The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-08-17

nave mercy upon him. Here is prom
Use of redemption from all his former
trangressions, vet attached to it is the
threatening, eff he turn not He will
whet His sword, indicating the nature
of the punishment that will come upon
him.
Retrlbution means paying back, and
1t refers to the causes and consequences
OF evil actions, and is tersely stated in
the words of Job. They that plow
iniquity and sow wickedness, reap the
same. Men may differ as to the nature
and extent of this law is not a matter
OF speculation or theory, but of fact.
We cannot escape from these facts =
we would, they meet US on every turn.
Paul applies this law in his "whatso-
ever a man sows that shall he also
reap"
We see the working of this law in all
the channels of life.
No one is entirely independent, A
child cannot live as a flower. 1t is SUBJ
Ject to government and must yield or
suffer. The authority of the parent
though recognized and instructed by
christianity was established by the Lord
long before christianity was introduced,
If it disobeys that law retribution
follows. 1t may re more severe or
equitable in some ises than in others.
Let child rul 5ay from home re-
straint. dose it e -, retribution? Law
still holds its W. over him, though he
thinks ne is fire. ,He longs for liberty
so he joins the s~ny where he thinks
he can do as he please, but he finds
rigid law is over him; or he runs off to
sea, still there l. a govei nlng power
less tolerable AM yentle, but more de-
clded than that q -'~-e. Let him re-
sist that power e4,- anHandcuffs or the
gloom of the ships prison bring him to
his senses.
But if in defiance of law he seeks his
coveted freedom by joining a company
of pirates, is he free? Far from it.
No where Will you find law so rigorous
or so merclless IS among desperados,
where there is no confidence in each
others word, where might makes right.
Place some Robson Crusoe on a lone
island as its sole inhabitant and is he
free from law? True there are no
Bible, no public sentiment. no legisla-
ton but is there no law with penalties
for breaking it? Suppose he is given
to appetite and eats too much, burning
fever, sleepless nights, racking pain,
distressing sickness and agony are the
penalty. Go where you will or under
whatever circumstances you may be,
you can't escape; governing power i'm
plies rewards and punishments. There
are laws of nature which cannot be
Ignored no matter what laws society
may have or what its condition may be.
A man may be honest in his dealings
and all that a member of society could
be, but if under cover of secrecy he in
dulges every propensity of his nat, ~
he will find out the existence OF ]
statue book other than that which is
written with pen on paper.
Does one imagine that because he
escapes prison or fine or the gallows he
he is free from law?
Look at the boy who in a healthy con-
dition of body plunges into the cold
water-as he shakes like an aspen leaf
and then bun ms with fever. He has
come in contact with law and as usual
the law gets the better of him.
A life of debauchery brings sorrow,
wretchedness, suffering and premature
death.
lntemperance leads to results that
are evil and though no law can arrest
or punish yet stricter, juster law of
divine retribution visits his course with
disease, loss of respect and at last an
ignominious grave. No retribution
Go to the hospital or ask any physician
what they think of the existence and
character of natural penalties.
A man may writhe in pain, but
neither nurses nor surgeons can give
him relief. They cannot say to law
thus far shalt thou go and no farther.
He is suffering the penalty of broken
law and all the remedies of the apothe-
cary are of no avail,
Sin brings consequences which mercy
may deplore, yet not remedy. There
are laws connected with transgression
and pain which even prayer is power
less to remedy, though it may move the
hand that brings US pardon.
JOANNES.