The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1918-05-09
THE PEOPLES FORUM.
False Ideas of Liberty.

WIN CONSTliy ISdCu 1ulcelOOu anu pun
fish destructive heresies. Their ruling
passion is covetousness. They are
elf appointed and assume a false po-
ttion. Without divine call they have
no authority. Though they may have
the appearance Of the true they are
counterfeits. They are presented as
deceitful workers, who do no real good
but promote error. Their motives are
false. They hope to gain honor, or
gain, or partisanship to gain a follow
ing as the head of cult but they have
spirit of delusion. If God saved not
angels when they sinned but cast them
down to Tartams, with the horrors and
misery, reserved to the judgment of
the last day, how much more will He
not spare the lesser sinners. Satan,
one of the brightest, but fallen spirit,
had to go. He was extremely wicked
and has brought with him a pail of
darkness. the symbol of evil and
misery.
Noah vexed his soul at the unright-
eousness of the wicked so the righteous
now are distressed at the sins of the
goddess, because SIN sullies the glory of
the Lord. Sin shows the tyranny of
Satan over men and leads to the con-
domination of the wicked.
Christians are the salt of the earth
and so soon as the church is removed
awful judgment, such as have never
been seen, will fall on the earth.
We are told that the mother of the
pearl fish lives in the sea without re-
ceiving drop of salt water; toward
the Chelidonian Islands springs of fresh
water may be found in the midst of
the sea; the fire fly passes through the
flame without scorching its wings. so
the vigorous soul may live in the world
without being infected with its evils,
and at the same time pour forth sweet
springs of pietY amidst its brackish
waters and fly amid the flames of earth
" concupIscence and persecution with
out burning its wings of holy desire for
devout life.
But the wicked are reserved for the
day of judgment. SO then, there is a
day of Judgment Yes, God hath ap-
pointed day for the judgment of the
world and though the unpenitent are
preserved now it IS only reserving to
that day when punishment will surely
be administered. 1t is sure to come.
We may muzzle our fears, we may
silence our conscience's we may go
on making money in ways that ale de-
testible to God; we may close our ears
to the cry Of the starving, the freezing
and the needy now and heard up our
money, which honest and benevolent
men would abhor, and yet. we may
have comparative peace, but there is q
vast difference between staving off
Judgment now and judgment then.
Then the apostle compares seducers
and heretics to brute beasts, be-
cause, their minds run after sensual OBJ
lects which they are apt to use to ex-
cess. Then too, they feel secure like
the beasts. They mock the divine
warnings, but they will perish IN their
own corruption, bringing death upon
themselves. Their reward for wrong
doing will be eternal retribution, though
they count it pleasure to revel for the
brief period of the day of life in a law
less fashion.
Corrupt teachers and their teaching
shall be rewarded according to their
deserts.
The dumb ass can teach such, and it
is good enough teacher for those who
refuse to hear higher voice. 1t was
an ass that compelled Baalam to discern
the angel who would graciously hinder
him in course of sin. The wicked are
blind to the interpretations of Providence,
though like Baalam, they are in rage
because of the opposition they en-
counter in an evil way. He shows, too,
that false teachers are wells without
water. They disappoint thirsty souls.
Like clouds, they are changeful and
obscure the light. They are carried
about, the sport of their own will pas
sions, fastening on to the punishment
suited to their sin. How ready they
are to promise liberty from the curse,
while they themselves are slaves to cor
ruption. They are presumptuous; they
desplse governments, they are sensual
and love luxurious living. These are
Satan's emmissaries and their favorite
instrument is a promise of liberty.
freedom to indulge in uncontrolled
vices. But their work is degra ding,
sensual and develish, while their fair
promises are decisions.
Their conquest is a work of error,
artfully conducted to win men and they
do, for they have sensual pleasure to
take with them. The character of their
work is seen in the faIsity of the tenn
pter's promise. 1t is seen also in the
fact that adherents to the truth may be
seduced so as to fall into the errors