The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-11-02

appears. John expresses the same
thought in the phrase. born again"
There may be some who will give up with
regret the mistaken potion that Jesus
called upon men to be miserable and TO
indulge In what Is popularity called the
sorrow OF repentance" 1t is exceedingly
unfortunate. for those who look 70 us as
teachers. that many Of US who are loud
est In the advocacy of tine claims OF tho
church seem 10 take q delight In making
the way to God as hard and as difficult Of
understanding as possible. Jesus. speak
ing out of His sense Of blessedness, His
abiding peace, His unru1ied Joy. never
dreamed that He was calling men to an
experience OF wretchedness or misery
There was In His call the note of glad
ness we could better interpret His
words by saying, The long looked for
time has come The promised rule OF God
in the hearts OF men is at hand The
kingdom Of love stands waiting to receive
you Rejoice. my brothers! Turn your
minds with gladness from the things
which occupy your thoughts. and fix
them upon this glorious time OF Gods
visitation to His people. Enter into a
state of larger bessedness'
The word which we have here translated
Adjust your minds to the new condition.
II there is any element of sorrow or sad
ness in the word it IS purely accidental.
The changing OF ones mind from this old
ideas, habits OF thought and tastes. and
the breaking away from old mistakes,
plumbers, transgressions and sin may. and
is likely to produce sorrow and regret
that the past and the present are not
wovthier. SO, If one inssts upon mi CT
ing the Idea OF pain or sorrow, he should
have 80 express Christs idea thus: Here
is a new condition Adjust yourselves
to It, The Kingdom Of heaven is at
hand. Prepare to enter into it. ana. If
the effort that you make Is attended with
pain sorrow and rcmorse why. let these
emotions take care Of themselves Be
sure to adjust yourselves to the new
condition"
The call to enter into the kingdom Of
heaven was the highest invitation that
humanity had ever received. and it be-
came the duty ar every one who heard II,
as it is the duty of every one who hears
it today, to respond to it. Not only has
the rule held with regard to human be-
ings, II has been ihe law In all nature
that success and advance depend upon
adjustment TO the highest environment.
The Eeoiogst gives MS a fine illustra-
ton OF Christ's meaning here. lie pic
lures the time in the remote past, when
the highest form Of life inhabited the
sea But the call OF the Infinite came
saying. Air breathing is better than Wa
ter breathing" ana some fishes needed
the call and became amphibans. Again
the call came Life on the land is better
than life in the slime Some amphi-
bans needed the call and became reptiles
Again the call came. "Locomouon through
the air is better than crawling on the
ground" Some reptiles needed the call
and became birds.
The kingdom Of Cod" says Jesus, lis
the newest and highest environment. Ad-
just yourselves to it Infinite Spirit. IN
finite Goodness Infinite Wisdom, Infinite
Compassion, Infinite Love Is your Father.
Realize it. Every man is your brother
Love him. The world should not be fun
OF warning races and hostile nations. 1t
should be inhabited by a brotherhood.
Hate and Stay, coyet and hold, should
not be the watchwords Of humanity but
love and serve bless and give, Instead
of a battle field strewn evermore with
the wrecks of nations. and drenched with
the blood of grim warriors, the earth
should be the seat OF the Kingdom Of
heaven "
Believe in the gospel says Jesus. The
word gospel is another word that has
suffered much at the hands of the thsoio-
gian AS it fell from the lips Of Jesus it
meant "tldings of gladness." good news
While, with us. too often, 1t has come
to mean O. proclamation OF impending
DOOM That GOD is very angry and is
about to destroy His offspring from the
face Of the earth. and blister their souls
through endless ages on red-hot sheet
iron is designated by some men by the
soft euphemsm. 1.-THE gospel. Some
Of US preachers who style ourselves the
followers Of the meek and lowly Naza-
rene" go at our people with the law in
one hand and stick of dynamite in the
other, and the promise Of acres of brim-
stone in the next world. and marvel that
men do not fall in love with Jesus.
Whatever may be said about the doe
trine Of dar,naton. at the proper time for
its discussion. we ought to pe sure that
the gospel we preach, as ordained minis
ters and unpretenti9us laymen. is .he real