The aegis & intelligencer., 1902-06-06
The Essential Obligation Of Christian Comics

Harry w. Cooling.
The Essential Obligation Of Christian Comics.
sion.
Of human relationship there are two sorts.
| Out of each relationship springs kindred
obligation.
The one is in its nature voluntary to be
| taken up only at pleasure. Of this again
there are two kinds. Two persons enter int o
| a partnership in business. Till such agree
ment is made, each is free to go his own way,
each could enter into a similar relationship
| with some other person. But the partner
| ship entered upon, at once each assumes to
| the other a new relationship. new obligations
of trust and confidence and service. AT
mutual pleasure. it may be dissolved: and at
once the relationship and obligation cease.
| Again, q man and woman consent to-
| gether in holy wedlock." They could have
| gone their separate ways. each married an
| other. 1t is purely voluntary thing. But
| the moment, I'm the sight of God, and in the
| face of this company" they take each other
as and wife, for better for worse." each
| assumes to the other n new relationship diff
| ferent from and closer than that to any other
| human being, and rightly understood It'll
death us do part" Both these rela tionships.
| though differing as to continuance. are what
may he called voluntary, their resultant OBJ,
| legations merely acquired relationship and
| obligation to be assumed at will.
How radically different in this regard the
| relationship of child to parent and its result
| ant obligations!
That is not thing to be takenup at pleas
use or laid down at will 1t is natural re
lationship, from whose obligations is no
honorable escape. Denial cannot annul: ne
| gIect only increases guilt. Either demands
the contempt of all true-hearted men.
Of hich sort, now, is our relationship to
| God OF what nature, our obligations to
| Him?
| Clearly, and by common consent in theory.
| though by no means always in practice, the
| latter: A natural relationship, an BILE
! obligation; not one that can be taken up at
| pleasure, or laid down at will Denial cannot
| aunul. NEGLECT 9imnly FIXES guilt
OF what sort is our relationship to Jesus
| Christ?
The demand of all truth is: Accept, con,
| fess, follow!'
Never man spake like Jesus. Never man
| lived like Him. The inmost conscience of true
manhood feels that intuitively. He was the
one perfectly true life in the worlds history
He proclaimed Himself, THE Way. the Truth
the Life
Come unto me all We that are weary and
| heavy-laden, and will give you rest" (St
| Math. 11:2S.)
II am the Bread of Life: he that cometh to
me shall never hunger; and he that believeth
| in me shall never thirst (St John $3.50
II am the Resurrection and the Life he that
| belieyeth in me, though he were dead yet
lieveth in me shall never die" (St. Jno. IL
| 25-26.)
Such His loving invitation and strong as
surance. And our deepest heart whispers
Yea, Lord"
Follow me - is His urgent, frequent com
mand. He that is of truth heareth my
| voice. HIS invitation even to Ills waverine
Judge, who against his own conscience is
| about to sentence Him to the Cross.
| Our conscience says: IT'S Truth obey
| follow -
But still men hug to their souls the fond de,
| lusion that by delay they escape a measure o
| sponsibity-always intending some day
| to accept and obey. 1t may not be. To con,
fess the Truth and follow the True, is a
| natural obligation.
| The Christian confession involves the
| Fatherhood of God. and the Kingshp of Jesus
| Christ.
| Natural obligations brook no temporizing
| no delay in their acknowled cement. nor any
compromising or neglect in their fultiment.
Where do you stand in this matter, O
| brother man?
r. A. CASTLEMAN,
| Rector Emman P. L. Church, Bel Air