The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1893-11-22
An impossible Hope.

NBNA Va NDO CC6ub
Christ is the divinely ordained in
strumentality for achieving the
salvation of our lost world. In one
sense its work is an impossible one.
From a human standpoint it's un-
dertaking is an impracticable and
hopeless one. But the gospel does
not take its bearings from an earth
ly standpoint, and they who pro-
claim it bear a commission, not
from men, but from God.
There is no such thing as despair
ing of the final result when we re-
member that Jesus Christ is our
leader. To him all power is given
in heaven and on earth. Of him it
is declared that he shall not fail nor
be discouraged. The promise has
gone forth from the throne of grace
that the heather shall be given to
him for an inheritance and the ut
termost parts of the earth for pos
session. Christianity is not merely
competing religion, going forth to
secure a share of the earth, and ex-
pecting to divide the field with
other venerable faiths of antiquity.
However large a following any
heather religion may have, and
however intrenched it NAV be in
the customs and affections of race
or people, everything must give way,
finally, to the gospel of Jesus Christ,
whose truth goes forth to conquer
every form of belief, and whose sal
walton is ordained to uplift the
world.
There was, unquestionably, much
to confuse the common thought of
men In the presentations of the
various faiths at the recent So
called Parliament of Religions.
There was much to lead people to
think that these all stood on a COM
mon ground, each with field of it's
own, and each with the same gen.
eral outlook and possibilities. This
ls, of course, the conception of the
heather religions. They, each of
them, hold on their way, not expect
ing to encroach on one another, not
intending to be aggressive nor mis-
sionary. They have not been ag-
gressive. The gospel of Christ diff
fers from them all in this respect.
1t has a conception of being world
wide in its spread and triumphs.
1t has this written in the great com.
mission of Christ himself. If it
fails to act under that COMMUNIST
for the evangelization of the whole
earth, it forfeits its charter rights
by disloyalty and disobedience to
its great Captain.
In the Parliament referred to a
Buddhist priest said, in the course
of his address: much has been
said of the common ground of Ie-
ligious unity; but if any one here
hopes that this unity will come by
the triumph of any one of these re-
ligions, and the destruction of the
others, to him say: Brother, yours
is an impossible hope.
Without question Buddhism,
Confucianlsm and Mobammed dan.
ism assent to this possibility.
Christianity does not. 1t can not,
for a single instance. 1t has not
thought of standing on an equality
with other religions. 1t does not
claim equality with other religions.
1t does not claim equality and ira
ternity with them. 1t is exclusive
and singular. 1t loves all men and
seeks their well-being, and would
welcome them all to the peace and
glory and salvation of Christ. 1t
has no idea of caste, in the sense of
repelling single soul Its only
thought of exclusiveness is in ex.
Guiding any other name given I'M
der heaven among men as one by
which we may be saved. It's claim
of solitariness is N exalting Jesus
Christ to the supreme place on the
throne; in claiming that to him
"every knee shall bow" and that
his name, finally, every soul shall
acknowledge n d confess to be
the one above all others in dignity
and authority.
Jesus Christ claiming to be the
only Saviour, it is not generosity
nor benevolence nor charitableness
for US to preach anything less. 1t
would be not only disloyalty to him,
but the greatest uDkindness to our
fellow. men. If there we're only one
remedy for terrible disease
scourging a community, it would be
the greatest kindness to insist,
with all strenuousness and positive
ness, that all those stricken should