IN
| dulge in vililcation ana abuse me man
| hood OF this country. the character OF us
| citizens is Of more importance than any
! or all economic questions ono Dohy OF
our people are NOT Anarchists. nor are
| the other body Shyl0cks Anarchists and
| shvlocks There are ON both sides. but the
mass Of the people are honest citizens
| seeking the best interest of The country
INTEGRITY FIRST.
Again. he will not be deceived into
| thinking that what is morally wrong can
| ever bo politically right. Bad means
should De lcft 10 bad men ana oad causes
| RlQht ends need only right methods 20
| succeed And we had better lose every
| thinc than 10 lose the INTEGRITY OF our
| citizens. Nor should a Christian man eX.
| meet too much from success. Political
| revolution viii never bring millennium
| Religion is the only remedy for the deep
| egt ms 81 humanity. and the only miilen'
| MUM the world will know viii be- the tn.
| umph Of the Lord Jesus Christ IN ~
| hearts Nor on the other hand. VIII ne ..
| too much cast down bv defeat ana ran
| wa What failures and defeats OF rikAl
| causes has the world Witnessed ~
| Gods purposes bear on. making ever ioi
! righteousness and good Though we may
| fail. God still rcigns
| FINALLY De who as building for eternity
| will build ON Gods foundation In inc
/ walls OF Ills living tempic-the Chufcn