The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-18
THE HEREDITY CT JESUS.


Statement Made by Rev. Mr.. Cantrell
in Recent Sermon COntrOverted.
To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal.
l wish here to review the sermon on
1.-The Heredity of Jesus delivered by Rev..
Z. A. Cantrell. of the Peoples Church,
Indianapolis. on Sunday. Dec. Z, and re-
ported in the Journal on Monday
The Interpretation of "Ecce Deus and
"Ecce homo is: "See the God in the
first. and See the man. in the second ref
erence. 1t seems to me that if man had
read "Ecce homo and then read "Ecce
Deus he would not write of the heredity
of Jesus a man simply. The contrast
as TO the humanity of Jesus and his divin-
ity is so striking that a question pertain
ing to His ''heredity' is strikingly abnor-
NAL. Is ii even possibly true that Jesus is
no more than any other man?" Certainly
not. Carry the soul to goodness and how
far short of the Messianlc life will it fall?
There is sense in which we say that God
Is no more than a good man.. L do not
know of such sense. | gather an idea OF
the attributes of God from His revealed
and written word. / get an entirely differ
ent view OF attributes in the character
of men by comparison. With those of God,
as revealed heredity is but circumstance
in the history of Jesus or of men. lit is
not an evolution; it is an attribute of char
acter. lit NAV be impressed upon man, even
by 1000 years of history, but il is acct
dent of earthly life and is not reversible
or changeable; it stays, as his face and
form ana attributes stay. Thus we come TO
know men. We study men; we have God
revealed to us, since no man has ever seen
Him. l admit His humanity from history;
i recognize His life and character His in
fiuence, His power among men in the early
ages. But / ask. What was the source of
His life and power for good?" 1 assume
His divinity TO be true for prophecy his
nlnG-nnWGr FDSiSf
all and much more go to prove it, The
death He died, the resurrection, the ascen-
sion. all prove II. All that pertains to Jesus
I'm His heredity, namely. the promise and
the oath or God under the Abrahamic cove
nant, also prove IL, as God cannot lie. and
will not violate his oath. Hence il stands
interrogate the writer of the ''Heredity of
Jesus" neither to enter into any argu-
ment But as he has discussed the human
ity and heredity of Jesus-a wonderful per-
side. namely, The Divinity OF Jesus
Christ" and see if heredity does not also
belong 10 HIM on That side. a:n willing 10
accept the definition, Mr.. Cantroll gives If so
be the facts shall Apply TO the divine side OF
Jesus-as, in truth, We cannot separate
them. The idea OF evolution comes out,
and in true and proper sense il is all
right. L accept the evolution which God
gives, namely, a creation In the beginning
and development after. but not develop
ment from lower forms up into higher
This is "A modern fallacy, and. as Darwin
admits, excludes the idea OF a creation /
accept Gene sis: I'm the beginning God Gre
ated the heavens and the earth And the
spirit of God moved upon the face OF the
waters when darkness was upon the face of
the deep"
IL is not that man was an evolution Man
was an original creation. God breathed
into his nostris the breath of life and he
became a living soul. (Gen. ii, - / DO not
attempt TO discuss the Immortality of the
SOUL but God has said that He created man
In His own image. That image is righteous
ness and true holiness. scripturally stated.
As to the heredity OF Jesus on the human
side, have frequently said that To be well
born man should have fifty TO one hun
dred years of the best humanity behind
him. and IL IL took 1900 years of Hebrew
history TO accomplish this God knew best
Genealogically speaking. we know all this.
and God must have had a purpose in the
education and upward development of the
race in this direction. Jesus Christ was a
perfect man. To produce a perfect man in
all points. tempted as men are, yet without
| sin. requires vastly more than the heredi-
! tary law 10 accomplish. Yet no one person
of the race is found To be like his progeni-
| tors in face. form. life or thought En-
vironment education. traits of character
may exist. like similar. but not the same
| that would destroy the law. The his
| tory and genealogy OF Jesus Christ must
| come into this investigation or we get a
one-sided view OF this wonderful man: