The San Francisco call., 1899-01-29

but cannot even then reform the cul-
prit.
But what does the code Of the ten
commandments say? Thou shalt not
covet thy neighbor's wife,; not even
entertain thought that might lead to
it or to sully the beauty Of thine own
soul. Thou shalt not KILL indeed; but
more than that, thou shalt not be an
cry with thy brother, not envy him in
his rightful possessions; not even
against thine enemy shalt thou harbor
any hatred or i'll will. Thou shalt not
steal" indeed; but more than that,
thou shalt not even covet what belongs
without wishing to make compensation
for them. Thou shalt not bear false
witness against thy neighbor'-not
falsely swear away his good name, his
reputation; but more than that, thou
shalt not even judge him rashly or un-
justly, though the judgment be never
uttered.
The civil law cannot enter into mans
heart and will; and yet there is where
adulteries and murders and robberies
and perjuries take their rise.
God made man for civil life, but he
has higher life, and that civil life can
not reach his ideal disconnected with
the principles of this higher life. And
lHIS dppediS 10 coInIIlOH-SeHSe dS well
as to the individual experience of men
and the history of the world.
Take a society, no matter what the
form of government be, every member
Of which is imbued with. these everlast-
ing and eternal principles of right and
justice-with God behind them reward
ing and punishing-rand tell me if the
civil laW has not here an auxiliary that
no mere human legislation can fashion
for itself? Unless conscience controls
in the inner court of the soul, civil law
is a lifeless thing. AT any moment our
life, our property, our honor, may be
brought into jeopardy. The civil law
must protect us in these. They depend
for their protection upon the oath of a
juror, witness, "a Judge, a lawyer.
These several officials raise their hands
to high heaven and can on God to wit
ness the integrity of their word and
act, and upon that integrity all de-
pends. l say if these men attach no
religious Importance to their oath, then
no civil law, however equitable the let
ter of it's enactmentS may be, can af-
ford us any ample protection. There
fore do I say that our heaven Of refuge
is in religion; the anchorage of our
hopes in God.
Washington himself confirms this He
did not place our greatness in extent
of territory, it's fertility, it's commerce;
liOl III Jul al my Jul navy, lOI even HI
our just and wise legislation. No, but
he placed it just where have placed
it. He says: Let it simply be asked,
where is the security for property, for
reputation, for life itself, if the sense
of religious obligation deserts the oaths
that are the instruments Of investiga-
tion in courts of justice?"
There is the principle in a nutshell
In our form of government, a dele
gated government, not only the ordi-
nary courts Of law are the courts of
justice for us. But our executive of
fees, our Legislatures, State and ma
tional, are for us courts of justice; and
fidelity in them, according to Washing
ton, is secured by the sense of relig-
ious obligation which the official at
taches to the oath he takes when ac-
cepting the power we delegate to him.
Abundant natural resources, just laws
written on paper beautiful declarations
of rights, powerful armies and navies,
cannot secure to us life, liberty and
happiness, unless this law of God con-
troll in our civil affairs.
Gentlemen, here is something for the
workingmen of America to study We
cannot change the laws that underlie
human life and human nature any more
than we can change the law Of gravi-
tation, and the nation or the people
that ignores them and thinks 1t can
dispense with them invites upon itself
tOayit h1e failure