The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-01-26

religion of the Old Testament anu Je-
sus sums up it's precepts as the complete
religion Of the New. BY saying that
On tbis .hangs all the Law" be de-
ciares II TO have been the one religion
Of the past. By adding that on this
chang on The prophets he proclaims
81 the one and only religion Of the
future.
tis.in stric.uess. equally a mistake
to,neat ~ the Christian " religion
Christianity Is not distinctively re-
Hg.on. bat is a divine expedient for
bringing men back to religion;as health
restored by medicine is not medicated
health, bot is only natures own pre-
existing s0undness of body. To wait
for the " last word. 80 therefore, in either
religion or redemption, is to wait for
that which was long since unaltera0ly
SPOKEN. In Jesus is Joined both the
Alpha Of the Law ana the Omega
OF The Gospel. This simplicity Of both
religion aud redemption is the one un-
trring clue to the otherwise bewilder-
iug labyrinth Of theolOgies, catechisms'
tects and creeds. The Song Of Moses
aud the Lamb is the blended song Of
the Wav." and Of the lost way found.
1.-THE SIMPLICITY OF LOVE.
The old Portuguese navlgators had
hoped 60 discover a passage to THE East
Indies around the southernmost poirt
of the continent Of Africa. Repulsed
again and again by stormy headlands
they yet perscvered tin confronted at
length by O pronontory with so wsld a
sea that in their despair Of doubling it
they named DC Cape Non" What they
had In vain attempted was to gain the
coveted prize by getting past a success.
sion of frowning Thou shalt nots. ~
Columbus with an enterprise born Of
finer aud more comprehensive insight,
turning his back on these denying and
prohibiting headlands, directs the prows
Of Dds vessels in q simple. straight
course through the open Atlantic, with
The happy result that .his eyes are ere
long greeted with the sight Of New
World with possibilities of a freedom,
grandeur wealth and power far sur
passing tine proudest triumphs Of The
old
That was the gloriors solution Of the
most profound and far-reaching geo.
graphical problem Of the time.
The deepest. the most practically i'm
poriaut ethic4. problem Of the ages had
been TO find. were it possible. some
single and elective Thou shalt, "
which might serve as o complete substl-
tute for an indefinite number Of impo-
tent aud anslaving Thou shalt nots. "
Of tins problem the divine and perfect
solution ls Love. What can exceed the
concise beauty with which the greatest
of ihe Apostles $50 strangely decried for
sternne,s Of logical severity, has re-
solved for us this intricate inquiry
"For This. Thou shalt not commit
adultery. Thou shalt not kill Thou shalt
not steal. Thou shalt not bear false wit
nesses. Thou shalt not covet-and if
there be- any other commandment, it is
briefly comprehended IN this saying,
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy
seii.'
Here then. in this brief "comprehen-
tioa' Of countless negative prohibit
snus under a single positive precept is
she beautiful simplicity Of love; a prln-
style so mighty and 30 peIvasiye that
nudices Of itself to inform and vital
ize all the multiform relations and du-
ties Of human life.
lu.-THE SIMPLICITY OF FAITH.
The object and the end Of faith is TO
brIg us back to love. This it does by
frea1g us from the despaiiing tangle
81 thousand enslaviug and irritating
"Io1a shall nots, and restoring US to
the JOYOUS freedom Of the one lawful
filling Thou shalt. What mocAery
of q paralytic's pride 20 encourage it TO
e. successful emulation Of unparalyzed
limbs. But this does become, however,
no. only possible, but easy. when once,
in answer 70 the uplifted glance OF
isIh the divine Healer has said, Rise,
take up thy bed aud walk.
Trying 10 reach heayC by mere stress
/. Of moral endeavor is very much like
climbing rope. The climber is all the
time either climbing or holding Oh. No
wonder the ltrongest man should tire
Of doing that. He must perforce stop
now aud then and rest. But it is a
most unsatisfactory rest, since it 10 al
mosl as hard TO hold on as il is 10 climb.
Now faith is neither climbing nor hold
ing on. II is not even holding On 70
Christ. IL is dropping into Christ's
arms and letting Christ hold you.
"On thy kind arms fan"
"she right and the real act. aud the
io'ofite but misleading motto should
De changed 10 Teneor ct Teneo.
For him who declines to yield thi,
ample trust the end must prove lapse
si1her into blank inideity or into the
ensnafing intricacies Of essential Roman
''m. Resolved 10 rest, but equal,
resolved not 70 fan into Christ's out
."e'eh'd arms, man may conclude 4
oiop anywhere aud taka bis chance