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legalized, He declared to be crim inal. In th e sermon contained in Luke 15-17 He brings it forw ard w ith a sta rtlin g abruptness, as a most open and undeny- able sin, which would a t once convict H is h earers an having proved as dis obedient to th e law and the prophets as they were to the Gospel. We know the punishm ent which quickly overtook them for th is and th e ir many other transgressions. In a few sho rt years th e ir lusts ,were extinguished in th e ir blood: th e fair walls of th e ir streets and city were leveled w ith th e ground: th e ir beau tifu l temple in which they tru ste d perished in th e flames and th e idolatrous shrine of Ju p ite r rose in su lt ingly upon its ruins. Science, A rt an d Luxury None will deny th a t science, a r t and luxury are characteristic of our days; nay, th e fact is a common subject of boasting. How many instances have we of th e self-deifying arrogance which frequently arises from a little knowl edge of the laws of natu re, or a marked success in those arts, sciences and phil osophies which are th e delight of culti vated and refined intellects. W ith w hat confidence and carelessness do men set tle themselves am id th e com forts and indulgences of th is luxurious age. See ing good only in th e present life, how little though t do they give to God; how deaf are they to any mention of the world to come! How incredulous, even if th eir mouths be not filled w ith mock ing, when they h ear bu t a whisper of th a t tem pest of God’s fury which will shortly b u rst upon th e apathetic world, and h u rry m ultitudes away from all th a t they love into the dungeons of His w ra th ! “ The day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one th a t is proud and lofty and upon every one th a t is lifted up, and he shall be brought low; and upon all th e cedars of Lebanon, th a t are high and lifted up, and upon all th e oaks of Bashan, and upon all the high m puptaiqs, an4 upon all the. hills
th a t are lifted up, and upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall, and upon all th e ships of Tarshish and upon all pleasan t pictures. And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and th e haughtiness of men shall be laid low; and th e Lord alone shall be exalted in th a t day.” Isa. 2:12-17. “Tremble, ye women th a t are a t ease; be troubled, ye careless ones: strip you, and make you bare, and gird sackcloth upon your loins” Isa. 32:11. “ I will send a fire on Magog, and among them th a t dwell carelessly in th e isles; and they shall know th a t I am th e Lord.” Ezek. 39:6. Union of Church and World To reproduce th is fou rth cause, the P rince of th is World has long been striving, and certainly now seems n ear to his victory. I t is th e n a tu ra l resu lt of th e first erro r, th e denial of our position as sinners before God, as doomed to destruction unless a ransom be found. L et th e church su rrend er th a t tru th , and w hat hinders her from living in perfect accord w ith th e world? If the practical teaching of religion be th a t God is fairly satisfied w ith our conduct, troubles b u t little about our sins, highly appreciates our works of virtue, even though pride be th e ir main spring, and looks w ith pleasure upon bold deeds and in tellectual displays, why should such a theology clash w ith th e cravings of fallen men? How could they h ate a deity so like to themselves? Have we not been describing the creed of vast numbers in the profess ing church? Men do indeed frequent th e ir churches in crowds: they excite a feeling which they term religious, by g rand buildings, by painted windows, by splendid vestments, by gorgeous ceremonies, by beau tifu l music, by sen tim en tal or intellectual discourses, and by strong sectarian or political convic tions. B u t if they clothe themselves w ith th e semblance of devotion in th eir worship, they altogether lose th is out w ard distinction in. the world and
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