The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-05-20
Excuses for Not Becoming a Chris la

tho church IS the fagot, the thumb screw
and tho heresy trial, and many there are
Who nse these statements as excuses for
avoiding the Christian life We freely
grant that Peter cursed, and with yul-
gar ooths denied his Master Sorrowfully
we confess that Judas was q contempu-
BILE hypocrite. We grant that in tho time
Of Galileo scheming and cunning poiti-
clans were attracted by the power and
wealth of The church to get themselves
elected cardinals; threatened Calico ana
threatened thousand other Christian
men who protested against tho cruelty
and lewdness of Pope and cardinal. We
confess, too, that John Calvin was sim
ply an organized syllogism An animated
argument, bloodless as stone, with an
intellect that worked liko cold logic en-
gine, and about as lovcabe ns a two
edged sword. But If Calvin did play tho
traitor like Peter, If he was intellectually
SO proud and SO determined to have his
as hereto one who did not think as he
thought but would burn him at the
stake' has his colossal egotism aud re-
oreanoy made night your refusal to imi-
tate Jesus Christi Consistency, then, is
the word you wish TO emphasize. Very
we'll. Hero is the world OF trade and COM
merce. Tomorrow merchants will adul-
terate their goods viii tamper with their
weights mllkmen Will water their milk
drapers Will sell cotton for silk, clerks
Will steal money from the bank, and the
whole kingdom OF trade stands for by
pocrisies and lies Since you do not caro-
10 associate with hypocrites, withdraw
Soufeel1 rom business, and pledge your
self never again 70 enter the kingdom OF
commerce II inconsistent members keep
you out of the church, why do not In
consistent members keep you out OF bust
ness? Here Is the kingdom OF law. To-
morrow lawyers Will be tricksters, they
Will be suoorn witnesses. they will con-
eeal evidence, they will deal in subter-
fuges- But because some lawyers are
unprofessional, Will that compel YOU 10
stand aloot from the study Of jurispru-
dencc? Here Is the kingdom Of love and
false TO his marriage vow. and some wo-
man Will profane the holest sanctities,
and those who have solemnly pledged
themselves to the law OF love will stand
forth clothed with hypocrisy as with a
garment But does their Inconsistency
mean that you can never found your
nome. and that you can never stand at
marriage altar. and never swear fealty
In the name OF an eternal friendship?
There are spots on the sun, but We nced
the sun for harvest To be consistent
cause there Is flaw IN the marble, We
must pull down the Parthenon because
there are black stains on the columns
Something is wrong In the man who re-
fuses allegiance to the church because
OF inconsistency, but turns around and
gives allegiance to a hundred other in
consistencies The tImc has gone for
ever for men TO plead the bigotry and
bad lives OF the unworthy disciples OF
Master who confcssedly Is worth. Peter
but In that hour OF misrepresentation
they ceased to be disciples and became
hypoGrltes. Let those who dislike hypoc-
risy leave the company OF Judas and
Peter and join the ranks Of the other
ten. 1nere are many poor pupils In
schools and colleges, but when you find
ideal scholar. do not rail against the col
lege and the university The poorer tho
scholar. the more necessary the mainten-
ance of the school in which he studies
n nl-vayta In oh, rob
sinful and weak, and fun Of error. 1t is
more necessary to strengthen the
church, that manhood later psy be
strengthened. Unconsciously, he who
urges the Inconsistency of Christians, and
rails against their errors. has forged
weapon that turns against himself
These Excuses Ungenerous.
How ungenerous are all these excuses.
as well as now wicked We live In Gods
world. He hath fitted up this world
house as no prince hath ever fitted up the
halls OF palace; We breathe His mir,
are warmed by His summers. we feed
upon His harvests, we are pilgrims who
stoop and drink at His fountains. The
to prepare lies way, the angel OF His
mercy follows after us to recover us
from our transgresslons. And how shall
men me meet s such, such oye55ntowins generosity.
across the page OF memory so black as
the mark OF ingratitude7 How unworthy
those who trade upon the instincts OF tho
generous What II you arc trading on
Gods generosity? What II you are think
Ing of getting all tho good out of life that
now is, and banking on things turning out
all right In another world? What II you
say, "Ah, He Will be gentle with His
prodigal son" What subterfugc, What
artful evasion How have you made
merchandise of Gods generosity! Surely
every consideration that makes for honor
asks you TO fling away these selfish mo-
tlVes. Put down the animal within and
give ear to the angel that stands calling
you upward toward Christ and God
Every hour in life is a critical hour, and
every hour when you stand hesitant be-
tween the past and the future is an hour
big with destiny, There are moments In
campaign when everything depends
upon q single decision OF the general, and
the greatest battlefield In history is the
battle for the city OF mans soul and the
moment has come for men who have long
stood hesitant, halting between two opin-
ins, to decide oh. be WISE Desire and
also choose. Dedicate the whole life to
loyal obedience to the commands OF Jesus
Christ, and being wise for your own man
hood In the life that now Is. be wise also
toward the life eternal