Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-11-22

ruin. When 1t takes life into its own
cording to its own will, without re-
gard for the divine will, 1t adopts a
programme OF self-will and self-assertion
which must inevitably lead to the
worst excuses. Selfishness gratified
grows more vigorous. and as it grows
IL becomes more imperious and more
constituencies. To calm its spasms OF
fear it may do many apparently good
things, provided the doing Of them
does not interfere with the accom-
plishment OF its own cherished objects.
II will build temples, erect altars, ex-
ecute rituals, and unite in schemes OF
relief for worldly wants in order to
conceal from itself and others the su-
preme selfishness which reigns within
the secret soul and dominates the life.
1t tries thus to extenuate it's forget
fulness OF God by a seeming remem-
brance OF man; to hide its treason to
heaven by a noisy loyalty to earth.
In the last analysis 1t cares nothing
for God or man. heaven or earth: 1t
adores itself. The dethronement of
God is always the enforcement of
self, and when men cruelty their Lord
they invariably deity their lusts.
We may as well understand that we
can not have an ath eistic morality. At
its best IL will be only a manned and
fragmentary morality, magnifying the
prudential virtues which underly COM
merce, and minifying the nobler things
in which human nature comes to It's
highest perfection; and in the end 1t
will fail of fulfilling the low and frac-
tional standards Of righteousness which
1t processes to set up. We must have
the morality which God enjoins. or we
will have none at all. This Is shown
by the history OF all the nations which
have forgotten God. Prodigal peoples,
who have gone away from the divine
Father, have always wasted their SUBJ
stance OF moral life in riotous living.
and found themselves at last In the
midst of the deepest and direst moral
restitution It can not be otherwise.
human nature being what 1t Is.
These things being true, 1t behooves
us all to return to God and call our fell
lows to return with us. We have had
enough OF atheistic morality turning
quickly into atheistic immortality. Moth
ing but a revival OF religion will meet
the needs OF our situation We must
magnify the God OF the Church and
the Church of God. Christian fellow
ship and the things which nourish spir-
itual life can not be supplied by soci-.
cites and orders and fraternities, how
ever excellent they may be in their
place. We must find God, and His way
is in the sanctuary. We must be con-
formed to the image of His Son; no I'm
aginary good man" without God can
supply the type of life which we need.
It is time for every soul among US
to begin to cry with the Psalmfst,
my soul thirsteth for God. for the iiv-
ing God; when shall come and appear
before God?"
None but the living God can save US
from the destructive immortality that
blights the land and the scarcely less
destructive atheistic morality which
blasts the spiritual life OF the people.
They are really one in substance and
lead to the same wretched end God and
life, or godlessness and death are set
before us, and we can not escape the
solemn alternative
THE wicked shall be turned into hell
and all the nations that forget God"
Bare forgetfulness OF God Is enough TO
work our undoing in family life. social
life, and national life.