The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-02-20
Sunday Sermon.


-RtIll;lno. Alll- -.
! sometimes wonder what Kind OF Il
world Iii, would Ic if We al did our
duty.
50 far as my observation goes, It Is
not al all the kind Of world which spirit
u3l laws, properly understood and
gladly o3cyed. would naturally produce.
Tn. responsibility for the evils from
which we suffer. therefore, does not rest
with the Almighty, but wholly with our
selves.
As Gods world il must needs be ab-
s~.,lutely perfect, but since II Is oLT
mans world il IS the result Of I1nprG-
d4ncc recklrSsn.>~ and ignorance.
In many important respects IT IS pre-
cieelv what the Lord cannot approve.
We have turned the original plan up
side down. and can never be at peace or
reach the ideal, either as individuals Or
as society, until We see that Cod WIS
dom is after all better than our conceit
and s~tltishneSs, and then reconstruct OH
that basis.
The only remedy that can be conceived
Of Is to be found in that brotherhood
which is the essence Of all true religion,
but which today has VERY little influence
over public or private affairs. 1t Is
not found in cur dealings with each 9th
CT, nor in our courts OF justice, o IN
that large domain Of activity which we
call Commercial.
\ world made by seltishnass Tor purely
selfish and greedy purposes does not in
any way resemble. a world made by
brotherly love for the good OF all. We
live for the time being in the former,
but the light is slowly dispensing the
F,rCporS an1 tho time H. moi 30 V4A,.C
far distant when We shall read the
New Testament once more. see the
Christ from an entirely new Viewpoint,
and rebuild on the philosophy Of life
which He taught.
How much misery there IS round
about us, Old hearts are breaking and
young hearts are aching. There are
hungry mouths, frail bodies chilled by
the winter cold, and eyes that are weep
ing in utter despair. There are meT
whom a word OF kindly encouragement
would yave, and women who are forced
by dire necessity To barter their honor
for food and clothing. There are tragr-
dies every day in the year the mere re-
cital Of which would make yen CULVER
with plying sympathy.
But what cares the world! Though
men have plenty, they toll for more, no
nlattcr who >taryes. If our banquet board
Is We'll spread. DO We trouble about tllo.4:
who have nothing to eat: We must
have our personal pleasures; we muS-
CRAFTY ourselves at any cost, and it is
easy 10 close cur ears 70 the cries OF
distress.
Am l cruel and unjust IN making these
charges: Would that l We're, Am I
wrong in saying that the most awiui
crime Of society is the Indifference u
those who have much to those who have
nothing: Am ! going too far when l
declare that God has made us Of one.
family, but that for some reason VIZ
repud:at" our poorer relations and refu>t.
10 allow their sorrows - c:stub our
elegant ~repose?
Is it, then, Gods world in which We
live: Is it 4 beautiful dream which
IEe has made us dream, or is it q uigat-
mare caused by our own folly:
There is money enough and morn thar.
enough to furnish an opportunity IL
every soul that lives. There is sympathy
enough which goes TO waste every yta.
10 give good cheer and HOPE. to ever,
~5orrowful and every sinful man and wo-
man on the globe. There Is nonv-
enough. though it may te latent, 10
see that justice is done evcrEwia.-A. that
oppression and persecution are chrctct.
If the energy which fills the 0aii., rru-
tine of our universal life with competitive
activity were directed to the general ,rn!-
fare, the m~illennial sun would come S.1!.
behind Tire clouds and Hood the earth
with glory.
Men are not naturally bad; OF the con
trary. they are naturally good. bur their
love Of self b. 4 kind Of coup d'etat mas
u~ulped the throne, and that sense Of
justice. their sympathy and love ana
many Of The nobler qualities ar. croYiny
about III the dark. knowing neither wnar
10 DO nor how To do ii. There isn't Il
man % earth who doesn't wish that M
man affairs We're III a better condition.
that all wrones might l. rigitrd, bun np
i so pressed II personal ambition tnac
ne Iegierts the public for his own pri-
vate good.
IN 4 single word. the Christian rel
@ion has not Vet entered our minds With
its inspiration. its warnings. its de-
mand> and . its ecrl~rructiy- force.
What we want is net less but more. 81
tirist, the brother, the lover Of tnt.
poor, the philosopher. the divine header
through brursblea Of sin and weakness,
to the upland Of 3 nohler and graEdtr
't"i iH-tttti centuries H3Gt-
hardly brought us Ia the threshold -
Christianity. We have almost trery-
hln else i'll abundance, hut Of tn. sim
!licity Of true religion We have very lit
tie. It's Chief demand is that. first !oyin.
God, we shall love all Gods children
Ecdne" it Il its last ANALYSIS aud 4hn
word love" VII contain al there i -
ii.
Flood the world with hrotferlv ar
lection and You will drown out noariv
every vice. The Lowry will rc>7a41 rhn
high and tie high Will c!le..l tho lo,y}v
ne hearthstone OF poverty will hl3z..
with good cheer and the lardel VIII never
be Nholly empty. They who struggle
will find Il helping hand when sbrisr
comes 10 tell rs how best - live. and
hey who Weep VIII hear the vo;c,. 81
] ready sympathy.
The world Is God would have i il
letter than the world - man has mad.
it. Religion brings ppa,n and frosr,r,n
70 all. ana Christ is the ,o,ll4s. vbDr,,.
how the thoughts which tra7lSirurr and
transform. Christian society nnd..r r..
>illdutih'" touches thu. IDEAL 9rJ : H,..
The society IL heaven.