Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1918-05-15

A IA history of motive
to right action, we
find that sometimes it is gratitude,
sometimes love, sometimes duty, some
times prudence, sometimes recogni-
ton of mans Sonship to God; but
here comes the motive of fear, and in
these days when mems hearts are fail
ing them for fear, it is a motive that
should receive some consideration
without Impotence. Some of the mo-
tives referred to above, and which
seem to have made the motive of fear
for a long time almost obsolete, have
according to the judgment of many
gone into the discard. AS we find
certain theories as to mankind in its
closer brotherhood and assumed SON.
slip to God being great decisions, we
may ask whether, after all, the motive
of fear may yet have On occasion for
use.
In many American communities vice
today is rampant, unchecked, and such
communities are living in terror. Why?
because the vicious element have no
fear of being punished, the action of
the courts and juries in the past show
ing that there is little likelihood that Il
person, if he assumes a proper atti-
tude during trial or appeals to the SYM
PATTY of the public and the jury, will
have to suffer. 1t IS simply a matter
Of record that where there is this lack
of fear vice flourishes.
Should We Fear God?
Let it be fully considered at once
that the fear Of the Lord as presented
in the Scriptures is not chiefly an
emotion produced by threatened evils,
but rather reverence of God and as a
motive it should operate along the
lines of respect for God because he is
holy and reverent. The fear Of pain
connected with losing the favcr or
friendship Of God is in place, too, but
the moment that is admitted there
is admission of fear of another kind
fear as it is defined, "an emotion eX-
cited by threatening evil or impending
pain, accompanied by a desire to avoid
or escape it," There is a place for this
kind of fear of God in connection with
religious experience, and that motive
should have more recognition than in
the past. Why is this so?
First, because God is back of every
law, the violation of which brings Suf-
fering or pain. Law toes not operate
automatically. No evil resulting from
violated law is a blind thing; it is the
result of infinite wisdom and intelli-
gent provision. God is behind every
law.
Secondly, there are the clearest
teachings in the Word of God that
evil will he punished by God. From
the moment it was said: "In the day
thou eateSt thereof, thou shalt surely
die" to the present moment, sin has
been punished. 1t is specifically said:
1.-THE Lord shall reward the doer OF
evil according to his wickednesS."
'"The face of the Lord is against them
who do evil, to cut off the remem-
brance of them from the earth" God
says, 81 will punish the world for their
evil and the wicked for their iniqui.
ties" 81 myself will fight against thee
with an outstretched hand, and with a
strong arm, ever in anger and in great
wrath" Several of the parallels OF
the New Testament teach the retrib.
utive wrath Of God. 1t is God the
judge who will say in the great judg-
ment day: depart from me We that
work in %iniquity."
And, thirdly, the thought should be
carried to the hereafter. Men are
facing the hereafter these days as not
before. More people have died in the
last three years than any three years
preceding. possibly excepting some
periods in the history of the world in
a time of pestilence. Millions are
slain on the battlefield, other millions
die in war-stricken countries by starv-
dllOli, al OlllCl Us lAiNN
sands suffer violent death. What of
the future world rs we contemplate
the multitudes sweeping into it?
No. Apology for "HeII."
When Jesus was speaking to his dis
ciples he did not make any apology
when he said "hell." He meant the
abode of the wicked in the other
world. The disciples were to fear the
God who could cast both body and soul
into hell, but they were not to fear
man, who could only kill the body.
The burning city Of destruction was
q good place to leave, and Bunyan's
pilgrim left it as rapidly as he could.
We might ask, "NVho in these days
fears the pain and hOpeleSSness Of
help" Tut the great fact is, hell re-
" IL 1Ivo.l 90 cod - rlntn