The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-05-03


As long as Christianity has beer
talked Of among men, the idea Of
''brotherly love" has been discussed
The problem of "man's duty to his
fellow man." in the light of his duty
to the Divine Father, is one not easily
solved-not thoroughly comprehend
ed at a passing glance, or upon hastJ
consideration. We have the Golden
Rule, and it is quite simple and easy
to commit, and reiterate mentally the
the words, in their common interpre.
tation, do unto others as ye would
have them do unto you" Yet those
simple words have deep Specification
that must be studied and carefully
weighed, if the life receives any ben
eft from them, Or if there is to be q
Christian character builded upon such
basis. There arises, too frequently
in fact it amounts to rule-a con-
test between personal duty and hui
man frailty. Too many minds are
incapable Of grasping the meaning OF
the admonition 'love your enemies,
and get it interviewer with the idea
that love Of your enemies means ha-
tired OF your friends. The soul drifts
into the thought that friends will
stand by it in any event, and all that
remains necessary is to pacify, pla-
cate, or please the enemy. The idea
is as wrong as sin itself. We are not
urged to any emotional demonstra-
tions Of affection for an enemy. We
are taught that repentance is "a godly
sorrow for sin" So we may have a
righteous sorrow for the sin of a bro
ther-yea, Of an enemy. Yet while
we may have no resentment toward
him, and treat him with kindness, let
it be remembered always that it is not
an endorsement Of any Of his short
comings that we are guilty of. The
whole matter may be summed up in
the statement that it is the man we
love, and are to love, and not his sin,
or his acts Of enmity.
There is certainly an overruling
providence that controls and directs
the destiny of man, and under which
no man is unsafe except by and
through his own obstinacy. If man
wrong you, do not fly into passion
and attempt to drag your injured in
nocence down below the level Of the
wrong itself. Simply allow the
wrong to pass without any -show of
resentment, for, just as sure as God
reigns, that wrong will be vigorously
righted, somewhere, at some time, in
the march Of the life. Too often the
Divine warning vengeance is mine"
is ridiculed. Yet take it at is true
meaning. When an enemy commits
a palpable wrong against you, leave
it with him-leave the visitation Of
the punishment with higher power.
What! Do not believe the trans
gressor is always visited with punish
ment for his wrong? Tell US, please,
of case Of failure. Take as illustra-
ton the mean, vicious, resentful type
of manhood occasionally found among
the inhabitants Of the earth. What
kind of enjoyment have such people.
The life is just what thev make it.
A long line Of contention, of disap-
poin ntment, of bitter hatred, such peo-
pie, in hating everybody else, cannot
avoid hating themselves. They go
through life With feeling of con-
tempt for themselves. Like rabid an
imsls, they wander up and down snap
ping and snarling at everything with
in reach. Their mission-formulated
by Themselves to create discord
and hatred in a world intended for
beauty and happiness. What kind of
a condition is that in which to live?
What kind Of a condition in which to
die?
The best treatment Of an enemy is
of course to leave him to his own re-
Election, so long as he does not visit
bodily harm upon yourself or those
under your protection. He has fu-
ture before him as black and forbid
ding as the miserable present he is
living in, and the spark Of conscience
implanted in every human system
may start into a cheerful fame to
light the way through the last great
shadow through which the mortal
man must pass. We know what we
talk of, when we say that God visits
retribution upon the unjust actions of
men-even in this world. Not that
the fullness of punishment is reached
here-nothing of the kind; but that
wrongs are as a rule largely righted
before the transgressors are removed
from the scenes of their wrong doing.
We are told that "God shall wipe
away all tears The spirit and teach
ing of the holy word indicate that He
will also wipe away the presence
which causes the tears. This thought
should claim the attention Of the
wrong-doer as we'll as the wronged.
Il will have good time for the pres
ent, there will be time enough to re-
form after while" says a young
friond That ,oru axnrnssin,n iS a