The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-04-13

SPIRITUAL" that, independent of any
thought of continuance, it promises to the
generous right-doers on the one side of the
Judge, spiritual life, and to the selfish
wrong-doers on the other side it threatens
spiritual punishment.
But that the whole discourse, from be-
ginning to end, is to be limited in its appli-
cation to the crisis then approaching in the
Jewish state, we may infer from two con-
siderations.
1. The section of Matthew's report
which is held to be description of far
off judgment day is, as can easily be seen,
omitted entirely from the reports of Mark
and Luke. What does this suggest7 Not
that Jesus did not speak the words which
Matthew records, but surely that Mark
and Luke, in emitting them from their
summary of the discourse of Jesus, re-
garded these special words as not vital
part of the Masters discourse. If Jesus
had here taught with unmistakable dis
tinctness the momentous doctrines of
deferred judgment-day and hopeless
doom for the wicked, could it be that any
fair reporter would omit this teaching from
his report? This omission of all report Ct
section of the discourse of Jesus by two
of the three reporters, is a strong presump-
ton that the omitted section does not con-
tain any teaching essentially different from
that which pervades the whole address,
which otherwise without question pertains
exclusively to the crisis then approaching.
2. The plain teaching of our lesson
passage is directly contrary to the thought
which underlies the so-called orthodox in
depreciation, namely, that Jesus declared
that there is 'great day. of judgment in
the far future. If there is one thing palmer
than another in our lesson.passage it is
Jesus warning against the delusive thought
that judgment is thing to be deferred to
the indefinite future. He taught them to
live in fear of the inevitable penalties of
wrong-doing which would surely be soon
made manifest, and might at any moment
in special manner be visited upon the
wrong-doer in this world. He teaches, as
plainly as words can teach, that men
should be alert against the assaults of evil,
because the fruits of wrongdoing are not
delayed, nor the coming of justice long
deferred.
1. Be Watchful for the Coming
Cause of Man,-vs. 4e-44.
Watch therefore, says Jesus, foyye know
not on zVAat day Jour Lord comefh. The
phrase "your Lord" is here the synonym
of 'the Son of Man" in the sentence next
but one preceding. Jesus as the Son of
Man is the conscious representative of
humanity. He is more than an individual.
He has cast away his own life that he may
find it again in the life of others. His
cause is identical with the cause of man.
And the word looming" is more literally
rendered in the margin as presence"
Jesus therefore warns his hearers to be
watchful because at times when they were
least expecting it they would have oppor
tunity to serve their Master by serving the
cause of man.
He would have them always in state
of spiritual preparation for trial. He tells
them that as householder may be taken
unawares by the burglar who digs under
his dwelling and enters it from beneath
it being precisely the uncertainty in regard
to the time of the thiefs coming which
lulls the householder into false security,
they are to beware of spiritual lasstude
and indifference. Be .ye also ready. for
in an Aouy that ye think not the Son of
man cometh. This coming of the Son of
man" is represented under Oriental i'm
agery Matt. "a a9-3I; es:3D as great
political upheaval, when those in highest
religious authority would be overthrow,
the heavenly powers would be brought
low. While he did not himself profess to
know the exact day when the great calam
ity was to come, that being knowledge
which the Father reserved from all Mark
10: 32), he saw unmistakable signs that it
could not be delayed beyond the then
present generation.
2. Be Watchful for the Present
Duty,-vs. 45-47.
Jesus next warns his disciples against
allowing their watching to be mere idle
waiting. He compares them each to a
headservant who has been made the stew
ard of household. While the owner ap-
pears TO be absent, he is not really far
away; he keeps his penetrating eyes upon
his household. The servant therefore who
is vigilant in his duty; who is humane
toward the other servants, and careful that
they are duly fed and clothed by prompt
and full payment of their wages; whose
administration of his Masters estate
thrives alike in itself and in the profit it
yields to the owner,-this servant shall be
appreciated and hoaored by his master
Blessed as that servant 7vhons his Lord
zVhen he e0meth shall find so doing. To
be watchful therefore is to be always care
full in the performance of the present duty
The master who observes that servant
in continued trials proves himself faithful
to his responsibilities, will give TO his serv-
ant even larger trust. He mil set him
00er all that he hath.
3. Be Always Ready for Judg-
ment,--vs. 1851.
BIT iffhat servant shall say, NY Lori
tayyieH. If he shall imagine that he will
not, for an indefinite period, be required
to render an account. ANd shall begin to
beat his fellOzV- SERVANTS, adShaH eatan
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