The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-18

his metcy toward the children OF men: be-
cause committed against a great law--great
in the RESPONSIVENESS and righteousness OF
all Its classcs. because committed aga ms
great obligations-as great as any under
which finite beings could be brought; be-
cause committed against great lght-tne
great light OF rcaton. OF conscience, OF
Gods providence and " Ged's word be-
cause committed against great souls great
in their capacity for exa1tation In holii,ls!
or OF degi adation in sin: and let them be
reminded that before sin OF any Kind can
be little thing. we must first have
little obligation, ami little light and little
souls.
4. wrorg views of the church seem to he
extensively held. The church Is the or
ganization God instituted through which
to bring about the salvation of his people.
To equip II for this great work, he made
His own Son its Head: appointed in II
government with distinctly specified laws
and Offices; established in 1t all the ordi-
nances necessary for the calling and train
ing OF His people, ana made TO 1t. as II
should earnestly undertake to do this
work, exceeding great and precious prom
ises' of the presence and power OF HIS
grace to give 1t success. There Is no IN
timation anywhere that he has appointed
any other agency to do this work, or to
assist in doitg it. No doubt the church
may create subordinate organizations with
in itself. amongst which 1t may divide It's
work, so to give every member IL part
of 1t to do. and secure system and facility
in Its accomplishment. But the officers of
the church are to see to it that these minor
organizations never take the place OF the
superior and divine Institution. To suppose
that the church can not do the Loris
work, but that some other organization
can. is unbelief. To suppose that any other
Organization can do his work better than
the church can do it. is the foolishness of
men setting itself up against the wisdom
OF God To displace the church and sub
sttute anything else in its stead. is re-
belion against the divine authority, and
will provoke the divine displeasure, ana
sooner or later lead to disastrous con-
sequences. II the church is not doing the
work. 1t Is to be aroused out OF its ndif-
ference and neglect; not supplanted by
some human device. If IL is not doing the
work In the right way. it is to be re-
formed; not set aside. OF course there
may be cooperation amongst Christians
in Christian work outside of their respec-
tive denominations. but 1t is not to be
secured by giving any organization in
vented by men the place and authority of
that organization which God has so in
atituted.
.. There is reason to fear that the duties
OF FAMILY religion are in many instances
very much neglected. No doubt a number
OF our people fail 10 perceive the privilege
and blessings of the Abrahamic covenant,
and. therefore do not enter into that cove
nant ai11 conseorate their children 10 the
Lord; or, while having its seal applied to
their children. do not embrace and comply
with its conditions, and so do not secure
the fultillment OF the grei; promise, Il
Will be a God to thee and 10 thy seed"
No doubt, also many need to have i'm
pressed uron them the personal and in
aitnable duty of trimming up their children
In the nurture and admonitlon OF the
Lord" They have turned their work over
entirely to the Sabbath school and the
church. forgetting that such transfer Is
cot allowed and that THE Sabbath school
and the church can only assist them, MOI
take their places. In MANY households
there are no family affairs, where, morning
and evening, are offered up the sacrifices
of prayer and praise, and where parents
point the spirits of their little children
heaven"nri, and themselves lead the way.
Thus many parents most crimiaally all to
secure for their children the great bless
ings that tho covenant puts wluhin their
relch. and they are permitted TO grow up
aliens from the commonwealth of Israel
and strangers from the covenants OF prom
iSe. without God and without hope in the
wcrld." Parents should be reminded that
they have advantages for successfully I'M
pressing the truth on the minds and hearts
OF their children vastly superior to those
enjoyed by any one e,se-even by the
Sabbath school teacher or the peracher
that the chief means God has devised to
bring about their conversion are their
own teaching and example: that they are
held principally responsible for their sp r
itual welfare that this responsibility can
not be delegated or cvaded; thjt 1t Is only
when the heart of the fathers is turned
to the children" in becomhng spiritual So
lcitude and effort, and when the heart OF
the children is turned to their fathers" in
,tuat A Ian
! training. that parental obligation is dis
! charged, and the Blessing of the Lord as
sured, and that the covenant OF M Lord
! Is we'll ordered in all things and sure, and
that If they enter into 1t and consecrente
4 their children TO Tim. and train them up
| for Him. they may confidently expect His
saving mercy, for He never asks a conse-
| Grafton He does not accept, and never I'M
poses service on His people that He does
| not reward.
This seems to be an appropriate place for
! word about the demand now made by
some, for larger and more public sphere
| for the activities of our Christian women.
! Ii Is said That they have qualifications
for usefulness equal TO those OF men; that
| they are entitled to the same opportuni-
| ties; that they ought no longer TO be re-
| srloted to the narrow bounds In which for
centuries they have been confined, but
, should be allowed to go forth and occupy
! the positions of prominence which hitherto
have been held exclusively by men, AMI to
bring their influence to bear on larger
numbers and on more important interests
OF church ana State, II Is enough TO say
in regard TO this demand. that the centers
Of most powerful influence In the world
are the homes of the world. As the homes
are so Will be the church and state. If
| the homes are what they ought to he, the
church and state will be what they ought
+, 20 be- Let Christian women set the homes
of the world right and then there viii no
longer be In the church and state the great
evils OF which they now complain Thus
they are already in possession OF the ecu
tiers of mghtiest influences God and
Christianity have already pu on them that
great honor. They have what they are
seeking
| c. 1t seems to be the universal opinion
that there Is a growing neglect of the
proper observance OF the Sabbath The
alarming significance OF this sad fact Is
too plain to require remark. To the ex-
tent the Sabbath goes, the public worship
OF the church will go. To the extent that
goes, the church itself will so; and TO the
extent Tint gaes, religion and morality ana
everything else that makes life boon
will also go. It has always been so: and