The record-union., 1896-11-29

Simon contends that Judaism, eman-
cipated from its separateness and cere-
monialism, is the religion best suited
to the modern scientific mind, and in
that form should be presented openly
for acceptance. He insists that the ma
ture of Judaism is misunderstood, be-
cause always identified with particu-
ever held itself separate and apart from
others. But the separateness of the
Jews, he contends, does not involve the
separateness Of Judaism. =
There is no evidence anywhere that Ju-
daism can part with ITS exclusiveness,
and yet maintain it's existence. The
root of that separateness lies in belief
in a distinct and glorious future for Is
rael in fulfillment of the covenant made
with Abraham. In this condition, the
Jews cannot help turning back to that
covenant until they can show by its full
fillment their release from the separate
ness which its promises induced them to
adopt. Christianity asserts that the
covenant has been discharged in the
life, death, and resurrection of Christ.
But Judaism is still looking back to an
unfulf1lled covenant, and to the ortho-
dox 1t must remain a pledge of glori-
Gus future, or be admitted to be colos-
sal failure. The new church might be
the Church of Israel in name, but not in
fact On the other hand, how Mr.. Simon
is to reconcile the scientific and spiritual
theists, whom he hopes to attract, to the
nr~Y,c1 flrp.. to, I,,1
state. The Jewish religion is in its very
essence miraculous. It's origin, the COW
enants upon which it rests, the per-
Sonal intimacy between God and Abra-
ham, the familiarity of his intercourse
with the prophets the deliverance of the
Jews from bondage, were all supernat-
ural. How are the modern scientific
men to accept all this, or how, if they
dissipate 1T by the usual critical meth
ods, are the essential features of Ju-
daism to be retained?"
10 the one who believes that life
and immortality are brought to light in
the sufficiently accredited statements of
the divine revelation, scientific specu-
latlons about the future existence have
comparatively little interest,"" observes
the Chicago Advance" (Cong.); "nev-
ertheless, for many minds, and espe-
clally for those Of definitely naturalistic
prepossessions, it signifies much to find
that the Word of Christ is corrobora ted
by the most convincing logic. The
great argument for immortality is
based on two assumptions: first that
there is a personal God; and second
that God is our Father and that He
cares for and visits man. For a theist
to deny Immortality is to confess that
he is an absurd person, a person who
who in an intellectual point of view
is much in the case of one that denies
first truth of reason. The great ar
gument leads the mind from the being
of God to the endless life Of man, and
does not busy itself with what it finds
In the nature and condition of man as
suggestive of continuance in the fu-
ture with God: the intellectual point OF
departure is the existence and heart OF
God. 1t assumes that the great God
will not bow himself and come down to
man, make himself companion and
friend, say to him, L am thy God II
HidH - pul d creature or a moment
an ephemerid, whose being ends with
the setting sun of a summer day."
We fear that sin is a much more
serious and deep-seated error of hui
man nature than is acknowledged by
optimists of the new school," says the
Standard" (Bapt) of Chicago. 1--WE
think that the teaching of Jesus in the
synoptic gospels. which under some in
terpretations seems to yield support
for the moral development theory
should be supplemented by his teaching
in the fourth gospel; the sermon on the
mount must be read in the light of the
conversation with Nicodemus. Mar
Is to be judged according to his charac-
ter, and not according to the terms OF
some legal fiction: but if his character
be not profoundly modified, trans
formed, regenerated by the grace OF
God, he shall not stand in the judg-
ment. For this we have the word OF
Scripture and the witness of our own
sinful hearts. We are all too ready tC
believe those who offer us an easier
salvation, but we know in sober mo-
ments that ethical culture will be o.
no avail when we stand in the presence
of God