The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-12-18

the light of day, are made more blind
than ever. The Scribes and Pharisees
were not the only people to whom this
applies. The same principles are ever
at work wherever the light of Christ's
spirit and life come. His spirit and
words are ever judging the world-a
light to which, if men come, their deeds
will be made manifest, whether they
are wrought in good or in evil. Christ
is continually condemning our sins and
encouraging our virtues. In the mir
ror which his truth and purity holds up
to US, we see our sinfulness and moral
deformity, and in that which reflects
his image, the possibilities of our growth
into holiness. So the gospel is both a
condemnation and hope-a condemna-
ton of sin and hope of deliverance from
it, which ''hope maketh not ashamed,
because the love of God is shed abroad
in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which
is given unto u.s." Christ's judgment
is the standard which he erects within
the conscience. Before this Judgment
seat all men must appear and answer
for the deeds done in the body. The
judgment-day is the day of his admin
istration of truth and righteousness.
Wherever his kingdom extends, there
are his judgments, and they are neces-
sary part of his saving work. Christ is
the Saviour, and therefore all his deal
ings with men are for salvation. He is
also the judge, but all his judgments
are in the interests of his Office as
Saviour.
If Christ is "Lord both of the dead
and the living''-as st. Paul declares
he is-there is sense in which the
dead are judged. But it is for the same
purpose of salvation, and of the same in
ternal and spiritual character, there as
here. "When the judgments of God are
abroad in the earth the inhabitants
thereof ,oill learn Righteousness" Such
is the end Of all the divine judgments
to teach righteousness. And so Peter
tells US the dead" are Judged accord
ing to men in the fesh," that they may
''live according to God in the spirit. !"
Amen that end is the one altogether
desirable. And 30 each one should say
with David, search me. o God, and
try me, and see if there be any wicked
way in me; and lead me in the way
everlasting"
Christ said: "The men of Nineveh
shall rise up in judgment against this
generation, This contemporaries), and
shall condemn it; for they repented at
the preaching of Jonah; and, behold,
greater than Jonah is here. The
queen of the South shall rise up in
judgment in this generation, and shall
condemn it; for she came from the
uttermost parts of the earth to see the
wisdom of Solomon; and, behold a
greater than Solomon is here"
Jesus certainly did not mean to teach
that there would be literal, scenic
gathering together of all generations
and nations at future general judg-
ment after death; but, as usual, he
meant to state a principle. That princi-
pie is this, that the conduct of less
favored people, when their actions are
right and commendable, condemns
those who are unrighteous in the midst
of greater privileges. Men are judged
according to the light and knowledge
they possess. If those living in heath
en- countries have been true to the light
given them, their conduct will condemn
those who are unfaithful to the light of
Christianity. And if those living in
the dark ages of the past have been ex-
amples Of willingness and readiness to
receive and obey the truth, so far as
they know it, their conduct condemns
those, who, living in the light Of later
centuries, are willfully blind and I'M
appreciative of their privileges. The
deeds of these, as they are recorded in
history their literal personalities
rise up in judgment against the
workers of evil living in the light of
a better day, and condemn them.
The Jews prided themselves on their
light and knowledge. They had the law
and the prophets; they were Jehovah's
chosen people; they had privileges
which had been granted to no other ma
ton; and to crown all, God had sent
them his well-beloved Son. But to all
this they were blind and perverse.
Jesus told them that the heather whom
they despised would rise up in judy
ment against them. He cited the noble
example of the Ninevites and the Queen
of Sheba to put them to shame. This
example not only rose up in judgment
against them then, but everywhere since,
Whenever the comparison has been
made between them and the scribes and
the Pharisees of Christ's time, the latter
have suffered condemnation by the for
mer. The worthiness of the past is thus
always rising up in judgment against
the unworthiness of the present, and
condemning it; and so history is always
teaching its lessons by example. Many