The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-10
A Suburban. sERNroN.

A SATURDAY SERMON.
Good understanding giveth favor: but
the way Of the transgressors Is hard
Evidence abounds on every hand that
the way of those who disobey the laws
of God and man is a hard one. There
has been so much of It for a long time
that it would seem as though this
great fact would have been realized by
every one, and therefore that trans
gressions of all sorts would have begun
to diminish appreciably ere this. But
such does not appear to be the case.
In fact, 1t would seem from a reading
Of the public prints of day to day that
there are more misdeeds OF all varieties
nowadays than ever before. Perhaps
this is because a wider publicity is now
being given them than heretofore
through the modern methods of gath
ering and disseminating the news of
the world. Sociologists are OF the opin-
ion that the world is growing better all
the time. and their conclusions in this
respect are correct undoubtedly. But
that far too many offenses against so
ciety are being committed each day by
men, and women. too. seems to be
plainly apparent.
To transgress appears to be a human
failing. 1t is much more intense with
some than it is with others, but in
every human being, at one time or an
other, there comes a desire to do things
which ought not to be done, and these
desires are generally followed with
anything but good results. It appears
to be easier TO do wrong that it is to do
right, but such is far from being the
case. And the oftener a petty wrong
is committed the more readily is a
greater one undertaken and accom-
pIished-
Nothing good ever comes of trans
gressions of any kind. A man may
profit for a time by wrong-doing; may
satisfy his grosser passions under the
decisions that he is having a good
tine;" may continue for a period to
maintain something OF an excellent
reputation and hold the respect of his
friends and acquaintance which he
does not deserve. But the road he is
travelling has no soft spots and sooner
or later he rushes up against a rock in |
the way that smashes him completely; |
that makes public to the world his |
duplicity. And then-what is there left |
to him? Dishonor; a felon's garb; or |
grave that is Stunned.
II IS not unusual 10 near a person L
say that he cares not what the world |
may think of him. He will live his life |
in his own way and do just exactly |
what he pleases. But such talk as this !
is foolish. There would not be nation |
on the face of the earth today that
would have any of the earmarks of be-
ing civilized if it were not for the rules
and regulations it enforces concerning
the conduct of its people Some |
theorists will say that it is impossible
to legislate morals into a people. That's
not a conclusion that can be founded
on the facts of history as they bear on
the development of all civilizations.
What the laws of Scion did for the
magnificent Rome which they helped to
create, the laws of other wise men are
doing for the most enlightened peo-
pies of today. What would any coun- +
try or community be if it did not erect
barriers beyond which men and wo-
men are forbidden to go in their varied
desires and pursuits of life without l.
placing themselves in disgrace and in
contempt of their fellows? And all of
these strong laws. which are the safe
guards of society, are based on the
wide experiences of men and the
teachings of God. There should be
great hesitation on the part of people
to violate any one of them. Their good
with which most per-
sons are blessed if they will only use J
it. should be used to carry them over
the shoals that are ever threatening ,
to wreck their careers