The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-01-09

and irresistible; they are better than
the proof-texts for a dogma. They are
an atmosphere in which religion lives,
and moves, and has its being. They
are sunrise"
With such clear conceptions of the
Fatherhood, and believing that "sun-
rise" rose upon the world with the
teachings of Jesus, we can readily be-
lieve that DR.. Watson accepts the
Fatherhood in the unlimited sense
which is peculiar to Christianity and
which is the special distinction OF
the sublime doctrine. We find that
he is not unacquainted with the mod
ern heresy-one of the most stupid
and malignant heresies of all ages
since Christianity became sunrise
that proclaims that the Fatherhood
of God is the special privilege of
the believer.
He pays his respects to the terrible
delusion of such men as DIR. Henson
of our city, Bishop Merrill of the
Methodist church, and the editor of
the Journal and Messenger of Cincin-
natl, who hold to this view. The pass
age in which he refers to this modern
heresy, which eliminates the most
vital truth of the Gospel, is one of the
most trenchant and convincing para
graphs in his sermon. We quote it
following, asking the readee to note
how thoroughly clan Maclaren" dis
p ,ses of the pharasaic and utterly
uuchristian teaching:
people with dogmatic ends to serve
have striven to believe that Jesus re-
served Father for the use of his disciples;
but an ingenious person could hardly
make the discovery in the Gospels. One
searches in vain to find that Jesus had
an exoteric word for his intimates. and
an esoteric for the people, saying Faith
or to John, and judge to the publicans.
1t had been amazing il Jesus we're able
to employ alternatively two views of God
according to his audience, speaking now
as an Old Testament Prophet, now as
the Son of God. 1t is recorded in the
Gospels. Then spake Jesus to the multi
tude and his disciples. saying
One is your Father, which in in Heaven
This attempt to restrict the intention of
Jesus is not of yesterday; it was the in
vention of the Pharisees. They detect
ed the universal note in Jesus teach
ing; they resented his unguarded char
ity.
"Their spiritual instincts we're not
wide, but they we're very keen. within
limited range. and the Pharisees judged
with much correctness that the teaching
of Jesus and the privileges OF Judaism
we're inconsistent. If publican was a
son Of God, what advantage had phari-
see? 1t was natural that they should
murmur: we are now thankful that they
criticised the Master. Jesus made his
defense in his three greatest parallels,
and in the parable Of the Prodigal Son
he defined the range of the Divine
Fatherhood beyond reasonable dispute.
His deliverance was given with deliber-
ation-in Jesus most finished parable;
the parable was created for definite
purpose-to vindicate Jesus intercourse
with sinners.
at contains Jesus most complete des
cription of a sinner from his departure
to his return; with emphasis it declares
that sinner son of Coda son was
lost and is found Between the con in
the far country and the son at home is
an immense difference; but if he had
not been son from home. there had
been no home for his return. The pos
sibility of salvation lies in sonship.
ut would not be fair to rest any master
doctrine on single parable, were it not
that the parable is Jesus definition of
Fatherhood, given in answer to the prac
tical challenge of privilege. were it not
that it simply crystallises the whole
teaching of Jesus on God from his boy
hood to his death. If Jesus did not
teach a Divine Fatherhood embracing
Race, then he used words to conceal
thought, and one despairs OF ever un-
Outstanding our Master"