Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-04-16

NAB3Nctt b4f AAt ktAt- i4Aht Al''s ava ~1t't
they all with one consent began to make
excuse"
After the invitations to a leyee arc
sent ont the regrets come IN One man
apologies for non-attendancC on one
ground. another on another ground. The
most Of the regrets are founded on pripr
engagements. So in my text a great ban
qnet was spread, the invitations we're cir
culated and now the regrets come in. Inc
one gives an agricultural reason. the OH
er a stock dealers reason. the other 4
domestic reason. All poor reasons. The
fact was, they did not want to 90. And
they all with one consent began TO make
excuse.
So now God spreads a great banquet
Ii is the gospel feast. and the table
reaches across the hemispheres. and the
invitations go out. and multtudes come
and sit down and drink ont of the chal-
ices of Gods love, while other multitudes
decline coming. the one giving this apol-
ogy, and the other giving that apology
land they all with one consent begin to
make eNeEse." | propose, so far as God
may help me. to examine the apologies
which men make for not entering the
Christian life.
Apology the first: l am not sure there
is anything valuable in the Christian
religion 1t is pleaded that there are so
gmany mpositions in this day: so many
things that seem to be real are sham.
A gildcd outside may have hollow in
side. There IS so much quackery in
physics. in ethics. in politics, that me?
come to the habit of incredulity. aud
after awhile they allow that inerodulity
to collide with our holy religion. But,
my friends. | think religion has made Il
pretty good record in the world. How
many wounds it has salved! How many
pillars ot fire it has lifted in the mid
night wildernessi How many simeon
struck deserts Ia hath turned into the
gardens of the Lord. How it hath stilled
the chopped sea! What rosy light il
hath sent streaming through the rift of
the storm cloudi What pools of cool
water it hath gathered for thirsty Haglr
and Ishmael! What mamma whittier than
coriander seed it hath dropped all around
the camr of hardly bested pilgrims,
What promises it hath sent out like holy
watchers to keep the lamps burning
around deathbeds, through the darkness
that lowers into the sepulcher. What
flashes of resurrection morn.
A Religion of Heroes.
Besides that. this religion has made so
many heroes 1t brought Summerhed,
the Methodist. across the Atlantic ocean
with his silver trumpet to blow the ac-
ceptable year of the Lord until it seem
ed as if all our American cities would
take the kingdom of heaven by violence.
1t sent Jehud Ashman into Africa alone,
in continent of naked barbarians. to
lift the standard of civilization and Chris
tianity. 1t made John Milton among po-
cts, Raphael among painters, Christopher
Wren among architects, Thorwaldsen
among sculptors. Handel among musI-
cians. Dupont among military command
erS and to give new wings TO tie inn
agination and better balance to the judg-
ment and more determination to the will
and greater usefulness to the lite and
grander nobility to the soul there is moth
ing in all the earth like our Christian
religion Nothing in religion? Why. then.
all those Christians were deceived when
in their dying moment they thought they
saw the castles Of the blessed, and yolr
child, that with unutterable agony you
put away into the grave, you will never
see him again nor hear his sweet voice
nor feel the throb of his young heart.
There is nothing in relic M? Sickness,
will come upon you ko.i aud turn Oh
your pillow no relief. The medicine may
be bitter the night may be dark, the pain
may be sharp; no relief Christ never
comes to the sick room. Let the pain
stab: let the fever burn; curse it and
die There is nothing in religion? After
awhile death will come. You will hear
the paving Of the pale horse on the
threshold. The spirit will be breaking
away from the body. and it will take
fight-whther, whittier? There is no
God. no ministering angels, to conduct
no Christ, no heaven. no home. Nothing
in religion? Oh, you are not willing 10
adopt such a dismal theory.
The Use of Skeptic.
And yet the world is full of skeptics
And let me say there is no class of peo-
Pile for whom | have warmer sympathy
than for skeptics We do not know how
to treat them We deride them. we car
feature them We, instead of taking them
by the soft hand of Christian love. clutch
them with the iron pinchers of ecclesias-
ticism. Oh, if you knew how those men
had fallen away from Christianity and
become skepties yon would not be 80
rough en- them! Sone were brought up
in homes where religion was overdone.
The most wretched day in the week was
Sunday. Religion was driven into them
with a triphammer They had a surfeit
Of prayer meetings. They were stuffed
and choked with catechisms They were
told by their parents that they were the
worst children that ever lived because
they liked 10 ride down hill better than
to read Pilgrims Progress" They new
er heard their parents talk religion but
with the corners of the mouth drawn
down and the eyes rolled up. Others
went into skepticism through maltreat-
menf on the part of some who pre- FesSal
religion. There is a man who says. My
partner in business was conspicuous IN
prayer meeting, and he WAS othcious in
all religious circles. but he cheated me
out of $1,000. and | don't want any Of
that religion" Then there are others
who get into skepticiSm by q natural per
sistence in asking questions why or now
How can God be one being in three per
sons? They cannot understand IT,
Neither can l. How can God lac com
pletc sovereign and yet man q free agent
They cannot understand IT. Neither can
l. 'Thcy cannot understand why h"i>
Cod lets sin come into the world. \e.th-
er Tan /. They say; Here is great
mystery; acre i a disciple of fd>M3a
frivolous and goddess all her days: sht
lives on 90 be an octogenarian. Hofe