Morning journal and courier., 1892-07-25
ArrHE FIRST M. r. CHURCH,

Rice of Wesleyan Univer- :
versity Delivers an Interesting Dis
course on Glove and Faith
Means of Salvalfon.,,
Rev. Professor W. N. Rice, LII. D of
Wesleyan university at Middletown,
preached very interesting sermon last
evening at the First NJ. E. church, on
Christ's forgiving the woman of Caperna-
UNI, as told in st. Luke vi:36-5O.
In order, he said, to gain . more accu-
rate conception of the scene described and
it's significance in the gospel we must look
for q moment atthe life and mann ers of |
Oriental people. Their position at the |
feast was reclining, and SO it was compar- |
atively easy for this woman to creep up
and anoint his feet. A mans house is not
his castle than in the same manner in
which it is here. This story is found only
in st. Luke, and whether 1t is identical
| with the story of Mary as told in the other
gospels is uncertain.
Simon, the host with whom Jesus was
dining, was man anxious of being iden-
tilted with the cause of the new prophet
should it be successful, but was choosing
his position very carefully 30 as not to be
compromised by it If 1t became unpopular.
So he had invited the young prophet to
his house, with a few other friends who
wished to attempt to draw Jesus out and
find out more about his teachings.
But there was this unbidden guest, q
woman of the city who was q sinner.
Jesus had somehow made her conscious of
her sins and awakened self-losthing and
| hatred of her sins in her. Thus she comes
and throws herself at the feet of Jesus
and is overcome with her feelings, and
, commences to cover his feet with kisses
| and then wipes them with her hair. Then
she seemed to bethink herself of the
errand for which she had come. and 80
she broke the alabaster box over them.
I'll But Simon had no sympathy with these
| tender, pure feelings and the aspirations
. | of the sin-sick soul. Thus he thought
! that Jesus could have been no profit or he
: | would have known what kind of woman
| that was that had entered his house. Then
!. Jesus told him the parable of the two
: debtors. It is here that Jesus says that
: he to whom most was forgiven loved most.
:. Some say that there is no surer way Of
!, developing that highest of Christian
;. in passing through life of sin. Ye,
l. we can hardly believe that Jesus
J. thought 80 atrocious doctrine
,. yet he does seem to teach it in a sense
J. Errors in judgment Of Christ's words are
10 often made in attempting to extend the
analogy further than was intended by
1T Christ. But is it not true that that debtor
E will forgive the most who has thu
t. greatest sense and consciousness of tn,
c. benefit conferred? There is no surer way
~ to blunt all appreciation of Christ than By
IF SHINING Simon and the woman were sin
r ners. To determine between the gros
r prohigacy of the woman and the eelf
Of righteousness of Simon is beyond tn
W power of man. The difference was tina
Simon had completely lulled his conscienc
E. to sleep so that he was not conscious o
an | reason in the world to be conscious of he
no | sins. Much is said nowadays about hoy
much preaching there formerly was on tn
is- tenets OF the law. But the law is tn
d. schoolmaster which will bring us to Christ
Childood's Christianity is always necesss
nd rily weak, because the child is not capabl
n of the emotions of manhood and woman
hood. But do say that there is no poss
rs bility of conversion without conviction
or sin.
Jesus felt that there was no inconsisteI
90 | cy in salvation by faith and salvation
sir love as he turned to her after he had sal
sFor she loved much" and said ''Thy fat
he hath made thee whole" She knew lit
IN Of theological systems, but she had ss
ing faith. 1t is good to believe In got
set doctrines about Jesus, but it is better
70, have personal faith in Jesus himsel
The two Greek words ''pistos" aud 'spi
Ter teuno," which are generally translated" h
a lief" and "believiug," would be much be
ter rendered "trust" and trusting"
nd that is their true significance. Thus M
Sc, we have that trust in God, so that VIII
our life fades away it may be in that sere
urt and divine faith which is the peace of G.
ion past all understanding.