Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1898-09-22
NO7l


ard of the world for statuary and
mural decoration. It is so in music.
The harmony of the sonatas of Beeth-
oven and the symphonies of Liszt
and Mozart find no rivals to day; the
standard therein attained has never
been passed.
Christ clearly recognized this
principle Take the teaching of the
parable of the talents, to which we
have alluded. Each mans capacity
is the standard by which he is iudg-
ed. The man with five used the five
and gained five. The man with two
used the two-he could use no more,
for he had no more-and gained two
and both were Judged worthy to rule
over certain cities. He showed it
in His judgment Of the woman taken
in adultery and the Scribes and
Pharisees. His Judgment of the vii
lagos of Capernaum and Tyre and
Sidon; His judgment of the penitent
thief and Judas. In all of these Ca
pacity was the measure used, and
the highest point already attained
was the standard employed in deter
mining the judgment.
The principle, then, in religion, as
in secular things, is this: Every man
is Judged by his own highest capa-
city, and that capacity is increased
with every glimpse of Christ! Let
us illustrate. Christ gives you some
direct evidence of His presence, of
His power, of His love. He let's Him.
self shine, as it were, into your life;
He vouchsafes, as in olden times, to
manifest Himself unto you and unto
the world. Every time you thus see
the slight shining in darkness"
every time you thus see clearly the
allpowerful hand of Creator con-
trolling the world, of a Saviotr low
ing the world, of Sanctifer who
would sanctify the world, your capa-
city is enlarged; that is,you have adj
vanced little higher in the scale
and the standard by which you are
judged in Gods sight is higher. This
gives one with great spiritual knowl-
edge grave responsibility, you see.
The better one is, the harder the
judgment, then? Undoubtedly. -
Hard though this may Seem at
first, isn't it the rule we always ap-
ply? We forgive the starving ignor-
anus, whose moral sense is painful
ly low, and condemn the cultured
thief, whose education has been of
the highest. He knew better" is
the worlds verdict. So with others.
The uncouth barbarian, who hacks
his victims head off with an axe, has
much more sympathy than the pol
ished poisoner of polite society, who
smiles as he administers the fatal
ITdrug.
And every man has his own SELF
registering standard which he can
not get away from. He has had lofty
aspirations, high resolves; he has
been noble, chivalrous, pure, honest
in the past, and that past has set a
mark, ineffaceable high up in the
mans heart, and he sees that mark,
he recognizes that standard. and he
knows whether he is living up to it
or not. There is not man living
to-day in his sober senses who, close
| ly scrutinizing himself, will fail to
see the high-water mark of his own
capacity, and seeing, will not Judge
himself according to that standard.
Hear Hamlet as he soliloquizes
over the plan to entrap his uncle:
"Oh, what rogue and peasant slave
am II He contrasts the zeal of the
actor with his own weakness, though
having cause all hundred times
greater to make him Jealous. He
sees the capacity he has, and how
miserably he falls short of that capa-
city.
The Drama of Calvary stands out
upon the scenes of life with blood
red distinctness! '1, if I be lifted
up, will draw all men unto me!n The
world is at His feet. You are there.
What are your sensations, your i'm
pressions? ''Oh, Christ" you say,
''Thy love is great; it tears my heart
in twain to see Thee suffer SOL" ALI
yO1r heart cries ont in love and ado
ration! Remember, as you stand
before the scene, that your capacity
to be moved is the measure of your
capacity to do!