I wish right here to ask two questions, and answer them: What is the most precious thing that each generation has in its keeping? and what is that which it most neglects and undervalues? To both I make but one answer—Children. In this sinful generation it is considered by many a disgrace to give, or allow them to have a being, and they resort to methods highly objectionable to gratify their licensed sensuality. Thus they prevent life, or cause its destruction; I mean, they commit murder! The wrath of God is poured out on the nations for the awful crime of child-murder. The man that whipped his child to death a few years since, in Western New York, aroused the indignation of every human being that was made acquainted with the affair. No one blushed to call it by its right name—murder! And is it not murder to take the life of a human being at any age? and ought not murderers to be punished accordingly? Is it any the less a crime because it is fashionable, and millions are doing it? And is it not time the veil was drawn aside and light from the pulpit and the press let in upon us brighter than the sun at noonday, until public opinion shall be thoroughly aroused, and condemnation written on the guilty. To have children is a duty equal with any of the responsibilities of life. “Multiply and replenish the earth,” was the command God gave to Adam and Eve; and this was repeated after the flood. God says again, “I will that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion for the adversary to speak reproachfully.” Save us, O Lord, from false modesty, and give us natural affection, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
XX.
Sowing and Reaping.
It is said that like causes will produce like results in all ages of the world. This is true, both in a moral and temporal point of view. If we sow wheat, corn, barley, thistles, we shall reap the same. Whatever our doings are, it will bring forth its legitimate fruit. “For whatever a man soweth that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting.” This has been clearly demonstrated in many places where costly churches have been built. The spirit of emulation has taken possession of the people, especially in church building. They desire greatly to go beyond their neighbor in this; and in most cases, they have gone in their planning operations far beyond their means; consequently, they are compelled to resort to the lottery department, pic-nics, sociables, banquetings, excursions, ice-cream, strawberry, and necktie parties, to carry forward the grand enterprise. One case will illustrate the many of this character; and yet, the results may not in every case be as sad as the one I now refer to. But nevertheless, pride, worldly conformity, spiritual death, will follow all such departures from the old landmarks. A society in this city have been struggling along for some years, in all the ways mentioned above, to raise money to build a costly church. The last banquet this society held (which was of the necktie order) proved very disastrous to some members of the church in their domestic relations, if not their eternal ruin. I took the following extract from the Sunday Mercury, which shows the nature of the seed sown:
“Of Twentieth street M. E. Church, Philadelphia, the brethren and sisters have been having a calico festival. By Sister Boyer, in New Jersey, the wrinkle was learned. Of the pattern corresponding to her apron, each sister deposited a gentleman’s necktie. By the gentleman, for a quarter of a dollar, the sister whose apron the article matched the pattern of his purchase, he was permitted ‘piously’ to ‘treat.’ By Brother Broin the party was opened. Sweet Sister Carrigan the brother led out. The more neck-ties of different patterns a brother purchased, the more sisters of course he ‘treated.’ Among the heavy buyers were Brother Kent and Brother Hoffman. What worried Sister Hoffman was that the religious writer of the Mercury might ‘be about.’ Of Sister Busby the apron was the handsomest. Brother Roberts on six neck-ties made investment. So, also, did Bartine. Altogether the festival was a success.”
This is about the way these things move; and—yet, there were things connected with this party of a grave character. A brother—a man having a family—a steward, and a leading man in the society, purchased a neck-tie. He very soon found a young damsel, whose apron corresponded with the neck-tie just purchased. He, of course, according to the rule of the party, was bound (to use a bar-room phrase), to “treat” her. She took his arm, and away they went to the place prepared for refreshments. The brother’s wife was present, and while looking upon the scene, her husband, joking, trifling, spreeing—and that with a woman he had no right to—no right within such relations; she became disgusted, indignant, at such a departure from pure religion—yea, from common decency and respectability.
Late at night they returned home, the wife with injured feelings, the husband delirious from the effects of the exciting scenes that he had just passed through. We would gladly draw a veil over the scene that followed, but God must be honored, the truth must be told. The balance of the night was spent in unpleasant words. In the morning, the husband repairs to a drinking saloon and gets drunk, which he continues to do. His family—a wife and a very lovely daughter, eleven years of age, took the matter very much to heart, weeping and wailing almost incessantly, which brought on the daughter a violent disease, and in a few days, death! The wife is very much worn down by grief, and expects in a few days to follow the daughter. If we sow to the flesh, we shall of the flesh reap corruption. A mistaken idea prevails among many religionists, that the end (if it be a laudable one) sanctifies the means; and this prevails to an alarming extent; hence, the resorting to many ways condemned of God, and by most, if not all, our legitimate bodies, who declare lotteries to be gambling, and are prohibited by law; and, yet, many professors of the grace of God resort to this, to raise means to build costly churches, and carry forward what they call the work of the Lord. “Shall we do evil that good may come? God forbid!”
“No room for mirth or trifling here,
For worldly hope, or worldly fear,
If life so soon is gone;
If now the Judge is at the door,