The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-09-25


law; that every mouth may be stopped and all
the world may become guilty before COD;
therefore by the deeds of the law there shall
no flesh be justified in his sight. For all nave
sinned and come short of the glory of God;
being justified freely by his grace, through
the redemption that is in Jesus Christ" Rom.
iii, 10. 20. %, 24J.
There seems to be something very
unnatural in teaching that good works
are void Of moral merit, that they furn-
ish no grounds for salvation, no condi-
lions for acquittal and justification
in the eyes of a righteous God. Now,
says the objector, this is very immoral
doctrine; il robs virtue of all its native
worthiness and attractions. 1t says to
the sinner you have nothing to lose by
a vicious course, and nothing to gain
by virtuous life.
Says another, if good works are the
producing cause of our salvation, the
word grace has no business in the Bible.
We can claim salvation as our right,
no thanks to God or Christ, or any be-
ing in the universe. One preacher
comes along and tells you that your
eternal all hinges on works, that our
eternal destiny for happiness or misery
depends upon our conviction or &C
uuital at the throne of God; it is based
on the deeds of the present life, and to
prove it they will quote passages like
this: Work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling" This don't
say anything about future salvation;
it don't even say that they may earn
their present salvation.
1t implies that they are already saved,
for how could they work out that which
they did not possess; work out your
own salvation !; that is, live agreeable
to your profession, let your light shine.
No. 2 comes along and tells us that
No. is all wrong that salvation has
no connection with creature merit; it
is full unpurchased gift; it is not by
works, lest any man should boast. 1t
is perfectly plain if salvation is re-
ward, it is not of grace, and if it be of
grace then it is not of works.
Another says that good works are
the effect, and not the cause of saliva
ton; they proceed from state of
justification, as the stream flows from
the fountain, but are not the cause of
this state. The whole state of grace
and mercy is said to be divinely caused,
originating in. God, and not in man.
Now it seems to me that there is no
subject within the whole range of the
ology that is more plain and ineligible
than the one under confederation; that
is, if you will allow the Scriptures to
interpret their own doctrines.
In the first place we shall proceed to
inquire what is the meaning of the
term works, as found in the New Tesla
ment? How did the Jews under
stand it? We must bear in mind that
the New Testament was written orig
inally for the Jews, not that they are
only concerned in its teachings, but it
was written in their language, and
adapted to their capacities. Its form,
phrases, illustrations and historical
events are Jewish, while its principles
are universal in their application. The
form in which those principles are in
terpreted into human language, are
local and national. The Jewish relig-
ion to a great extent, was a system of
forms and ceremonies. To worship
God acceptably there must be HASTINGS
and prayers, sacrifices and offerings,
washings, and the observances of GER
tain days. The form of goodness was
the one thing needful; they must gar
nish the sepulchers; make clean the out
side of the cup and platter.
But the apostle reminds them that
they were radically wrong; that it is
with the heart that man believeth unto
righteousness. That God is spirit,
and they that worship him must wor-
ship in spirit and truth. And when
ever we give to him the supreme
homage of our souls, we have done our
duty, whether performed at Jerusalem
or somewhere else. He taught them
that ordinances were instruments only;
good and useful only as they could tend
to moral results; that the end of all
religion was to regulate the springs of
action, purify the heart, and lead us to
the practice of every good word and
work.
When he speaks of the works of the
law, he adopts the common significa-
ton he don't mean the discharge of
moral and social duties. He is speak
ing to a people who will understand by
good works, religious observances
and when he says, "By the deeds of the
law shall no flesh be justified" he
means this, THAT you will never be
justified by any amount of ritual SER
vice, if this is ALL" For God is spirit,
and he demands the full, spontaneous
homage of the soul. The apostle says
"That you may conform to every legal
requirement, and have every Christian
grace, save one; and you are nothing,
because that one gives character and
complexion to the whole, and this is
law"