The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-12-07
Subject: The Reflex Influence OF
Good Deeds.
Text: BLESSED are the mercifu..:
for they shall obtain mercy. Mat
thew, v, Z.

thew, v, z.
Poverty OF Spirit. Mourning and
''Meekness' relate man to God Hun
ger and thirst after righteousness" or
| the desire to do good, brings our fellow
man into consdera ton. Mercy" is that
quality which should characterize our
actions toward others.
The beatitude, blessed are the rerci-
full, for they shall obtain mercy" prom
eTly follows that of hunger and thirst
after righteousness" The meaning ia
about this: The man who eagerly
desires goodness or God-Iikeness will be
satisfied But how shall one really at
tain to God-lilleness? BY the exercise
o. those qualities which are the essen
tial attributes Of the divine Father.
sionate. those with spirits like the loyal
Father: FOR the exercise Of loving kind
ness enarges and enhances the soul
Having been told what to desire. Jesus
comes next to tell the method of
It's attainment He tells US not only
the what" but also tho how ="
The word which we have translated
mercy" has been very much narrowed
! in meaning. 1t does not mean merely
| the remission OF penalty. Il that were
ALL the beatitude would be false, because
1t is not true that the remission of rea-
sonable penalty brings blessedness- On
the other hand. 1t brings anarchy and
misery. as any parent. who has allowed
| every law Of the household TO be broI-
en- by the children is able to testify.
Jesus nowhere said that He had coIDe
to relieve men OF the penalty Of their
gins. His statement always was taat He
mad come ITO save men from their
sins.~
Mercy TO not merely a passive quality
that waits. like 4 smiling idiot, for some
! one to impose upon II in order that it
may forgive tho injury.
II is not a sickly sentimentaity that
shows itself In weeping crocodile tears
over bank defaulters and sending nose
gays TO criminals IN jails.
Mercy is not the opposite OF justice.
The idea seems to have gotten into the
minds OF some that sometimes God is
Just and at other times lie Is merciful.
that divine Justice is q harsher quality
than divine mercy But when we get
beneath the surface of the divine at
tributes and near to the heart Of the
divine Father we And that mercy and
Justice are not contradictory or antago-
nistic qualities, but are manifestations
Of a common principle-love. Some Of
Ue would have to confess. II NO told
the whole truth that we Onco had tne
notion that God was severe and hard
hearted. fun of stern justice. and that
Jesus being eentler and more compass
sionate. did something TO make God re-
lax the stringency OF law ana give Him
an opportunity 70 show Ills children
mercy.
some religious teachers have appar-
entity conceived OF God as living in
cours house and exercising the func-
tons or HIS Office a. q cruel aud re-
lentess judge The whole OF their the
oiogy has had = legal cast, ana the
idea Of justice has been that Of retGi-
button and vindicuveness.
1t need hardly be said chat this Is not
the view OF Jesus OF Of Ills disciples.
, The scripture view seems to be about
this: Man does wrong; Goo cannot
bear tc have His children wicked; lie
Restraints the bad mans liberty. iAtlic1a
nain upon him and never let's him Ok
Until he becomes good. 10 accomplish
that end He VIII even suffer and die
upon the oross. when the love Of God
works to save men By adicting pain,
tive Bible calls & justice; when the same
love works TO the same end oy suffer
ing pain. the Bible calls it mercy. The
growth oc ths Spirit of Christ in the
world Is measured By the degree in
which th3s revelation of justice or mercy
is accepted as true aad restored 20 the
place which the false has so successfully
usurpad The feeling toward q criminal
, once universal. was: He must be pun
i-hed ratrbutvely because he deserves
To he Tire feeling coming 70 b. gen