The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-09-17
Decentralization"
,o,octcd for Tho Timcs-Dlspatch.o

IN !5a. reconciliation" n
tselocted for Tho Dispatch,
t"1f thou hrln, thy gift to the altar nnd
thcro 'roncr1hereth that thy brother lln "a
nusht against thee, leave there Thy ~.
before tho altar, and go thy way; , i,rs.
5bc rcco11ciled to thy brother, ana ,tn !.
come md offer thy gift. Nlu.''
YES "a. t
Our Lord hore takes Iris Illustration
from tho temple ritual The worshlpper
was Ito bring his lamb Into tho outer
court, where he was to wilt till the priest
could receive and STAY 1t In the place
appointed 1t was indeed time OF SOL
ann srspcnse-the interval between inc
arrival OF tho worshippcr and the accept
ance and Offering of his gift to JehoVhl'
Surely nothing but the most pressing
necessity would Justify the worshpper III
withdrawing before his oblnton had been
presented.
Yet such a necessity our Lord hints
may be possible. What is it7 Sudden
illness or death in the family? No. SIM
ply the remembrance by tho worshipper
that his brother was alienated from him.
Before any other act he must go Instantly
and make peace with his brother; then,
and then only, was he ready to complete
his sacrifice.
It Is the echo of Jchovah's mandate as
given by Ills prophet Hosea desire
mercy, not sacrifice" Ritual Is good;
worship Is scemly; but forgiveness is bet
ter than them BOTH
Although our Lords phrascology Is
taken from Hebrew life and customs. Ills
meaning Is for all lands and all times
No act of worship. however devout, can
possibly take the place Of brotherly love.
If that is wanting all other service. how
ever perfect, Is vain-worse than vain.
God loves sacrifice as in acts OF worship,
but He loves mercy. more. Q friends!
what IL you are faithful in the discharge
Of every churchly duty? You can have
your altar In the sanctuary, In
the pruyer-meet'ng, in the Sun
day school, family closet; you may
punctualy bring in every 1.-THE, daily
offer your lamb-what nvnls all this, If
You are conscious that there Is In all
the world, ono human being with whom
you are not IN good terms? So long
rs you are estranged from him and make
no effort to recover his friendship, God
will reject you and your sacrifice
For your feelings toward others God
takes as Ills standard Of Els dealings
toward you. IF we forgive not men
their trespasses neither will your Father
forgive you your trespasses" At the
altar We beg for mercy: at the altar let
us show mercy.
Observe the terms Of our Lords state
ment. It Is not, IF thou hast aught
against thy brother but. III thy brother
hath aught against thee" What though
the alienation Is altogether on his part?
What If thou hast nothing whatever
against him? Wait not for him to come
to thee. Follow the Divine Law, go and
seek until you sind him. Take myself
the initiatives: and endeavor to have him
simply abstainIng from anger. Be thy
self positive pcacemaker; do this
first of all by Fastening with thy heart,
as we'll as with thy feet
SO doing thou mnyst gain thy brother,
In all events the very attempt will show
that thou thysolf art reconclled. First
mercy-then sacrifice. 1t is Gods law,
He hath told thee and man what is
good. And what doth the Lord require
OF thee but to do Justly and to have
mercy-and to walk humbly with thy
God. This do-and thou shalt live.