The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-05-28
6. A. R. AT
BRANDY WINE.
The Rev. j. w. Easley
breaches an Eloquent
Sermon.

Forming anu nedtu al S'oiueuI
sermon preached by Rev. J. W.
Easley. Mr.. Easley took his text
from Eph. 5, 12-13: We wrestle
not against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against
powers. against the rulers of the
darkness of this world, against
spiritual wickedness in high places;
wherefore take unto you the hole
armor of God. During his talk Mr..
Easley said: Beloved brethren the
light is come and shineth upon lis.
something's have been that can
never be again. God is carrying
the race onward to its goal; away
from its crudities, ignorance, super
stitions. The march is ROT rapid
as men would have it, but God does
not hasten because few men
chafe, consequently we behold the
race working out the probable
destiny amid strife, turmoil, war
fare. Yet knowing there is an alb
solute power dominating that is the
assurance that all will be we'll.
Hence men seeing the silver lining
sing their hopes, and smother their
fears, God on His Throne Ais
well with the world. y
Absolute m onarchies have been
the bulwark of crime; the divine
right of Kings a subterfuge, in
which description men have PLAYED
upon the reverent regard men have
had Tor God. One of the features OF
the great charter extorted from
King John by his noblemen was the
right independently OF an absolute
monarchy. That held for much,
but more against taxes and Loyal
leyies than for morals and religion.
But God was leading his people.
Teaching them to resist the rulers
OF darkness and spiritual wicked
ness in high places. The result Of
that leading was the Puritan emf
grants on the inhospitabe shore of
Massachusetts,. 1t was another and
long stride in settling arother
starting point for the Development
of the human race They believed
in God, they believed in freedom.
Their belief in Goi had sternness
that entered into their makeup as
God S children, but their belief in
freedom as a principle in human
Government was so broad that it
swept the gamut Of human relation
ship. The word "puritan' is a
symbol for great deal. \ great
deal which it represents has
ben accomplished. 1t represents
All diyldual freedom" This was
the Puritan 5 dream at night, his
I conversation by day, the subject
for the platform, a theme for dis
course On the Sabbath. 1t was the
spirit of the time. Religious instl.
tut;oas had their birth and theirfu-
lures were shaped by this, the
politi,al life throbbed with this
spirit and hence came p lilical
equality. These elements of the
Puritans were the product OF pro-
found religious convictions. came
BY the belief that God was working
through them, l'pon these two
basic principles OR country was
found d, has run its course to the
present. All great controversies
have originated in denial or at
tempted Reputation Of these. Our
bloody wars have sprung from Ell
forts to make void this spirit Of the
American people and debase her
institutions. George William Curtis
was conversing with Charles Sum-
Tnere on some point OF interest, lin
ally Mr.. Curtis said, "but YOU do
not look at the other side Mr..
Sumner emphasized this express
sion III reply by striking the table
when he said "there is no other
side 10 it." Charles Sumner was
a Puritan. Religious liberty is a
broad subject. Where Is it that il
does not touch in our America n
life, 1t is safeguard around the
most unchristian institutions. II
includes in the minds of our ances.
try that the body could not be en-,
shaved any more by beliefs and prac-
tlces pertaining 10 christian life
and service could be held under the
ban Of priestcraft and dominated
BY an cccleoiastiCIem, and Puritan
like proclaimed that there was but
one side to the question Of slavery
That spirit swept the world to the
limit of Christian civilization ant
slavery has passed away. This
stern question of freedom as It re
ierred to slavery was stubbornly
pushed till civil war resulted
Let me ask the question ant
shall try TO answer. sWar lustlh
able? shall try to answer from
records OF the pa t nor ask one to an
swer who has participated in war,
lest he as human being shonlc
Justify himself. Alexander thu
great. led his conquering host
till his conquests circled half thu
Mediterranean sea and eastward t.
the Tigris River. lie built cities
cooni2ed territory, gave Greclal
literature and GrccIan thoug ht ant
institution TO that people. Here /
was justitiable. Rome cncroachc'
upon the hereditary rights OF others
BY conquest became mistress OF the
world, she carried her literatur
and impressed her spirit Of domin
ion upon the people where she
ruled; gave laws and established &;
system OF Jurisprudence superio
to all that had preceded any in hi
time, gave to the world a period o
rest in which period Jesus Chris
was born and the world at res
was able to bear ias never befor
the Roman dominion. War Their