The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-02-04

is if we would only accept him for what
he is. Many times we approach him
in the critical rather than in the rever-
entail mood. What should we think
of the scholar who should go to some
great teacher Of real ability and begin
at once to criticize him-to question
the correctness and wisdom of his
statementsP We should think that
such scholar was highly presump-
tuous. But this is just the spirit in
which many approach this greatest of
teachers. They go not so much to find
what is true in his teachings and to be
helped by them, as they do to see
whether he has said anything with
which they do not agree. That is,
they assume to be wiser with respect to
the things he teaches than the Master
himself. Do not mistake my meaning.
1 am not talking now about that
thoughtful attitude of mind which one
must always possess if he would be a
learner. Jesus never intimates that
we are to cease thinking or questioning
when we come to learn of him. He
wants no mere imitators those who
expect him to do their thinking for
them. The fact is that he tests our
mental powers to the full. 1t is o "
with the closest attention and
foundest meditation that we can grasp
with any degree of satisfaction the
truths he seeks to teach. But the fact
which L am seeking to make plain is
the disposition with which we should
approach this teacher We say that
we should approach him as we
would approach any great teacher
with reverential rather than a
critical spirit. In fact, no one can
be in the truest sense the critic of
another, until he has some appreciation
of what he is undertaking to do.
Even so great literary character as
Shakespeare can be criticized from GER
tain literary points of view. Any one
who is good grammarian, but who
has little or no appreciation of poetry
will find plenty to criticize in the works
of this master of poets; for he has not
always used words or put sentences to-
gether in the manner in which the
books on grammar say he should. But
it is very clear to everybody that the
worth of Shakespeare is not to be de-
termined by any such criticism or
critic as this. 1t matters little if he
did not use certain noun or a certain
verb as men in general are accustomed
to use them. The fact still remains
that he was possessed of marvellous
poetic insight and genius and that con-
sequently he has given us view of hui
man nature in its height and depth and
breadth which no other man has. To
know of Shakespeare, and to speak
with any degree of justice or intelli-
gence concerning him, we must first
learn to appreciate him. 1t is just so
with Jesus. No one who does not, in
measure, rise to his level of life =
who does not realize in part what it
costs to be pure, true and humane as
he was, can know him as he is. Thus
to judge him properly we must first
learn to appreciate him. 1t is for this
reason he must be approached with
reverential and teachable rather than a
critical and supercilious spirit.
And is it not the fact that Jesus is
needed greatly by the world to-day as a
teacher? How many are there that are
as pure and spiritually minded as he
was How many are there that are as
loyal to truth and duty as he was
How many are there who would sacri-
flee as much as he did to serve man =?
We have the poor, the sick, the ignor-
ant, the sinful and the unfortunate all
about us; and yet how often it happens
that we do not lift so much as a finger
to help these people. Where we should
have the greatest sympathy there we
have little or none. We hate where
we should love, and quarrel where we
should be at peace. We boast of our
Christian civilization and yet we steal
and debauch ourselves by strong drink
in manner in which even a Moham-
medan would not.
The one thing that we need more
than anything else to be of the greatest
service to men now is greater loyalty to
our moral and spiritual Guide and
Teacher. Not the loyalty which simply
takes His name upon our lips, or which
merely believes certain theological doc
trines concerning him, but the loyalty
of consecrated life; one bent and fixed
on being of the same lowly and yet
exalted and lasting service to mankind.
But in the second branch of the text
we are told how true stewardship will
manifest itself-in what kind of works.
The words of the text are, " If I, then,
your Lord and Master, have washed
your feet, ye ought also to wash one
another's feet" If have served you
If l have performed the most mental
tasks for you, then you ought to do the
same for one another If have over