Lancaster enterprise. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1891-1905, 1899-08-05
despoiler might not find it; when con-

despoiler might not find it; when con-
secrated men began to declare with
the mouth the DEGREES OF the most high
and to have the ire of kings-then such
a Good of midday splendor broke forth
over this world that gloom and chaotic
darkness were scattered, and men
were made to praise their God, and
when men began to preach from the
Bible, so that on many hilltops and in
many valleys the words of the AL
mighty were heard, when praises to
God began to ascend from the family
hearthstone, his word was read in the
home, then the glorious dawn of a new
risen day appeared to make grand
this world; and the armies of God be-
gan to assemble to the trumpet call
and to march forward, bearing in their
hands this word, carrying over them
the banner of love, cOnquering heathen
tribes and the world by the gospel of
peace, and meekly laying all at the
Saviour's feet. And the difference be-
tween the world Of today, so grandly
starting and to God, and the world of
centuries ago, SO miserable in dark
sin, is owing to the fact of mems read
ing and keeping the law Of the Lord.
Again, let us notice the influence
which this word of God has had over
the different nations of the world. 1t
would seem surprisingly strange TO
be told that one small book had had
more influence in shaping the des-
TIMES of nations than has the sword of
the conqueror yet it is not the earth
quakes or mighty thunders that tears
down the mountains or cut deep the
valleys, but the quiet workings of
other forces of nature-wind and rain
and hail and cold. So it has not been
simply the great political upheavals
that have made and unmade nations;
but the deep, quiet working Of the
word in the hearts Of the masses has
had most potent effect. You will
notice that when the masses of nations
have had this word in their hearts
and their pathways directed by its
precepts that there you find govern
ments that are good and staple. Look
at Israel under the reign Of David and
David's glorious son, strong, safe, in
vinCible, progressive, powerful. Look
at this nation with the same national
advantages when her rulers became
men of wickedness and her people
were no longer guided by the prin-
ciples which God had given. She be-
came weak, divided, disintegrated,
lost; and her robes of glory were ex-
changed for the garments of shame.
The government of n people can only
be as secure as the foundation upon
which it rests. Napoleon is quoted as
saying, "Charlamagne, Alexander,
Caesar and myself have all founded
great nations, but upon what did we
build the products of our genius? upon
force. Jesus Christ alone founded
his kingdom upon love. | die before
my time lonely exile far from my
native land, but today millions Of peo-
a. Al in fn hn of ~
And so as nations direct their paths
according to the Bible, to that degree
are they truly good and strong. Old
Andrew Jackson who was born only a
few miles from this place said, THAT
book, sir, is the foundation upon which
our republic rests" II so, no power on
earth, can move us; if not, we'll for us
if we place ourselves thus in time.
China seems on the verge of dis
memberment: she knows little Of the
true and mighty one. France seems
to be in the throes of a mighty strug-
gle. Has she not largely forgotten her
God? notice, also, that the people
of a nation have liberty when the
of the Puritans OF England that they
would bow in the very dust before
their God, but would arise to put their
feet on the necks OF oppressive kings;
and it is we'll known fact that where
the influence of the Bible has been
felt, these people have hated tyranny
| and have loved freedom as their life
blood. Time was when certain re-
| ligious beliefs were not tolerated in
| England: but our forefathers left their
! homes and native land-cOunting their
religion dearer-and crossing the
traCkIesS seas came to brave the wildS
Of the western world. They carried
| with them an axe, a rifle and a Bible.
| The wilderness yielded TO them, the
/ mighty forests fell before the steady
! stroke of the woodmdn'S axe, nature
aroused herself from her rest of thou
sands of years and yielded her har-
vests of corn and wheat; and though
, the wary whuOp of the savage at times
| aWOkc the stiffness of the early morn
/ ing. still over all obstacles the pioneer
/ went forward and founded the nation
/ Of the west: and the Bibl" which he
/ carried in his hand, the Bible which
he read by tn" torchlighI's nickcring
/ glare. the Bible from which he heard
the sermon preached in the log church,
this was The mighty influence which
| transformed n wilderness of savage
! beast and still more savage men into
the Land Of the free and the home Of
the brave And wherever the bearer