New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-12-16
80. -. IS. IS II. oRvILLE J. vIcroR.
THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTIANITY.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: In to-day's paper. in summarizing the Chi
nese Minister'S lecture Confucianism, delivered
last night in Carnegie Music Hail. you say: The
principal difference between the two doctrines he
said that while Christianity taught its people
10 be good for the sake Of reward and for fear Of
punishment. the lesson preached by Confucius was
the practice Of goodness for the sake OF doing
good"
This view Of Christianity is radically at variance
with those Scriptures which Christianity is
based. II is so commonly taken thst I beg Of you
space enough TO enable point out one feat
Ure al least OF the discrepancy.
As disclosed by the Gospel Christianity Is con-
cerned mainly with neither rewards nor punish
ments nor yet with any kind Of teaching. Instead
CT these IL is concerned mainly with gifts and
helps. Three Of its transcendant declarations are
that the gift Of God Is eternal life, that Christ is
come that we might have that life and might have
It more abundantly, and that God loved the
world that He gave His only begotten Son. that
whatsoever beneveth in Him should not perish, but
have everlasting life.
Even concerning the trials OF life the Preacher
in Ecclesastes. says. This travail hath God
given 10 the sons Of TO be exercised Herewith
This, and St Pauls similar declaration about trib-
uauon and exercise become both of them intelli-
elble when read in connection with the saying OF
our Lord already cited. that not only may have
eternal life, but may have il more abundantly; for
whether j be the life Of the body the life Of the
mia or the life Of the soul in every exercise
We 90 not have 10 wait until die before We
can receive this gift OF etel 1al life before we
can KNOW that it Is Whose eateth nv flesh
ana ornketh my blood hath eternal life and / will
raise him CD at the last day" THE Spirit itself
Deaseth witness with our spirit that the
chllufen OF God Even the Spirit Of Truth whom
the world cannot receive because II seeth him not
neither knOweth him. but We know him. for ne
cWeleth with you. and shall be in you"
In other words. Christianity proffers 10 mankind
ght-the gift OF eternal life. To this its every
other feature is contTibutory and subordinate. II
oilers this gift 10 every man, for ''WhosoeVer will
let him take The water OF life. freely" As ST
John says; This is the record. that God hath
given 10 as eternal lfe and this life is in HIS
lie that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath
not The Son Of God hath life" The Son IN
His turn says: This ia the will OF him that sent
me, that every which seeth the Son and be-
neNcth on him, may have everlasting life; and I
VIII raise him up at the last day
Is IN strange or unreasonable that men who ac-
cept these statemc nts true. who believe them
selves 20 De already IN possession Of this gift and
regard II also OF incalculahle value who believe
also that GOO is Offering the gift freely TO
every human being who will accept it's IL strange
or unreasonable that they should accept also and
Win eaecrness their Lords commandment, go We
INTO All the world and preach the Gospel TO every
creafure'E II is not easy 10 see how they be
Otherwise thai eager and Obedient.
New-fOrk. Dec. no. 1890 LAYMAN.