The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-09-13
Facts If the Lesson.

.rgfon.
For this commandment which I COM
mand thee this day is not too hard for
thee. neither is it far of. It is not il
heaven that thou shouIdest say: VINO
shall 90 up for rs TO heaven and bring
it unto US. and make US to hear it that
we may do it, Neither is it beyond
the sea that thou shouldest say: who
shall 90 over the sea for Us aud bring
1t unto Us. and make US hear 1t. that VIC
may DO it," But the word IS very nign
unto thee, in thy mouth. and in thy
heart, that thou mayest do il. See, !
have set before thee this day life and
good, and death and evil, in that I com
mand thee his day to love Jehovah thy
God, 10 walk in His ways. and 10 keep
His commandments and His statutes and
His ordinances, that thou mayest live
and multiply, and that Jehovah thy God
may bless thee in the land whittier thou
gOest in 20 possess H. But If thy heart
turn away AMI thou wilt not hear. but
shall be drawn away, and worship other
gods and serve them. / denounce unto
you this day that 20 shall surely per
ish; We shalt not prolong your days in
the land whittier thou passeth over Jor-
don 20 possess il I call heaven and
earth to witness against you this day
that 1 have set before thee lie and
death. the blessing and the curse: there
fore. choose life that thou mayest live.
thou and thu seed; TO love Jehovah thf
God, to obey His voice. and 10 cIeave
unto Him. Tor He is thy life and the
length OF thy days.
Gods Commandments Reasonable.
The religion Of the Bible is reason
able religion It is a practical re
Iigion. It Is q common-sense religion.
II is a religion that harmonizes itself
with the facte and needs Of mans ex-
istence, duty and well-being. The re-
ligion Of the Bible is Of such a nature
that it offers no just ground OF complaint
against 1t TO anv man. This is why the
religion Of the Bible is SO unique This
is the reason for its Great popularity
over every other religion. its long sway
over mems minds and hearts. and its
growing dOminancy in the whole world
and among all peoples and nations.
/. IN the first lace it Is not too
hard" 10 believe It's truths are be-
lievable. They recommend themselves
to the acceptance Of TIE best thought Of
men. Men do not reject or renouuCe
them when they grow wise OF learned.
They bear examination and investiga-
ton The tenets and teachings of many
other religions are unbelievable by
thoughtful men How much bOsh. non
sense and absurdity pertain to the teach
ings and claims, for instance. Of
Buddhism, Mohammedanism. Mormon
ism Christian Science Practical com
mon sense people cannot believe These.
or espouse them
3 The religion of the Bible is not TOO
hard" to keep No man can truly say
that he cannot be a religious man ac-
cOrding to the rules and regulations Of
the Bible because they are too exacting
and severe, or because to do so would
mar bis life, narrow his intellect. hurt
his business, unfit him for his social iu-
ties. OF hinder MIN from being a good
citizen. Both Moses and Christ said
that the sum Of all religion was. Love
10 God By the general consent of all
men-infidels and believers alike-Iove
is the most beautiful and desirable thing
in the world To ask men TO love God.
be friends with Him and act Loyalty to
Him, who is the Creator, the King. and
the Saviour Of men, and who Is alto
getheT Lovely and adorable as to his
attributes and ways, is surely not TO
ask an unreasonable OF a too difficult
thing Of them. It depends altogether
upon mans attitude of soul toward
God, whether true religion is hard or
irksome. or not If the act Of being re
ligious is hard TO anyone. the reason lies
in him, and not in God or His command
ments. God gives everything to the man
who loves Him-grace, salvation, and
spiritual power 10 serve Him. The way
of the transgressOr is hard" but not
the way of the righteous man, who
trusts in. loves. and tries to serve God
Even the TitUaIism Of the worship OF
the ancient Israelites was not so oner-
Gus that a mans life was hurt by try
ing to keep it
3 The religion of the Bible is not IN
reasonable on account of mysticaIness-
There is nothing occult or unCauny
about 1t. No one has 20 make a trip
across the sea to find someone who is
initiated into lis secrets to have him un-
raveI its teachings Il is a plain and
simple religion suited to both high and
low alike. the king and the peasant. the
scholar and the iIli,erate- No one has
10 climb W 10 heaven TO get light upon
its meaning before be viii know how to
carry II oct. nor does he have TO wait
until an angel comes down 10 him to
tell him what to do and 10 believe It
is not a religion OF riddles There are
depths of great truths and doctrines, fun
II mystery that none can absolutely