Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-12-20

baptist Church last evening. He
took for Lis text Luke 4, IS, 10:
The spir. OF Tho Lord is upon me. because
| lie hath AZ .Jinted me TO preach the gospel 10
the POOR l; hath sent me to heal the brui.en-
hearted, To preach dcliSerance TO the cap
iives. and rec 1vcring Of sight TO The blind, To
set AZ Liberty them that are bruised. To
preach the acceptable year of the Lord
"lt is very difficult for US to trans
port ourselves even in thought in
the world in which Christ lived"
said Rev. Taylor. 1.-The very ideas
OF tho iatherhood of God and that all
men were brothers-the idea OF fra
ternity, row so universal in Christ
endom-wero then uuihousht OK.
One-hsli OF the population of the
Roman empire We're slaves, ard q
slave vas piece OF property Of less
worth than land or cattle. The poor
we're held in utter contempt; even
the Jews esteemed them as bearing
the penalty either Of their own STA
or oi their fathers. IL was Jesus
who taught that all souls are equal
before God and revealed the infinite
worth OF humanity by dying 10 save
men and by the fact of the incarna-
ton.
I'VE are now near the Christmas
season, when We celebrate the advent
OF Jesus. Ia innumerable ways, in
conversation, in songs, in fanil y
gatherings and church services and
10 the giving and receiving OF pres
oEts. will we keep the memorial of
Jesus coming to earth. Naturally
The question suggests itself, amid
all The festivity and gladness OF
Christmas, il Jesus should appear
among us today and should become
q visible potent factor in dealing
with the problems that now con-
front us, what would He do? have
no doubt that lie would be more cor
ccrned in whatever directly affected
men and their destinies than In all
else. .....
IL believe there is no question so
important: as the one which deals
directly with the people. the multi
tudos known as the working classes,
Especially rs they stand related TO
the church. Jesus loved the people.
lie loved al mankind. But there
seemed always to be peculiar
pathos and tenderness toward the
poor and struggling who found life
to be a sore battle. AS parents with
a sick. weak or crippled child, there
is o look in the eye, a tenderness in
the heart and sweetness in the
voice toward the cripple. 1t is Eot
Partially, not favoritism, but long
ing to equalizc the lot. Thus does
God deal with mankind. We cen
only Judge what Jesus would do were
he here now from what He did when
On earth. He always remained true
to one fixed, unaltersbie fact. viz:
lie offered neither help nor hope to
any except 10 those who by faith re-
oeived Him as the one sent of God.
lie utterly refused to enter into any
plans, schemes or combinations 70
effect political changes or to reor-
gsnize society. He promised blessed
ness, or happiness, not to the proud,
the rich, the powerful, the SELF
indu.gent and ease-loving. but TO the
poor in spirit, the meek, those
hungering and thirsting after right.
cousness, etc. He taught that the
! grandest life was that spent in do.
ing good and that the humble and
those who sacrificed for others were
the only great ones. He taught tina.
all human conduct should be deter.
mined by love, one to another and
that no one should do to another
except what be wished the others to
do to him.
. "ln our day, coming from many
sources, certain conceptions OF the
teachings OF Jesus, which are no.
oaly not His teachings, but the exac,
reverse. have arisen. These concep.
lions are that happiness depends
upon environment; that moral char.
acier is determined by our circum.
stances; that the supreme duty is to
care for the lower nature. for bodily
comfort aud education. end that the
higher needs Of the spirit, relations
to God and immortality may be ig.
nored. As result there is almost
everywhere Affecting among working.
men that they co not want chrisiiaI..
iy,ror the chu.ch, nor personal SAWS.
tion from sin, and tha; they have nc
supreme interest in God and immor.
tally. Hence. they are talking,
planning and scheming to usher in
she millennium without Christ and
the kingdom OF heaven without God.
Bot, wo are asked, would not Christ
denounce Pharisees and hypocrite:
and oppressors? Doubtless, Blu,
We do not suppose woTkingmen TO bt
OF these classes.
Would Talk Of wsges.
"But would He not talk Of wage:
and oppression? Did Ne enter into
details concerning these when here
eScep; as He emphasized justice,
Righteousness and mercy? IL HI
were here. would lie lot cenounc,
the churches? Did He te1ounce III,
temple and synagogue when herei
Nay, verify, lie honored them
though He denounced b. Pocrites aat
preieniers.
when Jesus was on estth lie loved
all me1, DE was the very Incarnation