The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-05-21

Of the Sherman Street Methodist Episco-
pal church, of San Antonio, Tex, from
the text: Good Master. what good thing
shall l do that / may have eternal life?'
Matthew xix:16.
The answer to this question shall be
given In the very words of the Master.
hence, If the answer seems strange or
unreasonable. you are kindly referred to
Its author for explanation and apology.
What do we know Of the man who
asked this question? The record says
that he was rich. His barns were filled
with plenty; his presses were bursting
out with new wine; all that health or
heart could wish was his of regal splen-
dor. He occupied a prominent place in
the community where he lived-was ruler
OF the synagogue. a member of the San
hedrim. the highest court of the nation.
He was young. Life with all Its hopes
and possibilities was before him: the fu-
ture was a land flowing with milk and
honey. where the flowers were blooming
and the birds We're singing. and every
hill and mountain top was gildcd with
rainbows of promise. And If you please.
the young man was In health, having kept
these commandments from his youth up:
My son. forget not my law: 1t shall be
health to thy navel. and marrow to thy
bones" Observe also that the man was
came kneeling and saying: Good Mas
ter"
On the other hand. what do you think
of this young mans theology? Does he
not need to tarry at Jerusalem till his
beard be grown. Is he not erratic? and
had he not denied the faith once delivered
to the saints? He SAYS that a man can
do something" to inherit eternal life.
Bind him. hand and foot. brand him and
cast him out. go there's another good
man gone wrong. Yonder he goes; look
at him, but who IS that with him? His
companion in error-who IS that? nand
in hand. heart in heart with that young
man. l behold one with a form like unto the
Son of God So there's another good
man gone wrong.
Really IL appears that we have in the
person of this young ruler a remarkabl
specimen of mental. moral and physical
manhood. He had health. had wealth;
he had honor. he had youth. he was cour-
teous. sincere and withal n sound theOlog
ian; in a word, he had all that makes or
tends to make life desirable. No doubt
he was in love with life, and that is the
reason why he came to Jesus inQuiring:
What must 1 do that I may have eter-
nal lfe?"
Jesus has a wonderful way OF looking
things into men, and lie always treats
a man az well as the man treats Him.
So He first looked upon the young man
and loved him; then He answered his
question. There was no evasion, no mine
ing of words. no mystifying with high
doctrines: the Master gave the young
man a prompt. clear. direct, brief and
complete answer to his question. Thou
Khowest the commandments: these do and
thou shalt have treasure in heaven"
To what commandment did Jesus refer?
Thou shalt be baptized with water? Is
that what He meant? Jesus Christ came
here to teach men how TO be saved from
their sins. That was the purpose-the
express purpose, the only purpose of His
mission TO this world. He came to teach.
on the subject of salvation from sin. the
truth. the whole truth and nothing but
the truth. He lived here for more than
thirty years His public ministry lasted
three or seven years. and with the eX-
ception of one or two short sentences. lie
did not open His mouth TO speak one
word on the subject of water baptism.
Did the Master forget? Or was lie afraid
of the council? No; Jesus left the dis
cussion of these and kindred subjects TO
those who were To come after 1lm-to
those who fear men rather imam Goa:
who speak right well the shibboleth OK
sect. who love the new moon more than
the new commandment. and the solemn
fast rather than dealing bread TO the
llHEFN.
gospel for strife and debate" and love
to smile with the fist of wickedness.
The Son Of Man came TO seek ana 70
save the lost; and ne had put ntole
Thou shalt believe that am the son
of God" Is that one of the command
ments To which Jesus referred? There De
many nowadays who are greatly concern
ed lest men deny the divinity or christ.
The Master Himself seems TO be greatly
concerned lest they deny His humanity,
10 EsAlf
Son of God whereas He calls Himseit,
thirty-two times. the Son of Man. Do |
believe in the divinity Of Christ? That
do Il am My beloved's and my beloved
is mine"
There's nothing fair nor beautiful but
Something from Him that makes it beau
tfuL"
And I believe in your divinity. Listen.
Neither pray / for these alone. but for
them also which shall believe on Me
through their word: that they al may
be one: as Thou. Father. art IN Me ana
l in Thee that they also may ne one IN
Us: that the world may believe that Thou
hast sent Me And the glory which Thou
gavest Me / have given them; that they
Thou in Me. that We may be perfect
I'm one. and that the world may know
that Thou hast sent Me. and hast loved
them as Thou hast loved Me- To
him that overcometh will L grant to sit
with Me In Nv throne, even as also
oVercame and am set down with My
Father In His throne"
o We who are Christ'S II IS yours TO
be one with God; TO know even as also
We are known: to hold the winds in your
fists and the waters In the hollow OF
your hands: to say to this mountain
'Be thou removed. and be thou cast into
the midst of the sea a" and il shall be done,
TO say TO fever and palsy and Consump-
ton and leprosy and heart disease, ne,
part" and to the devils. Get you hence,
and they shall flee away: life and death;
things present and things to come-aH
things are yours, and we are ChrlSt ),
and Christ is Gods. Partakers or the
divine nature ye are; heirs of God. ana
toint-heIrs with Jesus Christ. sitting down
with God in Hts throne. These are no
fancy pictures: these are the deep things,
the high things of God: no piummet can
sound them; no seraphs wing can reach
them; but God hath revealed them unto
us by his spirit"
believe in the divinity Of Christ, and
l believe In the divinity q every man
who has the spirit Of Christ. at the same
time. / am not authorized bv any word
of the master to set forth belief in MS
divinity as a condition OF eternal Vie.
And men may say, as often as they Ike,
that IL have fed on the insane root, and
my reason IS taken prisoner. but Il
know a hawk from handsaw.' and my
name Is not Macbeth.
To what commandments. then, did Je-
sus refer?He referred 10 the ten command
ments given by God to Moses on Mount
Sinai. and restated by the master MN
self in these words: Thou shalt love the
Lord thy God with all thy soul. mind
and strength: and thy neighbor as thy
self"
DO you mean to say that YOU are a
moralist?' No. | do not mean to say