The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1879-04-17

not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven In
the next place, the evidence is overwhel
ming that no such occurrence took place
at the crucifxion Four men record the
scenes at the crucifixion The first in
order is Matthew, and he says, Chapter
81, verse So:
"And there were two thieves crucified
with him, one on the right hand, and
another on the left"
Then it is recorded that the persons
who passed by, and also the chief priests
reviled Christ, and mocked him, wagging
their heads, &c. Then in verse A it is
said
THE thieves also which were crucifed
with him, cast the same in his teeth"
Not one word said about one of them
asking forgiveness, or being pardoned-
Next we find the record of Mark, who
says, Chapter Is, verse 27:
And with him they cruelty two thieves,
the one on his right hand and the other
on his left"
Then the recital goes on almost pre-
cisely like that of Matthew, until the
32d verse, which says:
And they that were crucifed with
him, reviled him"
Now let us pass to the account given
by John All that John says about the
two thieves is this, in the 18th verse of
the 10Th Chapter, where it is said they
arrived at Golgotha:
"Where they crucifed him, and two
others with him, on either side one, and
Jesus in the midst"
Not one word about either Of the
thieves saying one word. Now let US
go back to the record of Luke. He
says Chapter 23d, and commencing at
the seth verse.
"And one of the malefactors, which
were hanged, rallied on him, saying, If
thou be Christ, save thyself and US. But
the other answering, rebuked him, say
ing, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou
art in the same condemnation And we
indeed justly, for we receive the due re-
ward of our deeds: but this man hath
done nothing amiss. And he said unto
Jesus, Lord remember me when thou
contest into thy kingdom. And Jesus
said unto him, Verify l say unto thee,
To day shalt thou be with me in para
| disc"
There is no evidence that any man
save one, was present at the crucifxion,
only the enemies of Jesus. He had
plenty of friends among the good women
who were with him in the last hour
The cowardly men ran off and hid, in
Guiding Matthew, Mark and Luke. John
says that Jesus committed the care of his
mother to the disciple whom he loved
and who was present. 1t is universally
conceded that this was John himself
Now here we have the testimony of
four men as to this point Three Of them
were not present. and only report what
they heard, and one of the three, from
this hearsay, which is not legal testimony
in any court. says that one of the thieves
asked forgiveness, which was granted /;
two others, also on hearsay, or rumor,
state exactly the reverse, while the only
one who was present-the only legal or
reliable witness. does not say one word
about this all important matter. We
think John records the fact of the mat
ter, that the malefactors had nothing to
say, one way or the other.
We will send this article. marked, to
the editor of the Independent, and hope
he will copy it, and, if we are in error
remove our objections We have viewed
it as we would if we were acting as juror
or judge, weighing any other testimony.
If the truth should be enforced in this
case, it might save thousands of lives. If
murderers could be made believe the true
teachings of the Bible-that he who
sheddet mans blood, by man shall his
blood be shed. and that no murderer can
inherit the kingdom of Heaven, murders
would not be very common. While bad
men are taught that they may commit
all crimes through life, and, on the pre-
cedent of the pardoned thief on the
cross, 60 straight home to glory-while
they are taught to believe that, to them
death is the gate to endless joy, they will
not be frightened much by the pains, the
groans, the dying strife. They will take
the risks, so that they may give way to all
their baser natures through life.
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