The Penn's Grove record., 1904-11-11

A SERMON FOR SUNDAY
AN ELOQUENT DISCOURSE ENTITLED,
""lMITAToRS OF GOD"
The Rev. DIR. John Reid Answers the
Somewhat Narrow Criticism That
Christianity is Narrow in Its Spirit and
Contracting in lis Effect.

The Rev. DIR. John Reid Answers the
Somewhat Narrow Criticism That
Christianity is Narrow in Its Spirit and
Contracting in lis Effect.
BROOKLYN, N. Y.-Dr. John Reid. mas.
tor OF the Memorial Presbyterian Church.
preached an eloquent sermon Sunday
morning. His text was taken from Ephe-
SLAMS vi: BE We therefore followers of
God, as dear children" DR.. Reid said:
The Revised Version gives a better and
stronger translation: "Be We therefore imi-
tators of God. as beloved children" Imi-
t%ators, as children. Being children of God,
be ye imitators of God.
Truth is practically always achievement,
Euperstructure, the keystone, a last stroke.
There are what the metaphysicians call
immediate truth" that is, truth in con-
nectlon with which our knowledge is intui-
tive, and where it comes in as the direct
and undeniable testimony Of the senses.
but as a general thing, acquired truth is
l~ths<result of work done, the issue of a bat
tie which has been won. In other words,
truth has to conquer before it can com
mand. But in conflict or warfare of what
soever kind, disguise is ever a worse foe to
meet than denial. And 1 suppose that
what is frequently affirmed is probably
true; namely, that the Christian religion
has always suffered more from those who,
sometimes intentionally and sometimes I'M
Intentionally, have perverted and misrep-
rensented 1T, than it has ever suffered from
those who have even formally opposed it.
There, for instance, is the somewhat trite
criticism that Christianity as a scheme is
narrow in its spirit and contracting in its
effect; under it as a system men do not at
tam the highest possible development, and,
therefore they cannnt hicnlov fho fairoof
and finest fiber of human character; it de-
velopes the passive and uninluential, more
than the puissant and productive. elements
OF our nature; it keeps its hand on life's
brake to check and hold in, rather thar
on life's throttle valve to open and Jet GO;
it Is in face a hon, but in heart a deer; the
thou shalt nots outnumber the thou shafts;
there is an unmistakable flavor of pusil-
lanimity, of cowardliness, Of spiritlessness,
which nothing every wholly removes from
many of its principles and professions; re-
p%entanee, humbleness, meekness, forgive
ness of injuries, REIMBURSEMENT of rights,
submission to what cannot be seen. accept
ance of what cannot be known-these are
not among the heroic virtues. All this has
been felt and expressed, not only by the
superficial and ~scoffing, but by the respect
full and thoughtful. And certainly it is all
f%orceful. If it were true, it might be even
fatal.
Yet from the beginning to end this whole
criticism that Christianity is narrow in its
spirit and contracting in its effects moves
on a misconception. Human life can never
be bound by a ~lifeless process. 1t is of ne
cessity linked to a living Person. And in
Christianity, it is the Almighty God who
is the standard. Men are everywhere ex-
horted and expected to ascertain His will,
to keep His word, to lay hold of His
strength, to walk in His light, and so to
Hdorn His doctrine in all things. 1t is the
example of God that is published as the
pattern. It is the purity of God that is
put forth as the test. 1t is the will of
God that is prescribed as the law. 1t is
the love of God that is presented as the
motive power. 1t is the glory of God that
is pointed to as the end. 1t is the appro-
baton of God that is urged as the inspira-
ton and the sweet reward. Likeness to
Godhood-that is Ch~ristianity's ideal Of
manhood; likeness; not simply a represen-
tation, but a reproductions; ar image; a
likeness which has it's place, not in a one
ness or identity of attributes, but in a one
ness or community of life. In Him we live
and move and have our being, said PAl.
with all clearness and confidence. For
me to live is Christ" said the same great
apostle to the Gentiles. Literally, for to
Iae; tudt is, III my ease, III ~ AdI as l ain
personally concerned. life is Christ. In my
view and understanding of the term, life is
but another name for Christ. Whatever
of life. or of time, or of talent, or of
strength l have, it is all His. II live, yet
not [, but Christ liveth in me" That
mans great endeavor was, as near as pos
sible. to reproduce in his life the life of
his Master.
So here his exhortation to all others:
"Be We therefore imitators of God, as be.
loved children" We have all known chill
dren who were so impressed with the char
acteristics of their fathers that we could
never hear their form of expression or see
their modes of action without thinking of
those from whom their opinions and con-
duct had received direction and form. We
say, chips of the old block; the father
lives again in the son. Just so the true life
of the Christian is. potentially at least,
simply a reproduction of the life of the
Christ.
'Imitators, as children Of God" What
ever the sentiments we may entertain re-
garding the claims of aristocracy or the
rights of democracy, we all make much of
ancestry. The son of a lord may become a
lord. The daughter of a queen is of the
blood royal. Everywhere men believe in
association. Family glory is a good intro
duction and a great help to any man who
can lawfully point to it as his. The valid
ity of that introduction is never ques-
toned, the integrity of that neip is never
rejected, except where the man himself
becomes personally deficient or person
ally degenerate. For doubtless everywhere,
when it comes to the purely practical side
of things, what is he?" is of far greater
Importance than whence did he Gomez"
A big fruit from a little tree is worth
more than a little fruit from a big tree.
when it is fruit that the market is de-
handing. And what this intensely practi.
cal age demands is not so much ancestral
trees as palatablc fruit.
I confess that sometimes | have found it
hard to preserve the proprieties when |
have heard people Boosting of ancestry. l
nave sometimes wondered what the an
cestors would say if they suddenly saw the
progeny. Paternity is not always easily
recognizable in posterity. Neither IN
things material nor in sthings moral does
past possession ever pay for present pow
erty. There must be some water in the
to make a river out OF it, and it is
the present water volume of the
that determines the real water
value of the river.
''Oh, East is East, and West is West,
And never the twain shall meet,
Til Earth and Sky stand presently at
Gods great judgment seat;
But there is neither East nor West,
Border, nor Breed, nor Birth,
When two strong men stand face to face,
Though they come from the ends of the
Earth"
These are strong lines of Kipling; brave
words, wise and true. When it comes to
The solemn strife and stress of life, what"
more than whence" Every man
his own saddle" and 'every tub on its
bottom"
Nevertheless, all people are disposed to
recognize the possibility of high honor in
honorable descent. But admit this to be
true, and it carries its W serious claim
along with it. 1t was the observation of
one of the ancients that the burden of
government is increased to princes by the
of their immediate predecessors.
Commenting on the saying, DR.. Samuel
Johnson, in one of his essays, remarked it
Is always dangerous to be placed in a state
If unavoidable comparison with excellence, |
ind that the danger is always greater when
excellence IS consecrated by death. |
Privilege of ancestry means responsibility
If heirship. Duly and morally considered.
t can never be iordsnIp. 1t is essentially
teWardship. And "to whom. much IS