The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-12-07
CHRISTIANITY AS TAUGHT BY CHRIST
Bradley and Published ny
BE

the meaning of each one OF them is so1ne-
what different from that ordinarily con-
veyed to our minds by the WORD
mercy" One of these words, as Il APP
plies TO Gods attributes, means tender
compassion. excited because OF mans
misery md helplessness." Another means
"a disposition to deal kindly and gener-
ously with man" The third. and prin-
cipal one, means as some one has said.
Zeal love" or the love Of loyalty. there
fore divine affection and fidelity TO man
on which man may confidently rely, as
lie would on the loyalty Of his tribe or
family"
There IS nothing In any one OF these
Hebrew words to warrant the common
idea that Gods mercy means a divine
disposition TO overlook mans crimes sins
and rebellions. This idea may possibly be
embraced III these words but it IL by
no means the prominent one.
The word that Jesus used, and that is
used throughout the New Testament, is
nearly identical with the third Of tho
Hebrew words, meaning. the quai1ty
which prompts TO divine affection and
lGelity to man" It Implies the doctrine
OF the Divine Fatherhood
Gods mercy, as Jesus interprets IT,
does not depend upon mans sinfulness
but upon his sonship. He loves us be-
cause are His children, and He shows
Teal love" or mercy, because of this
divine relation. 1t is this quality in the
Divine FatherhoOd to which Jesus refers
when lie speaks OF his Father sending
rain upon the just and upon the unjust.
Il IS to this quality that lie urges US
when He says, ''be ye therefore perfect
even as your Father in heaven is per
feet
Jesus illustrated the principle and the
grace of mercy III tho parable OF the
Good Samaritan The traveller on the
road from Jerusalem to Jericho found.
IN the bloody pass a wounded man
TraGitionally he was under no obligation
TO care for him because ne himself was
Il Samaritan. while the man who he'd
fauen amongst thieves was a Jew, and
the Jews and Samaritans had no DEALINGS
with each other. The attitude OF the two
nations, however. Was not merely thas
oe Indifference, but rather or hcsthlty'
The jew regarded the Samaritan as
dog 1t was his delight to heap re-
breaches upon the members OF what he
called bastard nation" But the
Samaritan did not regard any Of these
hut. more than that and as outweishlnS
that. he had found a suffering feliowman
and. disregarding ali the traditions ana
social customs Of the two nations, 10
bound up his wounds placed him upon
his own beast carried him TO the
nearest hotel. left money for his enter
tainment and a promise TO return ana
minister further TO his relief.
Jesus agreed with the lawyer, who
questioned Him, in the statement that
the Samaritan. in showing mercy. showed
the quality of neighborjiness and Illus
trated the great law, Thou shalt love
thy neighhor as myself"
Above all the distinction NJ race, gov
eminent, religion and society, the Sama-
ritan recognized the relation OF brother
hood The wounded jew IN the broadcast
sense. belonged TO his own family the
great human family. and he showed him
LEAD love or mercy
The same spirit IS Illustrated in tie
giving Of cup OF cold water to tho
thirsty child. If that is the best you have
10 give
we have a beautiful picture or mercy
In tie Master himself as, rounding the
Mount Of Olives. lie comes in sight
ol Che city .hat holds the enemies that
are shortly TO put Him to the cross.
an breaks out ia tho great wall, %
,ra nronlefs ana slooest them which
ara SEMI INTO lice now often would /
aavo adhered INV children together, even
AZ han s~,rb4reth b4- ehickona under
,,o. ,s,1,-s
g1,,,,.,s ,,ar.4e,l,ass i reflection OF
s,d n~rtt..i1,ane in E,3., rnarrifs,ineas-~
! nn@i,t,. p.b,eh e,rrriogs in benignltv
ana e.nraseas jtself il poodwIl.
C,na eiet,en, ~ mere, I. comriserafson
fo- bnn}ar, enfferin9 There Is great cau