The Savannah morning news., 1903-10-19
MEN AND NATIONS
DESTROY THEMSELVES.
Vice Undermines Physical and
Moral Natures and Brings Death.

Vice Undermines Physical ana
Moral Natures and Brings Death.
Men and nations are destroying
themselves through their Weddings to
sin and their failure to make the most
of their powers. This was the mes
sage of the sermon last night by Rev.
j. A. Smith. pastor Epworth Metho-
dist Church, from the subject, SELF
Destruction. The sermon was bullt
upon the text, Hosea 1879; 20 Israel,
thou hast destroyed myself"
Nations have destroyed themselves
and been overthrow from the nights
to which they have risen through their
Weddings to vice and sinful pleas
ures in some of its many forms. In
example the speaker cited the fall of
Rome, it's manhood weakened and de-
stroyed, it's moral foundations shaken
from their base. Nero, the famous
tyrant and prosecutor brought his own
doom and that of the nation down upon
them through his wickedness. Baby
Ion was also cited another example
of nation falling through its wick
edness
In one of his famous lectures Vol
taire made the statement that in 100
years Christianity would be dead and
forgotten. The speaker referred to
this statement of the philosopher, and
then called attention to its effect on
France France is to-day practical
ly nation of infidels for it has yield
ed to the sophistries of Voltaire. AS
a result its moral strength is being un-
derminded and it's vital force is be-
ing Slapped away,
In taking up the self destruction of
individuals. Rev. Mr.. Smith called
attention TO the destructive work of
sin to the physical, moral and spirit
ual nature. The youth yields to the
more tempting sins and the immoral
pleasures and his physical being is
weakened and destroyed. The law
that he who sins against Nature sins
against himself. works out its truth on
each and all.
Morally the destruction is accom-
plished through our failures to i'm
prove the forces which have been
placed within US. Each man is the
architect of his own fortunes. At his
disposal have been placed the means
of making himself whatsoever he will.
Sin takes it's hold upon his being and
he neglects TO use these forces. Moral
degeneration sets in and finally the
moral nature succumbs entirely and
dies.
From the spiritual standpoint man
destroys himself, by his Weddings to
sin, not only in this world, but for
all eternity. Real content and happi-
ness spring from righteous and relig-
ious living. If the sinful pleasures are
5ndulged in Their seeming happiness
turns to deepest sorrow, their bright
est moments to darkest night, their
sweetest draughts to most bitter gall.
Real happiness can find no place in a
sinful heart.
To man has been given the power
to choose where he will spend his eter-
nifty. There is no interference with
the choice. 1t is an old. but true
maxim that as a tree falls so shall
1t lie. This is true of the human soul.
If man die in his sins he shall rise
again in them and heaven will be
shut off from him forever He has
no one to blame, but himself for the
choice he has made, if that choice be
a bad one.
The sermon closed with an earnest
appeal for those who were indulginp
IN the sins of the world to make a
change for the better, to choose heaven
and not hell: to decide for real hapni-
ness and content, not for the temporary
pleasures.
The discussion of the destruction of
nations was particularly broad and
searching, lights were thrown on the
forces which are at work to-day un-
dermining the foundations of our own
nation. An eloquent appeal was made
10 all to make an effort to weed out
these evils, to counterfeit the DESTROY
ing influence, to labor to keep the moral
foundations of the nation firm and
trustworthy.
A large congregation was in attend
ance and unusual interest was mani
rested in the sermon. The music rem
dered at the service was one of the
features