The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-03-17


very interesting sermon. which was as
follows:
Matt. vii:i: Judge not that ye be not
judged"
II there is one saying of Jesus that is
another, It is, II came that they might
have life and that they might have IL
more abundantly." II is positive state
q dying world he came that men might
live more.
The thought lays hold upon this gen.
eration. for IL is the endeavor OF all of
US TO widen our horizon In some way, to
enlarge our environment, 10 correspond
20 more than we have In the past, namely.
TO live more.
But the gospel OF Jesus. while positive.
has also its negative elements The con-
ditions under which he taught made these
place where prophet could pour forth a
message that was entirely positive would
be heaven The only kind OF an audience
for which such method would be ade-
quate would be perfect men,
For our imperfections demand that
there be destructive processes, active as
well as those that are constructive. Some
restrictions must be placed fon life that
life itself may be enlarged. Straight is
leads unto life"
Here again we have one of life's para
doxes
Life must be restricted restrained, TO
the end that IL may be enlarged. The
student must specialize. must limit his
field OF labor. TO become scholar. So
But IL the negative statements OF Jesus
abound with the positive they do 80 logi-
cally and harmoniously. For underneath
both is a principle that binds them into
unity. IL We are commanded not TO do
this or that IL is because In the doing
Of these things life is not increased, but
In his sermon on the mount he saws TO
his disciples: Judge not that ye be not
judged IL what we have said be true,
be commanded this. because this process
OF Judgment was detrimental 20 the full
realization OF "A mans possibilities In
Why II does so, II is for us in the light
OF HIS further statement and in the light
OF common sense To fnd out.
To discover the why Is most important.
For II we are not always able to give a
reason for the faith which we possess we
act upon a thing without seeing some rea-
son why we should do so. The COM
mands of Jesus are no longer compelling
they can see a reason for obeying the
Master, the commands are moving men
and leading them forth into obedience.
JUDGMENT OF JESUS.
1t is evident from our context that the
kind of judgment Jesus has In. mind Is OF
the nature OF condemnation; The juds-
ture of the judge at the bench who is
passing Judgment on a criminal,
So accustomed have we become TO con-
sidering criticism as adverse that IL is
necessary for Us 10 turn to our diction-
aries from time To time. TO discover that
criticism may be OF the nature OF appre-
ciation rather than depreciation; IL is
one OF the encouraging signs of the times
tions OF men rather than the opposite.
Why then shall We not condemn menY
Principally II would seem because we do
not know them. III there is one lesson
that experience teaches us IL is that we
should be slow Informing our opinions
about other men: Again @ ana sn,ans ags,n we
ing: IL they are, so much the worse for
our, Impressions for they must neces-
upon M men we we would % a'STS fnd that they were
ed upon their words and judgments
passed upon their deeds But words are
largely the vehicles that. carry not our
convictions. but our opinions, our inter-
pretations about those convictions.
mans conviction is OF the very es-
sence OF his life. mans interpreta-
tion OF that life may differ utterly from
yours, and yet his life. his end and aim
may exactly accord with the end and aim
you have chosen.
in large measure to his antecedents and
environments, for which he is not always
opipions is ofttimes to attack a man for
having lived under conditions in which
God himself has placed him.
may be vexing. isn't IL just through these
differences that we may finally hope for
the truth; Says recent writer, min
lister In the CONGREGATIONAL church, The
Catholic church has condemned Protes-
tantism for it's divergent opinions But is
not this says the writer. Its chief
claim TO honor?"
STUDY MEMS VIEWS
Here are hundred men. They go out
into the world and perceive the infinite.
ha arL oh "A C.
count of that infinite. How much more
is TO be learned from the different views
than I b all nad seen % ou, 9a 9se o9hes ohn
opinions. but to learn from them and per-
haps change our own. or what service
tSe'' the christ T VI Iife ou exactly accorded with
yours? How small and mean would be
my vocation II IL were to make YOU think
and interpret your life I'm the terms with
which | interpret mine.
The office OF the pulpit is to exhort men
10 live and to help them interpret their
life in the way that best helps their liv-
ing. not I'm the way that best helps some
one else. III there were nothing for me
TO do In this pulpit but to tell YOU what
ogy and the practical affairs of life
should not enter this pulpit again.
on Sv What Str men suutb aav' but on what the they do
But men DO n great many things that I'm
no way express the inner meaning or mo-
tive OF life. IL IL true that We can only
But this II only another reason why IL
Is not for us TO condemn them. The value
Of a mans life is 90 be Judged rather by
what he hopes 10 be than what he IL or
does. sinful man who hopes and de-
sires 90 he what God intended him 90 be
IL nearer tho kingdom OF God than n
moral man who II satisfied with hts con-
dtion and Is making no enort to further
realize himself.
This hope Is the one leverage IN life
that moves a man. His desire T. what
stimulates him. man doesn't run Tor
car when he n once on it. but only as
that ideal is as yet unfulhlifd.
Who shall Judge our hopesg Who knows
what thew are 10 YOU know the mo-
tivos that arc guiding your nearest
friend7 You may think Nor do. But
farsighted deem penetrating arc IN ewes
Of mother who Is ahln % rerr into the
secret desires and motives ~ her chhd
whom she foundlrs at her knee.
Judge not condemn not men. because
n sris