The times., 1897-08-30
BLESSED TIE EEYES THAT SEE
Rev. DR.. Clark Describes the Joys
of a Righteous Life.
True Interpretation of the Words
Of the Prophet Isaiah u Com-
fort to the Good in Heart.

Dr. Luelen Clark, pastor of Foundry
Church, delivered q scholarly sermon
yesterday morning on that vexatious Scrip
tural text which implies tina righteousness
Is impossible to man He developed the
negative of tSe proposition in the dis
oussion of the text from Isaiah, iii:10,
IF thou art righteous, it Will be well with
thee"
'.,rhe text" he said. '.impiies that there
are righteous men ia Jne world. Extreme
and unrea sonable views have been held and
proclaimed, some contending that righteous
ness is impossible in this world Those
who hold this opinion do bot well sup
port it with the same argument. There
are those who say that the Word of God
teaches that there are no righteous men
in the world, ard this view arises from
false Interpretation OF the Scriptures
There is none righteous; no, not one. 50
the Bible sa Us, but the prophet means that
there il no man who has not sinned.
This great terrible fact is entirely
consistent with my text, which clearly ifo-
plies that there are righteous men. be-
cause one may be unrighteous and he may
he forgiven his sins; they may be biotted
out. He may cease to do wrong and learn
to do wei. He may be elevated. regen-
Grated and cleansed from his sin.
"Others base their opinion that there are
no righteods men iii the world upon their
own Observations. There are certain skep-
tics who claim to have examined the
character and conduct OF those who pro-
l r., ..F,
ness ard 10 have discovered that they are
! no better, but really worse, than others
| '.Ihey nold that there Is a sinister motive
behind all these professions and that men
| VITO make profession OF religion only seek
TO cover Hp wicked life enaer tie guise
of superior goodness. Yet there are hyp.
oortes posing before the church as men oi
Cod, but in secret they are wicked. Bot
all Christians are not so. On the other
hand. there is the contention that all men
are righteous 90 account of their environ
| ment that God viii not eondeinn them
because OF his loving Kindness. This is no,
true, because we are conscious that when
we DO wrong we condemn ourselves. In
one sense certainly there is no ig ghteousness
hccause all men are fallihIe, but the terra
applies really 10 Hose who do what the
BSitfht W TX 1tSi4ha AttElfti Tue meaning OIL
the Scriptures. So when he falls he Is
quick to confess. fftis the soul of frank
ness. Nay, he is moTe than honest; he is
yirtuous and Just, because he does right
for the reason nat il is the viii Of God
so righteousness Is within the grasp Of
every one Many seek the pleasures anu
honors of the worlt. and miss them, but
no man ever failed who hungered and
thirsted after righteousness.
According II ,nali's creed, sin is the
worst EVIL that coIId befall a human soul
Sin is sin and has, the curse of God. II
produces bighting, whitening effect upon
the soal in which it dwells. Sins of
thought, desire and. principle can be over
Come by rightfeYP}assill}ess; eYP}gaassSill}ess; The blood of
Jesus Christ saves from all sin
implanted III the soul is love, the rs
senti princi pal OF righteousness. All uet
are ruled by love, it is divine, beautiful
omnipotent and better than gold.
Those who are righteous see more than
others, for Blessed are your eyes wher,
they see They also do more than others
and by effort and study make this world
better, and whatsoever they do shall pros
per.
The poorest man in the city is richer
than Cornelius Vanderbilt, If he is righteous
Sometimes things look dark, and with
Jacob, We say All things are against
me- but he was mistaken. and so ara
we.
tod moves in mysterious way,
Ills wonders 10 perform;
lie plants his footsteps on the wave
And rides upon the storm.
BIND unbelief is sure to err,
ana scan lis work in vain.
dod Is HIS own interpreter,
And lie VIII make 1t plain.