The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-12-11
-AE TWO COMMANDMENTS.
I've Precepts In Which Are Summed Up
An Human Duty.

ATE ] W. SOWIVISAtN0W6 ~
I've Precepts In Which Are Summed VI
An Human Duty.
There are only two commandments ir
the field of morals. All human duty IL
summed up in two precepts-precepts
easily stated and easily comprehended
but difficult to fulfill. There are many
precepts for the government of the life,
for there are many relations, and in each
relation there are duties which are thus
clearly defined. These duties are all
'cOdiied in the Ten Commandments, the
divinely-given law Of mankind, for all
ages, and Christ, the great teacher, trac-
ing all to the underlying principle and
motive, sums them up in two: "Love to
God, and love to man."
When thus stated we see the moral
law in a new light. 1t is no more a
simple law, meeting us at every point
and commanding duty, but the word and
will Of One who loves us; not simply
IN authoritative command from o
rightful Lord, but fountain
of life within ourselves. 1t
presents another relation to God than
that Of creatures and subjects to His
law; one nearer and more tender and
with stronger motives. 1t presents God
ss the source of all good, and as sustain
ing direct personal relation to US in
which we are so identified with Him
that we love Him and all that bear His
likeness. 1t presents service in its
highest character, and invests it with
the glory Of the Divine nature. GOD
is love-" Thou shalt love-" All is
3, summed up in these, for 'love is the
fulfilling of the law"
As SO stated, the law Of God appeals
to all that is highest and best in our
nature, and presents duty in a light so
attractive that it must win obedience
from every one who will consider. "Thou
shalt love with all thy heart" Sweeter
words could not be spoken to the soul Of
man; duty could not be placed in .
stronger light; more powerful motive
could not be presented. For the law is
the reflection of Gods nature, and in
: obedience to it we are lifted up to Him.
OF these two commandments, one is
first: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy
sGoa with all thy heart, with all thy
soul, and with all thy mind. This is
the first and great commandment"
God is supreme, and must therefore be
frst in thought, purpose and service.
His will is the absolute law. He is the
Infinite One, the only One in whom we
can find the fullness which satisfies our
need, and in whom we rise to the com,
'pleteness Of our nature. He is the life
from whom and in whom we have our
being. His hand ever ministers to on,
need. But more than this; His spirit
gives and sustains our life. "The
. breath of the Almighty hath given me
4Kfe." Love to Him is therefore "the
first great commandment" Any con
ception of life that changes this is radi
cally wrong; any code of morals that re
verses this order does violence to oul
nature. The religion of humanity,
plausible as it is, Is false and destruc
tive, because it does not make love and
duty to God first and supreme. rNf
I But the second commandment is like
unto the first and Of equal obligation
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy
self" Our neighbor bears the imag'
Of God, and therefore must share ou
love to God. He is our fellow man; h
bears the same image, sustains thu
same relation, and SO is on the SAM
plane. Love to him is therefore a com
Ymandment ''like unto" the first, and tn
measure Of it is "as myself" 1t l
second. but not inferior. ....,.
Now what does such love require
1t commands intelligent care for others
We are not Indifferent to the circum
stances, interests and needs Of those w
love; on the contrary, we are solicitor
concerning them. We seek their fel
lowship, and our hearts are moved whel
we know of their need, and we hasten +
manifest our regard in appropriat
ways. So Christ places us in such q re
lation to others that the Samaritan
neighbor to the Jew. Even those mos
separated from us by social barriers, tn
most difficult barriers to overcome, hav
the claims of common brotherhood
and come within the words of the Lord
'.as myself"
This second commandment require
service. Love commands service; 1t
not satisfied without ministry; it ca
not love without sacrifice for Others
Christ gave Himself for the world bt
cause He loved it. He came not to b
ministered unto, but to minister, and
give His life ransom for many. AS H
came, so He sends us, to render tn
same service under the same Divine
constraining love. Pity for the WOUND
ed Samaritan commands the hands, an
he is lifted up and tenderly cared fo
according to his need.
Here lies the great mistake OF tn
past; the second commandment has nj
in practice been held as like unto tn
FIRST. We have attempted to serve Cox
but have not been careful to minister
our fellow-men. We have frame
systems of theology, but hay
not formulated our relations an
duties to our fellow-men. o,
creeds have contemplated the doctrine
relating to God and redemption, b.
have not had so much regard to the ser
ice we owe to our fellow-men. To Il
poor, the suffering, the oppressed, IL
vronged and the dispirited. To Il
great world of sin and sorrow we hay
offered confession Of faith, and ha'