The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1902-07-05
with the heart Of Christ so a. to want

Aact thdt corruption exists IN h1gf
places, the fact that unrighteousnes,
and dishonesty preside over the ballot
box, and often prevail in the COUNSEL
of political bodies, and in city, stat,
and nation, does not in the leas,
absolve me from my responsibility as
a citizen of the nation. What l cannot
help ! am not responsible for. But
am responsible. most solemnly, as TO
how my influence is cast, whether by
means of voice, or pen or ballot, or any
other mediating agent which joins me
with the people and nation and events
around me. There is no obligation to
God which ever conflicts with real duty
in the home. community or nation. II
you are robbing Caesar Of his tribute.
you are going contrary to the Divine
VIII n losing a blessed opportunity
of getting close to the world and win
ming some for Jesus Christ. The true
patriot does not rob Caesar Of his trib-
ute.
Robbing God.-"Wiu a man rob
God?' asks the ~heartbroken prophet
as he views the Indebtedness and dis
tress and poverty of the Jewish people,
which has come as a direct fruitage of
their selfshness and d~isobedience.
Yea, verify, he will and he does. 1t is
too long a story to tell here. Man be-
gan 10 do it away back in the garden
of Eden when he stole the fruit of the
forbidden tree, and he has been doing
it ever since. If we render not unto
God the things which are Gods, are
We not robbing Him? All, what a sad,
sad story it is! From the cradle to the
grave man continues to rob God. In
every relation of life, in every direc-
tion we see the tribute which belongs
to God being withheld. Again space
forbids us attempting to enumerate
the ways in which mar may rob God.
We shall speak Of but one. So-called
patriotism and devotion to country
may and does rob God Of a great deal
of the tribute that is due Him. The
mar who puts country before he does
the God who marked out the boun-
daries of the continents, and estab-
lished the nations. and set rulers over
them, is robbing God and paying I'M
lawful tribute unto Cesar. The man
who says: "My country, right or
wrong" and who means that he is go
ing to sustain that country in its
wrong-doing because of a false con-
ception of what true patriotism is, may
stir up a vast deal of enthusiasm at the
political gathering or patriotic mass
meeting and gain the reputation for
intense patriotism, but he is not moved
by the spirit which actuated the God
vine purpose. established this nation
and ceased to pay unlawful tribute to
a Caesar across the sea. Blind, I'M
reasoning loyalty TO a nation, dictated
by intense ~partisanship, keeps pr
litical fires burning and sweeps the
country from end to end with strife
and a fever of unrest. 1t pays, seem
a magnificent tribute to Caesar,
but in the paying thereof God is
and the nation must pay the
some day. The true patriot
does not rob God to pay Cesar tribute.
He sees that what Cesar may count as
gain now will be strangely transferred
to the debit side of the account,
and that the seeds sown in dishonest
disregard of the rights Of God have
brought forth the certain fruit of ma
tional decay.
The true patriot, therefore. builds
Tor the future, and is not willing to
sacrifice principle or honesty for SEEM
.ng present gain or advantage. If VIC
or success must be won by means
II the questionable transaction and
harp double-dealing he prefers de-
'eat to the glamour of unlawful tri-
quite. Moses. the true patriot. with
he eye Of faith fixed on the star of
promise shining away in the future,
rather to suffer affection with
he people Of God than to enjoy the
leasures of sin for a season. For
lie had respect unto the recompense of
he reward" The true patriot endures
the present in order that the
uture may feel the impress of.his life
nd deeds. True patriotism is not
measured by the volume of the shout,
IT by the brilliancy Of the torch-light
procession. The rue patriot does
bout sometimes. he may carry the
lighted torch, he may wear the button
# his candidate, but that is not all. for
are but the outward expression
4 inward principle and purpose which
i'm to pay Caesar the tribute due
i'm and to God the things which be-
ong to God.
On one of my rambles the other day
ny eye caught the fight of a feathery
ongster as he SKINNED through the
resh air and bright sunshine. With
graceful curve he dipped towards the
overlooked field and then shot
p again until in the topmost
ranches of the swaying tree he set
led down and poured out his soul in
nneful song. Over and over again he
rilled the half-dozen melodious notes
Z his song, and each time Of repetition
he song sounded as sweet and fresh
not sweeter than before. It Is
eautiful song, indeed, and rare, which
i'll stand continued repetition, and
grow old. Like the song of the
II Al-A L..