Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-10-20
Ca(nage
Sermon
BY Rev.
Frank Dc witt Talmaae. d. d,

sermon The pfehCnM ODotfSBe0 thu
tendency Of society to unsperfngiy con-
denim in Que sex what is tolerated in
the other and the almost universal
habit Of denouncing in others sins
which We conceal and excuse in our
selves The better way Of the divine
law n Illustrated from the text John
VIII. 3, What sayest thouT'
Have you studied constitutional law,
Without doubt Il offerS one OF the most
appetizing feasts ever spread in the
banquet hall Of the mental epicwean.
1t follows with uDerring eye the rami.
fications Of n governments internal or
ganis1n. even as medical student
searches out the entangled pathways
of the nerves and muscles and arteries
Of the human frame.
Constitutional law is above ali other
kinds of law. Tho national congress-
and the legislatures Of the states deal
with conditions as they arise, and some
times, in their haste to remedy an evil
or to provide means for An urgent pur-
pose. they enact a statute which proves
to be unconstitutional. What do we
mean by that? We mean that there
are certain fundamental principles Of
government embodied IN our constitu.
ton which must not be trausgressed.
II law is passed which violates one
Of those principles there is no need
to repeal 1t, because when II Is found
to be unconstitutional 1t at once be-
comes void and inoperative Thus
back of all legislation stands the con-
stitution as the supreme test by which
the acts of president and lawmahers
are judged II defines the rights of
rulers and legislators and sets limits TO
their power and IL the safeguard of
national liberty.
In the kingdom OF God we have also
a supreme authority. The councils of
the churches may formulate doctrines.
make DEGREES aud construct creeds and
catechisns. but high over all there is
the Will of the great King of kings
Christ Is the supreme ruler OF his
kingdom, and his word Is the test by
which every dogma and practice must
be judged. Lot as considcr some Of
the CHARACTERISTICS OF this government.
An Absosues Monasoh.
First. It 10 nm absolute monarchy
We have governments Oh earth that
We describe as absolute monarchies
mea ming that they have 10 constitu-
ton. We speak about the Russian
government as an absolute monarchy,
but It is not. There are thousands Of
things which the Russian car would
like to do which he cannot do. With
his pistol or sword Nichoas might
slay his own children, as Ivan the
Terrible in maniacal rage killed his
| 6rsthorn son. and no power on earth
could bring him 10 Justice. But there
are limits to the present czar's power.
His own subjects recognize the fact.
The old Russien proverbs tell us there
are many things the car cannot DO.
Among those proverbs are the follow
ing: Even the car gets his shoes
despatched II he puts his foot in a
puddle" THE cars crown cannot
protect him from 4 headache" The
OK Of the czar can have only two
horns Even the cars vinegar Will
not sweeten" put the car IN the
more" The cars edicts are good
| for nothing unless God b Amen is
written on them" BY these quaint
! aphorisIls, current in Russia do the
people show that they realize that,
powerful as the Russian autocrat is,
| he is subject to human limitations. like
the most obscure peasant in his en-
pire. II Is well known, too, by states
men that even ms ruler he is not
so supreme as is thought. The mobiles
who surround him exercise con
ytrnint upon him, and his agents often
thwart his will
In an Infinitely higher sense is Christ
the absolute ruler In his kingdom. In
his wisdom and power he governs
without check, and his word is the law
md life Of his people. He is in truth
more than a president, more than a
dogc Of Venice, more than king, more
than car He Is an absolute mon
arch in the Christian world.
A significant illustration OF Chrtst's
originality and his freedom from GUY
rent principles and preJudices is given
in the gospels, and It may help us TO
understand his attitude II we study
the story. One day while Jesus was
teaching IN the temple surrounded by
the people the scrfbes and Pharlsees
tried to ertrap him, Right into the
temple where Jesus was they dragged
a trembling, frightened. sobbing WON
an who had been taken In adultery
Right through the crowds Of liSteners
they pushed her. Then they cried out
in stentorian tones so that all could
hear: Master. what shall we do with
her? Shall we stone her TO death, as
Moses commanded, or shah we 1T her
60 frce?" Instead Of Christ condemn
ing or acquitttng the poor creature. as
they all supposed he must do. Christ
by his actions as we'll as by the word
Of lip condemned the men WHO were
her accusers. What was the meaning
OF that Judgment We cannot for n
moment suppose that a being 80 pure
as Christ thought lightly Of 80 heinous
a sin. 1t must have been loathsome
and nbhorent to him. but we may
learn a lesson from he wny In which
he treated the simmer and her aceuscrs