Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-03-04
REV. w. W. KING
Occupied the Pulpit at the Wesley VI. Z.
Church.


Occupied the Pulpit at the Wesley VI. y.
Church
At the Wesley NJ. E. Church, Rev.
w. w. King, of Lafayette, Ind, SON
in.law Of DR.. ii. T. Ford, preached an
interesting discourse, taking his text
from Matthew, 1912. He said in sub
stance:
Tot thoughtless these words might
only provo Ike . smile, or at most feel
inc of surp rise ana wonder that such a
seemingly silly expression should be
found In the Word of Cod but those
who notice the connection Of these
words with sufficient care 10 get their
true meaning will see no occasion for
regarding them with levity, but will
rather be Impressed with the profound
philosophy which underlies them and
with the great truth which they were
designed to express. The literal trans
alton Of the text will be how much
then is man of more consequence or
value than q sheep-which was equiva-
Ient to saying TO the Pharisees, You un-
derStand the value OF q sheep, and be
cause of the money which 1t represents
Justify yourselves ia trying to save il
On any daV. ] understand the intrinsic
worth of man, and because OF the
greater value which ne represents shall
not be granted exemption from the
same Sabbath regulation n helping and
saving him that you claim for your
selves in saving sheep?
The argument had enough humor
aud pleasantly in it 10 impress the
Pharlsees with their consistency, but
underneath IL all is this great sublime
truth of mans value in the sight OF
Cod which is the subject. To speak OF
Christ's estimate OF mans value Is
equivalent to affirming that there had
been other estimates and that the value
which he places upon man differs from
these. II this be the truth then the
first thing to be doRe is to find out as
far as possible what these other esti-
mates have been that be may know TO
what extent and ia what particulars
the place and value which Christ de
scribes to man differs from these, and
TINT We may decide upon this com
parison and contrast, whether Chrlst's
estimate is the correct one. Going back
10 the very earliest times OF which we
have any record, one OF the first
things that impreSSes Us is the little
value that was attached TO man in
those DAYS. His mode of living was
very little different from that OF the
animal by which be was surrounded.
Almost no provision was made for the
comfort or protection of his body, and
human life was regarded so trihingly
that il was taken on the slightest prov
ocation and without conjunction or
sacrifice. Personal difficulties and
grievances were settled by mortal com
bats; wars were organized campaigns Of
butcherv; prisoners, cripples, aged and
infirm people were put to death without
thought, and anthropophagy tJhe eat
ing of human flesh was universally
practised.
Coming down a step further within
the historic period OF man seems to
assure the higher value and importance;
but looking a little more closely you will
discover that il was not because his ma
ture was regarded as possessing inner
ent splendor of majesty or that he had
any inherent value within himself; but
the impulse was 10 honor the accidents
OF human nature more than the nature
itself. and especially TO honor the ex-
tranrdinary power which was some
times associated with il and TO conceive
this the supreme thing In human eZpe-
riencc. The accidental powers some
times belonging TO man was the thing
Of value and not the man himself
Whoever had this by acquisition or in
heritance, became thereby an object OF
respect and even homage. aud whoever
had il not was OF little importance
He also discussed the place which man
occupied under the Brahmanic system
and also under the Hebrew system,
showing that none Of these systems
attached any special value TO man as
such. He also spoke Of the low estimate
which il placed upon man by the teach
ipgs of science, which has tried 10 prove
tina: on his physical side he is little
higher than the ape.
Continuing, he SAID: In contrast with
these various, vet in the main concur
rant. estimates of mans value, consider
the value placed upon him by Christ.
He taught that man, any man, every
man. without regard TO the accidental
environments Of birth, or inheritance,
or nationality, or any circumstances OF
attainment or achievement has Intrinsic
value. That there is a stamp on human
nature wherever it may be found which,
without regard to race, color or condi-
tion. gives tia fixed and eternal value
value that is not affected in the
slightest degree by any racial pro
scription or limitations or by any
of those accidents or cir
cumstauces which affects all othar esti-
mates of its value. That there IS neither
:irtue or dishonOr in being Jew or Gen
,iIe. or Greek or Barbarian; but eterna
honor in haviag being cgaated human
being. and so he gave Himself, not for
the Greek or the Hebrew, or the Roman
n spch; not for the rich or the poor,