The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-03-09

negative on this point? The assumption
OF some secondary association OF the
order mentioned In nothing that invites
a protest What is TO he asserted IL
that I'm their primary and fundamental
application the words Of Jesus could not
have had reference TO any external rite.
What lie said about ca ting His flesh and
drinking His blood He never could have
said with direct or principal reference
10 the reception OF the elements In the
eucharistc feast.
CONCLUSION SUPPORTED.
This conclusion is supported in the
first place by the rational considera ton
that the result attached 10 the eating
and drinking is too momentous 10 De
hinged upon any external rite. That re-
suit Is nothing less than eternal life. Who
can think Of the great spiritual teacher
conditioning eternal life upon the actual
receiving OF a crumb OF bread ana SIP
OF wine? The notion Is so preposterpus
that even the most incorporate sacra
mentalism might well regard II with sus-
picion. not TO say contempt
In the second place. the conclusion TOT
which we contend is sustained by the
fact that In the paragraph preceding the
reference 10 the partadng of Christ
flesh and blood precisely equivalent
value IL sttached 10 certain spintuai
transa ctions. II Is there said that eternai
life Is attained by coming to Christ ana
believing on Him. Faith appropriates
Christ as the living bread which came
down from heaven, and finds I'm Him
Iife-giving aud satisfying portion. what
less is this than n key 10 the lnterpreta-
ton OF the following paragraph surely
IL is a plain hint that the clause respect
ing eating and drinking Is hgIrative
EXPRESSION for the activity OF faith In ap-
81 ~ Ad
this very connection, He that Believes
has eaten"
BY WORDS OF JESUS.
This nterprets tion Is strongly confirm
ed by the words of Jesus: 1T Is the spir-
n that ouickeneth; the flesh pronteth
nothing: the werds that have spoken
unto YOU. they are spirit and are life
How far above the plane OF mere exter-
nal rite this declaration ascends! IL fairly
us 10 translate the reference
TO eating and drinking out of the sphere
Of liberalism and externalism into that OF
spiritual activities. once more, the impos-
sibility of admitting any primary refer
ence to n sacramental rite appears In the
fact that no discrimination is made as 70
the manner of partaking. The benefit is
not made dependant upon partaking
but simply upon partaking
How could this have been. unless IL was
that the partaking, or. as
is described. the eating and drinking.
stood itself for worthy spiritual ac-
tivity? The omission OF conditions as
much as advertises that the phrase In
question is TO be taken In this high
spiritual significance. These grounds, we
believe. amply support the conclusion
that the Cspernaum discourse pays no
tribute whatever TO an ultra sacrament
al standpoint II IL unwarrantable TO say
that II offers no fair pretext for subsu-
tuting a .acramental for spiritual point
OF view.
III. with these safeguards against mis-
In mind we may now direct
our attention to the positive lessons con-
tained in the discourse of Jesus at Ca
pernaum.
THE POSITIVE LESSONS.
First Of all there is a lesson on the
suborfinat ation OF the miraculous 70 the
II. TO the ethical and the
religious OF His own motion Jesus had
wrought the miracle Of the loaves ana
the fishes. He needed no urging TO prompt
Him thereto.
The deed was the overf,owing Of His
characteristic benevolence. II was fitted
to accomplish a twofold purpose. on the
one hand II met an actual physician need'
on the other hand, IL was suited 10 sug-
gest the competency Of Jesus as ga
than those Of the body. As In ell His DO
ing. there was an educative purpose In
this great deed. To work a miracle as q
mere display of power was entering for
eign TO his disposition and His plan:
A miracle OF that description would have
been rated by Him as a most unworthy
freak So we fnd Him perfectly unsym-
toward n demand for mere mar
vels, or for works adopted merely To
ca rthly and utilitarian ends. He saw that
the carnal temper OF those who Suoou
before Him at Capernaum would rather
be confirmed than transformed by rep
etition OF the miracle OF the loaves. As
therefore. OF the suprem-
acy OF the spiritual kingdom, He refused
their desire.
What better object lesson can we re-
dure as To the sphere of miraclesI Ihey
are not caprices. As wrought by Jesus
tive value They stand forth as les
sons on Gods relation to men and on tne
relations Of men to God through onrist
in enforcing the truths OF the spiritual
Kingdom. And II IL just this careful
subordnation To the inner Kingdom or
the spirit which makes them a credible
promise here with that hankering after
the marvellous which is characterfstc OF
the immature and unspiritual mind. Je-
getfui of the Incompatible glory OF the
Spiritual. Before Paul wrote the thir-
teenth chapter OF First Corinthians ne
had taught by the method OF his deeds
that the removing OF mountains would
he a paltry and frivolous substitute Tor
love. -
GREAT OFFICE OF FAITH.
In limo with the foregoing the Caper-
naum discourse contains lesson on the
great office OF faith. This is the work
OF God" said Jesus. that We believe In
Him whom lie hath sent. lie that
cometh 90 Me shall not hunger and he
that bclieveth in Me shall never thirst
Here there Is added 20 the thought that
spiritual goods are the proper object OF
quest the complimentary Thought that
they are 10 be appropriated by spir-
itual activity.
And who would ask for any different
method of appropria tion7 Who IL fertile
enough In expedients TO desire any sub.
stitute for faith? How does the child
get tho benefit ~ tho superior wisdom
and strength Of the parent lie gets II
by faith He gets IL ny conformity 10 the
facts of dependence and the facts of sup
ply for his needs in parental wisdom.
love and might lie gets IL by beinE
hlial iu his inward attitude as well az I'm
his outward hearing Hut 20 be hlial In
tho inuNr attitude is 10 carry In r