Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1897-07-09
PATRIOTIC SERMON
rreaeied July tth in the Reformed
Church at Montague by Rev. II. II.


you free
There is a word which causes a thrill TO
pass thrO our whole frame 1t seems to
have reference TO a time gone 10y and
awalSenssad but also most blessed events in
our memories and it Seems TO point TO @
more glorious future. Noble deeds have
been done under the banner of this word,
the most atrocious acts have been com
nitted in the name of this word more
merciful than man She eArth has swallowed
mp the blood and tears which this word
caused o. be she'd it faukes us shudder
when we behold the scune which our
world presents 20 us as the seat of IN
Justice and cruelty, and the consequences
Of the actions of our arbitrary and oppros-
sive human nature present to us a view
most painful And vet this word where
ever heard inspires man anew and causes
him to do the most daring deeds The
sick amid his pains prays for it, the OPP
pressed has no other wish than what this
word expresses. There are times whom
this word storm-like arouses whole nations,
when it like an unholy flame unbridles
the passions of man aud seems TO lift the
earth, all human and divine institutions
from their very foundations; it likewise
kindles in the hearts of man "a flame of
holy zeal We all know this word, it has
a familiar sound Co us, for it our fathers
fought and died, it is freedom, free
dom"
The meaning of no other word has been
so often misconstrued chan that of "frec-
dom, nothing has been more falsely ap-
piled than what this word promises 1t is
said that Madam Roland, as she passed the
statue of freedom on her way to the
guillotine exclaimed co. freedom what
crimes are perpctrated in thy name
Liberty is gift from heaven, but hell
has taken possession Of It, and made a
snare out of it
But here in our Gospel is preacher Of
freedom, not one of those who promise to
the people all imaginable treasures and en-
joyment and cannot even keep single one
of their promises, but one who came into
the world to bring freedom TO the oppressed
human race and who gave His life Co ac-
c0mplish this He is not one Of those who
with ilattering words prays for the favor
of the people nor for the applause of the
but one who speaks the truth,
the whole truth which like two edged
swo;d cuts deep into the hearts Of the
hearers, so that almost inclined to follow
him the Jews took up stones to stone this
preacher of froaania-
Let us see from what liberty does set us
free Negatively, ltdoes not free US from
Gods commands.
The French revolution which has
brought so much misery over France was
evidently based on a false notion of moral
freedom, that liberty frees man from all
toward God that it TAX es
away all barriers Under the mask of SO
called human-brotherho these mo erh
of liberty to whom every well
state and society is a stumbling
block, to whom the commandments, "thou
shalt not kill, thou shalt not commit
adultery, thou shalt not bear false witness
thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself are
rs "A thorn in their eyes, these wolves in
sheep skin cry out, away with the church,
away with law, away with God, all this is
q vexation to man and an infringement
upon mans liberty The Haymarket trag
g ly is still fresh in our memories, the muir
der Of one Of our most esteemed and beloved
President is the result of such an ungodly,
satanic freedom Swinging the torch in
one handand the dagger in the other, this
Is liberty without law, without God. 1T
IS the liberty Of the hyenn and the tiger,
and this liberty, I know Is not the liberty
which we desire as loyal sons and daugh-
ters of our country. When our fathers
fought for the independence Of this ooun-
try, it was with God, with God they up
held this liberty and with God we will
continue in it, Thus we see that true.
liberty does not free us from the laws Of
God, but that it can only exist where the
laws Of God are obeyed; freedom is not
lawlessness, butperfect obedience to per
feet law
But we may ask does Christian liberty
not free us from our earthly cares and sor-
rowsf Does it not deliver US from the pres
sure which is brought to bear upon us by
external circumstances Whose heart Is not
touched whose eye remains dry, seeing
iAAA TINS AAAlaNAlf NAAI sim AAN4nE AUL AEAAEAr
the laborer desiring work, the thousands
yea millions who have TO live in greatest
poverty, having not even their daily bread
Christ Himself has done much for the re
lief OF the needy: ''He won't about doing
good And whom our generation has
come to the full understanding Of Christ's
command "Love one another" and does
all it can for the welfare Of the human
race, then there will be joy in heaven"
But let-ns not cry aftera life free from
earthly cares. The burdens which rost
upon us may be made easier, may be di-
vided moro justly, but will never be taken
away they may be given a different name
but as long as the earth remains they viii
be and those who say that man should not
work any longer, that obedience to the
laws Of human society is not necessary are
false prophets Go ye, who claim TO an
tighten the world. by your ungodly words,
open Co us again the blessed fields Of the
garden Of Eden take away the curse from
the human race; Cursed is che ground
for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat Of
1t all the days Of thy life thorns also
and thistles shall it bring forth TO thoe,
and thou shalt cat the herb of the field
in the sweat Of thy face shalt thou eat
thy bread, till thou return unto the
ground, for out OF it vast thou taken, for
dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou re-
turn And as ye Danish the laws OF God
and do away with the laws Of man, so also
put death Ia chains, forbid pestilenee to
enter into the countries and destructive
storms and hail change into showers Of
blessing. Then and not until you have
Accomplished that comn and nroelnlm M