The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-12-26

THIS exclamation appropriately
i follows every true view of the
work of Christ, in the personal soul
and in general history. Everything
about Christianity is strange: it breaks
UP the commonplaces of history. Ii
to-day we can read any part OF the
Gospel narrative without surprise, tits
because we have become Indifferent
through familiarity with the letter.
Take the life of our Lord, and the
whole course is marked by wonder,
surprise, amazement, sorrow, or I'M
speakable Joy. Bethlehem had its
unique wonder. The Sermon on the
Mount was followed by the astonish-
ment of all who heard its doctrine.
Every miracle was followed by
amazement. Even the personal
habits of our Lord excited the won
der of friends and foes: They won
dered at the gracious words that pro-
ceeded out of his mouth" "They
wondered that he spake unto the
woman;" "They all murmured that
he had gone to be guest with man
that is a sinner" "They were amazed,
saying to one another, What manner
of man is this?" All these remarks
point to the distinctiveness or unique
ness of the man and his work. Loss
of distinctiveness is loss OF power.
Not where Christianity is like other
religions, but where it is unlike them,
does it assert its real majesty and in
fiuence. 1t is the same with Chris
tan conduct. "What do ye more
than others9' The emphasis is upon
the "more" as we'll as upon the
"others." Christ is not satisfied that
his disciples should do as much as
others: in broad and deep sense,
they only become his disciples when
they surpass all other conceptions of
moralities. We are acquainted with
the studies of comparative theology
and comparative morals. Ii we would
do justice to Christ, we must pass
from the comparative to the contrast
i've. No moralist can do the same
work as TIE Christian is called upon
to do, though there may be a strong
superficial similarity between the two
services. 1t is not only the conduct
of the Christian that is good: it is
the underlying motive that has been
sanctified by the cross of Christ, UNI
der the power of the Eternal Spirit.
In the Judgment of Christ the value
of every action is determined by
motive. Hence the work of Jesus
Christ is spiritual it inspires the
soul with unquenchable desire to do
good to all men. Thus the morality
of Jesus Christ is not an attitude in
conduct; or mere cleverness in the
adoption of expedients: it is the
expression of renewed and sanctifed
condition of the soul.
Christianity itself, as doctrine, is
open to the challenge, What does
Christianity more than other relig-
ions9 Here, again, we come upon the
standard of doing" Does Christi
anity answer more questions, cover
more ground. supply more succor,
invest the soul with larger faculty
and freedom, than other religions?
We are told that pagan religions
were characterized by reverence, dis
cipline, and by elevating aspiration:
possibly SO; for my part, believe
that there is nothing good in any re-
ligion which is not the result of the
operation of the Holy Spirit. God
has not left himself without witness
in the land. Christianity does not
repel the good features and actions
of other religions, but it distinctly
claims them as broken parts of its
own integrity. Other religions are
mere sentiments, speculations, ex-
pedients, or intellectual PHILOSOPHERS;
but Christianity is great specific
offer of the loving heart of God.
Other religions are local-they be-
long to specific races and to peculiar
conditions OF personal and social de-
velopment: the religion of Jesus
Christ is worldwide, and adapted to
every member of the whole family of
mankind. Christianity gives the
whole world over to the charge of it's
believers. 1t binds those believers
to make the Cross known in every
language and under every sky. The
religion of our Lord Jesus Christ will
not allow men to be self-indulgent,
to be narrowly patriotic, to be morally
Indifferent to the sin, the crime, the
outrage, the poverty and suffering of
the world. We can never consent,
therefore, to look upon Christianity
as one religion amongst many.