The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-12-01

commerce. Israel had IN Itself the
possibilities for the perfect demonstra-
tion of the truth OF our text. A better
country the horizon did not grid, the
sky did not pavilion. But the sources
of the peoples prosperity was not in
the favorable position that their land
he'd among nations, nor in the rich
red current of ancestral blood in the
people, nor yet in the superior BRAIN
power, nor in their personal culture.
"The Lord alone led Israel like a flock
and made him to lay down beside still
waters" Study the history of that
ancient people and you will see the
gradual unfolding of the truth of the
text, first upon its bright, and
then upon its dark side. Righteous
ness exalted the nation until all nations
bowed before it and the wisdom and
glory of her Solomon filled the whole
earth. SIN destroyed the nation, and
reduced the people to serfdom, God
taught the Hebrews, but the lessons
He taught them were for all times and
all nations.
If we turn to modern illu strations
of the relation between religion and
national prosperity, we find it in the
acceptance or rejection by the several
nations of the principles of the refor-
nation of the sixteenth century. We
turn to Italy. " l am Roman" once
meant that man belonged to a stall
wart race whose eagles dipped their
wings in the sunrise and the sunset,
whose legions were heard around
the world, whose laws and whose e-
gions controlled men from the pillars
OF Hercules to Hellespont. But Italy
rejected the reformation, and to-day
the Roman is represented among us
by the man with the organ and the
monkey.
Why is Edinburgh, the Athens of
the world, while Rome feeds on men,
ories and mummeres2 Why, amid
leaden skies and fog that hides out of
sight the land you walk on, is England
mistress of the seas and London the
heart of the civilized world, while It.
ally, with a blue sky and sun-lit soil,
with history as old as the beginnings
of civilization, is swarming with laza-
roni2
What makes the difference between
the Scotch and the Irish ? Prior to
the sixteenth century Ireland was the
focus of civilization, and Scotland a
race of Barbarians. 1t is not race
that has made the contrast, but re-
Iiglon. Scotland with her Knox ac-
cepted the principles of the reforma-
ton, Ireland rejected them. Scotland
to day is the synCn nym of all that is
sturdy and strong and true, noble and
good - the bonny, bunny Scotch.
While Ireland knocks at the door of
every nation for sympathy in her strug-
gle to throw off the yoke of England,
and meekly bows to the rule of Rome
and submits to the bondage of mind
and soul. Oh land OF darkness, the
mother of wit and oratory, when shall
thy light appear and thy salvation from
the end of the earth Shall any one
say that the difference between these
two nations is in the blood? Then
Ireland ought to be foremost. Is 1t
in the natural ability, the capacity for
things2 Then Ireland has the advant-
age. Is it in the geography of the
country, in her soil or climate? tell
you nay.
The reason that Scotland has her
Edinbrougb, her education, enlighten-
ment and religion, while Ireland is
destitute OF Universities and remains a
potato patch, is because Ireland re-
jected the truths of the Reformation,
and Scotland accepted them. Scot
land is justihed by faith, Ireland by
works Religion, not environment,
not capacity, has made the difference.
So with France AMI England. They
were not unlike before the period re.
ferred to. France was offered the
principles of the Reformation and she
answered with the Bastile and Bartho-
lomew's night, and became the ath-
eistic menace of the nations? 1t is not
blood that makes the difference.
There are other nations who would
not tolerate religious liberty, and
whose history is fearful testimony to
the truthfulness of our text-"right-
eousness exalteih a nation SPAN.
rich in climate, broad in acres, strong
in her possessions, with a vast army
and mighty navy, occupied the posi-
ton of dictator to the nations when
Luther's voice was heard arousine
Germany and Britain. SPAN respond
ed to the evangel of the Reformation
by establishing the Inquisition. What
was the result2 The nation became ar
effete, driveling and dotard thing, the
very crone of the nations The low