The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-12
: more one studies the sayings OF Je-

The more one studies the sayings OF Je-
sus and the more one familiarizes ones
self with Jewish history and character
the less surprising II becomes that Jew
ish hate crleined the Apostle OF Love
One does not have to be a student OF
commerce or pore over the voluminous
financial supplements 10 our daily papers
to become convinced that the business
world is just about 10 surrender TO the
children OF Moses. One needs only the
ability 10 read signs. The warfare
against the Gentle has been signally
successful The history OF the campaign
furnishes some new material for military
tactics.
The army proceeding against strong
hold contents itself first with outposts
and wandering bands Not so with the
jew in his battle for wealth. He has laid
hold upon the wholesale centres first and
IS capturing the retail outpos,s at his
leisure. He feels sure OF the outcome,
consequently there Is no neec for haste,
the enemy can not escape him
A vERITABLE CAMPAIGN.
There have been battles won through
sheer luck or accident. Campaigns last
ing longer. are determined more by gem
oralship and discipline. This has been
ton. intensity OF purpose, undaunted
courage and overwhelming desire have
gone into IT, These men and women dis
cuss art, religion. dress. bin Of fare, ev-
crything In terms OF dollars ana cents
The spirit IL all pervading.
II has its interest in this connection,
for Il enables us 10 appreciate better the
atmosphere in which our text was
spoken.
The men whom Jesus addressed were
Jews-men with the same burning de-
sires. the same zeal. the same intensity
OF purpose, only the object was different.
Now II IS wealth. then IL Was religion.
The condition OF those times ADD the ma
ture Of their object instilled them with
more bigotry, venom and hate then now.
They believed themselves the salt OF
the earth Their God was the God OF the
world. Through them and through them
alone was their hope for those outside
the pale OF Judaism. They were the elect,
the predestined. the fore-ordained. They
were the people and should they die.
wisdom would die with them. This relig-
ION was embraced ia the priestly system
OF sacrifice.
HATE, SCORN AND INDIGNATION.
Imagine therefore not their suspicion,
their distrust, their dislike 10 this quiet
Nazarene who had come among them.
Imagine rather their hate, their scorn,
their burning Indignation.
"I desire mercy and not sacrifice. for ]
came not 10 cali the righteous but sin
ners." No words OF Jesus reveal more
clearly than these how far he stood out
side tha confines of the established relig-
Ton No words reveal more clearly than
these the weakness OF that whole sacri-
fetal system. Tho sinners had no place I'm
II. The heavy laden. down-hearted, soul
tossed humanity that Jesus came 10 seek
and save formed no hope or pardon in
st.
There were hands met with the blood OF
the victim slain but there were no hands
reached out to men There were knees
bent vows made. prayers uttered. but
the touch OF the sinner was contamina-
iton and with scorn they said to the dis
cples. "why eateth your Master with
publicans and sinners?"
In a world where there has ever been
sin there was religion claiming descent |
from Moses. boasting OF its antiquity yet |
devoid OF mercy.
MEANT NOTHING TO SINNER.
without that II meant nothing 10 the |
sinner and 10 these hard hearted Phari- |
sees he turned with the worlds burden |
of sin upon his heart and said Il is mercy |
] desire for IL Is the sinner that l came |
10 call.
Tho Christian church has before Il the |
recognized task OF saving the world IL /
sets before itself no other work than that |
OF salvation. It's message. whenever it /
has the ing OF genuineness about II, |
passes doors pierces walls and goes out |
90 the world Beng Christian II has the |
mission OF Christ. Being Christian it has \
also Christs message. Both these ccm- |
monplace truths are too often overlooked. |
A great many churches are run for 1
comfort rather than salvation. or course 1
they run slow. n you cross the Atlantic |
in FIVE days you must expect TO feel the \
motion OF the screws. In this kind OF n
church everything Is done In the interest |
OF those who are there, the outside |
world r. not considered.
on this basis there IL no reason why ~ /
should he Hasn't n club or n stock COM
pauy the right 10 manage its own Affairs
without outside dctaton? The preaching
is not 10 lead men 20 repentance other
wise 10 might be uncomfortable for some
who are supposed 10 have repcnted
It's principal function Is 20 tell people
how orthodox they are In theory and |
how good they are IN practice. and this
picture passes over into veritablo real
ity just so soon ne we forget that the
Christian church exists I'm society and
differs from all other institutions. Just
because It's business IL 10 furnish not /
what one person, or n thousand. wants
but what tho world needs.
LIFE AND SALVATION.
That need IL life. salvation. Seek
what you want N you VIII I'm society by
choosing your own circle NJ friends your
own club; seek what you want In pol
itics by choosing your own party and