Rock Island Argus., 1905-10-11

Itionship 10 God. reflect, or image forth.
the divine character. The real and
immortal man. therefore, does reflect
God. The mortal man. or the unspirit-
| ual man. does not reflect God. and is
not therefore His image and likeness.
The last of these tenets enjoins upon
all who subscribe TO them the neces-
| sity of striving, watching and praying
TO have in themselves the same mind
that was also in Christ Jesus, to love
one another. and to be meek, merciful,
just and pure.
Surely there can be no higher stand
ard of Christianity. If there be per-
son on this earth today who can truly
be said to have in himself the same
mind that was also in Christ Jesus,
that person is a Christian. II there
are persons who are sincerely striving
watching and praying to have that
mind, they are, in that sense. leading
the Christian life. Those Christian
Scientists who are thus earnestly striv-
ing are true 10 the church tenets and
TO their teaching. If there are those
who are not so striving. they. like all
others, have yet to attain 10 a higher
standard Of living.
Scriptural Basis.
The foregoing indicates, in general
terms, the christianity of our faith.
No unbiased mind will say that. in
statement and theory. it does not en-
brace all the essentials of bible teach
ing; but let us be more specific. All
who believe in God at all agree that
He is all-powerful. al-present. all-wise
All who believe in the bible accept the
statement of the first chapter of Gene
sis that God made man i'll His own
image and likeness. We should endeav-
or to give these bible truths their full
weight, their deep Significance. If we
do so. we must believe that with God
all things are possible. We must be
lieve that if God is whole His image !
and likeness reflects wholel,s We
must believe that if God is pure. Ais |
image and likeness reflects purity |
We must believe that if God is good. !
His image and likeness reflects good |
ness. We must believe that if God is |
Love, His image and likeness reflects
love. We must believe that if God is |
life, His image and likeness reflects |
life. We must believe that if God, in |
His Wilderness, is free from sin, sick
ness and death, His image and likeness !
is likewise free. Otherwise the words |
image and likeness" were false and |
meaningleSs-a misnOmer. A fun be-
lief in the first chapter of Genesis. |
which is the record of the true. spirit |
ual creation. puts upon us the necessity
of recognizing God as the only creator
of man. and man as the image and
likeness of his creator forever and for
ever.
jesus Teaching.
The old testament teachings, as in
dicated by the few citations made fur |
nish an abundant foundation for the |
new testament doctrine of healing !
through the divine law. and especially |
she teaching and works of Jesus. l
might quote extensively from the new |
testament did time permit, but l shall !
confine the quotations to the sayings |
and precepts of the founder of the |
Christian religion. This should be suf- |
ficicnt authority for every processing !
Christian.
Jesus sent forth his II disciples To-
preach and TO heal the sick He gave |
them commandment. called by some |
bible commentators his great commits
sion. In Matthew 10th. this command |
ment is thus recorded:
go not into the way of Gentiles, |
and into any city of the Samaritans |
enter We not: but 80 rather 10 the lost |
sheep of the house Of Israel
And as ye go preach. saying. The |
kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Heal the sick cleanse the lepers. |
raise the dead, cast out devils; freely |
ye have received. freely give.
Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor |
brass in your purses,
Nor yet scrip for your journey |
neither two coats. neither shoes. nor
yet slaves; for thc workman is worthy |
of his meat
This commandment is a unit. 1t is
not two commandments. There is in
this language no warrant for any at
tempt TO separate the commandment
by declaring that the part relating TO
preaching was TO be perpetuated, but
the part relating 10 healing the sick
was TO be put aside, as having refer
ence only TO the time in which, and