idolatry exists in the Christian world today as verily as it existed among ancient Israel in the days of Elijah . The god of many professedly wise men , of philosophers , poets , politicians , journalists-- the god of polished fashionable circles , of many colleges and universities , even of some theological institutions--is little better than Baal , the sun-god of Phoenicia .
No error accepted by the Christian world strikes more boldly against the authority of Heaven , none is more directly opposed to the dictates of reason , none is more pernicious in its results , than the modern doctrine , so rapidly gaining ground , that God ' s law is no longer binding upon men . Every nation has its laws , which command respect and obedience ; no government could exist without them ; and can it be conceived that the Creator of the heavens and the earth has no law to govern the beings He has made ? Suppose that prominent ministers were publicly to teach that the statutes which govern their land and protect the rights of its citizens were not obligatory--that they restricted the liberties of the people , and therefore ought not to be obeyed ; how long would such men be tolerated in the pulpit ? But is it a graver offense to disregard the laws of states and nations than to trample upon those divine precepts which are the foundation of all government ?
It would be far more consistent for nations to abolish their statutes , and permit the people to do as they please , than for the Ruler of the universe to annul His law , and leave the world without a standard to condemn the guilty or justify the obedient . Would we know the result of making void the law of God ? The experiment has been tried . Terrible were the scenes enacted in France when atheism became the controlling power . It was then demonstrated to the world that to throw off the restraints which God has imposed is to accept the rule of the cruellest of tyrants . When the standard of righteousness is set aside , the way is open for the prince of evil to establish his power in the earth .
Wherever the divine precepts are rejected , sin ceases to appear sinful or righteousness desirable . Those who refuse to submit to the government of God are wholly unfitted to govern themselves . Through their pernicious teachings the spirit of insubordination is implanted in the hearts of children and youth , who are naturally impatient of control ; and a lawless , licentious state of society results . While scoffing at the credulity of those who obey the requirements of God , the multitudes eagerly accept the delusions of Satan . They give the rein to lust and practice the sins which have called down judgments upon the heathen .
Those who teach the people to regard lightly the commandments of God sow disobedience to reap disobedience . Let the restraint imposed by the divine law be wholly cast aside , and human laws would soon be disregarded . Because God forbids dishonest practices , coveting , lying , and defrauding , men are ready to trample upon His statutes as a hindrance to their worldly prosperity ; but the results of banishing these precepts would be such as they do not anticipate . If the law were not binding , why should any fear to transgress ? Property would no longer be safe . Men would obtain their neighbour ' s possessions by violence , and the strongest would become richest . Life itself would
369