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 neighbor ' s possessions by violence , and the strongest would become richest . Life itself would not be respected . The marriage vow would no longer stand as a sacred bulwark to protect the family . He who had the power , would , if he desired , take his neighbor ' s wife by violence . The fifth commandment would be set aside with the fourth . Children would not shrink from taking the life of their parents if by so doing they could obtain the desire of their corrupt hearts . The civilized world would become a horde of robbers and assassins ; and peace , rest , and happiness would be banished from the earth .
Already the doctrine that men are released from obedience to God ' s requirements has weakened the force of moral obligation and opened the floodgates of iniquity upon the world . Lawlessness , dissipation , and corruption are sweeping in upon us like an overwhelming tide . In the family , Satan is at work . His banner waves , even in professedly Christian households . There is envy , evil surmising , hypocrisy , estrangement , emulation , strife , betrayal of sacred trusts , indulgence of lust .
The whole system of religious principles and doctrines , which should form the foundation and framework of social life , seems to be a tottering mass , ready to fall to ruin . The vilest of criminals , when thrown into prison for their offenses , are often made the recipients of gifts and attentions as if they had attained an enviable distinction . Great publicity is given to their character and crimes . The press publishes the revolting details of vice , thus initiating others into the practice of fraud , robbery , and murder ; and Satan exults in the success of his hellish schemes . The infatuation of vice , the wanton taking of life , the terrible increase of intemperance and iniquity of every order and degree , should arouse all who fear God , to inquire what can be done to stay the tide of evil .
Courts of justice are corrupt . Rulers are actuated by desire for gain and love of sensual pleasure . Intemperance has beclouded the faculties of many so that Satan has almost complete control of them . Jurists are perverted , bribed , deluded . Drunkenness and revelry , passion , envy , dishonesty of every sort , are represented among those who administer the laws . " Justice standeth afar off : for truth is fallen in the street , and equity cannot enter ." Isaiah 59:14 .
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