The Newtown bee., 1890-07-25

The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is
not mere negation. 1t is something
very positive in its nature and teaching.
IL II denounces sin, it commands holiness.
Ii 1t breaches against righteousness, it
does preach righteousness. III 1t denies
error, IL also declares truth. 1t combats
unbelief, but it establishes faith. View
the teaching of Christ IA a whole eye
tenn; look Mt 1t in the light of the Apos-
ties writings and the history of the
church and this positive character of the
Gospel will appear very prominent.
1.-The work of the promised Christ
was not simply destructive, it was pre-em-
inently constructive.
IL Is not strictly true to say that Christ
came to destroy the Jewish law; ale
came not to destroy but to fulfill" lie
did away with the cold Jewish interpret
alton of Gods law, but he put in place of
that his own higher meaning. The dec
alogue Is not made of no effect, hence
forth 1t is made of higher import by the
Sermon on the Mount.
The idolatry OF the heather was not to
be wiped out OF sight forever and moth
ing to be put in its place; the worship of
the idol was to be followed by the wor-
ship of the Son of God
The gross heather conception of deity
was supplanted by the true Christian
teaching about God. The nations were
told not only that God was not a God of
vengeance and of justice and OF lust, but
that He was, first of all, a God of love, a
God of mercy and God OF purity and
holiness.
The Jewish religion was done away
only that it might be changed to the
Christian. The heather religion was set
aside only to admit into the lives of men
the new and positive teaching of the in
carnate Son of God.
And in looking more closely at the life
of Christ itself, we see Mt once the i'm
portance of this principle made promi-
nent. He teaches that men are not only
TO be careful not to be against Him, but
to be for Him. That they are to choose
not mammon, but God and serve Him.
His death was necessary for the life of
the world, but it is only made complete
when followed by His resurrection. lie
assembled into Heaven, but it was only in
order that the Holy Spirit might come in
His stead And not only in regard to
the great facts of His life and the great
principles of His teaching, but in regard
to the very character of that life which
He lived, there is something very posi-
tive.
He Ia not only in very truth the sinless
man, but Is most of all the perfect man.
There Is something chiefly negative about
the term sinless. SHE did no sin, neith-
err was guile found in His mouth" But
He was more than even this. He was
not only free from all sins of commission,
but He was free from all sins of omis-
sion. He never left anything undone
which He ought to have done. lie new
er left any word unsaid which he ought
to have said. He never failed to think
the right thought when he ought to have
thought 1t. He was sinless. lie was al
so perfect. He was free from every sin.
He was, moreover, full of all virtue. In
the great plan of redemption made by
Jesus Christ, He never removed any err
ror or did away with any sin, without es-
tablishing some new truth or new virtue
In place of it.
H.-This positive character of the Cos
pei Is also clear in the preaching and the
writings Of the apostles.
When st. Peter stood up on the day of
Penteeost or later on, at the risk of his
own life and by the power of the Spirit,
preached the new Gospel of the risen
Christ. He did not seek to destroy the
Jewish belief in the Old Testament and
the promises of God, he only sought to
make known the true meaning of their
sacred writings by showing them to be
fulfilled In the risen Christ.
When st. Paul stood in the presence
of the Athenian philosopher on Mars
Hill, he did not endeavor merely to in
duce them to give up their natural relig-
lon which they knew by nature, but he
put In place Of It the new revelation of
Christ concerning the unknown God.
slim therefore whom we ignorantly
worship Him declare unto YOU" The
Jews might better have their own relig-
ion than no religion at all and so might
the heather, but what they needed and
what was preached TO them was the truth
as 1t Is in Jesus.
This same positive teaching is trace
able all through the apostolical epistles
in the more direct bearing upon practical
morality. 'sBe not conformed to this
world, but be ye transformed by the re-
newing of your mind" ''Abhor that
which Is evil; cleave to that which Is
good" ''Set your affections not on
things ON the earth, but on things
above.n 'sLet him that stole steal nc
more, but rather let him labor, working
with his hands, that he may have to give
To him that needeth.- s'Let no corrupt
communication proceed out of you
mouth, !but rather that which Ia good
There are many such positive injunction
by the apostles. st. Paul says of Go,
that "He delivered US from darkness an,
translated us into the kingdom o
His dear son." And the apostle ais
uses language OF this nature besides wha
we have quoted. s'Cease to do evil, lear
to do well.n slave no fellowship wit
the KunfruItful works. OF darkness, br
rather -eprove them.n Finally in on
text, ssBc not overcome OF evil, but Owe
come evil with good"
III.--This Is just what the Church {
God. as q whole, has been doing through