Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-17

ers do that And II you show courtesy TO
your brothers only what more are you doing
than others? Even heather do that:
You. then are to be perfec<, as Your
Heavenly Father Is"
AS 1t would be impossible to print here
the whole of our Scripture selection / nave
chosen the above few sentences as being
the most striking representation OF the ooc-
trine taught In the Sermon on the MOUNT
The Lesson.
1t s a mistaken idea that we today would
be any more likely to accept Jesus Christ
and become His close disciples were He to
appear In visible form than were the people
of old We just unbeiievlng as We
would have been then. We cannot, even
after the centuries of the new gospel, quite
get 1t into our heads, much less into our
hearts. that ii is better and necessary for
us to live an unselhsh life You can't
expect Utopia In this age of the world
is often upon even processing Christians
lips.
Jesus came to show us that life we
conceive it is all wrong. We do not really
believe that we may trust our lives and rest
without anxiety. We do not believe that
1t is best to forgive, and to love, and TO
give up, and not to try to get first and
best things for ourselves. We say We be-
lIeye II, but we do not, most OF us. or living
would be different. There would not be so
many hurt feelings SO many people stay
ing away from meetings because this one
or that one acted as though she didn't
want her, or because some one IN the
church Is proud and looks down upon her.
we would trust each other more ana nave
less suspicious of mean motives. We would
try always to help instead of leaving our
brother to bear his own burden. We would
never say: Il cannot work on the same
committee with that man. He and l don't
hit it " When brother or a sister was
in trouble we would take the same care to
help him that would If he were our own
We should be less strangers and more
brothers; less hard and worldly, more
heavenly minded and matchmaking. Social
life would not be the all and in all TO us
that il is noW--the getting in with the most
select circles. We should not care, because
we should recognize no social distinction
but the that will pass IN heavenly cir
Giles: the distinction of the pure in heart
who God.
There IS an old proverb which says What
YOU do makes so much noise cannot near
what yeu say" 1t is significant of mnch
of our Christianity.
Jesus first Of all laid down the principles,
condito ions, characteristics and aims OF his
new society IN the Sermon on the Mount
This is the character of the klngqo1n Oh
God" IAN MACLARES' .
Applied Truth.
When Godfrey of Boullon at the end OF
the first crusade was saluted as king or
Jerusalem, and golden crown sparkling
with Jewels was brought to him he laid 1t
aside saying: at is most unfit for me,
who am a mortal man. servant ana
sinner, to be crowned with gems and gold,
when Christ. the Son of God, who made
heaven and earth, was crowned with
thorns-' n
Dr. J. P Newman once used as an Illus
tration two bottles of Jordan water. one
pure and transparent, the other discolored
and roily The first you could shake as
much as you pleased, but 1t remained clear
as before but 1t was originally the same
muddy water as that In the other bottle,
until it was purified by filtration through
charcoal. So is the heart that Is made
pure by the blood of Christ, no amount or
shaking by the hand OF trtbulation can
defle
Ralph Conner in his THE Prospector'
illustrates the teaching of the Christ NE
in the minister's talk to the cowboy Ike.
who presented himself as a candidate Ior
church membership
Now Ike, listen to me I'm gong 10
give it to you straight
Ike faced his minister squarely, looking
him fair in the eyes.
You have been doing pretty much as
you like all along. Now, if you join the
church you are swearing soemnly to DO
only what Jesus Christ likes. You give
your word YOU will do only what you think
lie wants. You see? He is to be your
Master
Yes said Ike. That's so. Inats
right
In everything. remember
why, sure That seemed quite simple
TO Ike.
Swearing. drinking, fighting, gambling.
Shock continued. Ike hesitated.
why you don't suppose He would mind
a little thing like a smile-with the boys now
and then, or a quiet game OF poker, 90
you"
IIa did mind ,yoOId Won ouif 2
Why, sure. You just bet! ! said So
We'll. Ike. supposing some one of those
chaps from the Pass. say Hickey, should
walk up and hit you IN the race, what
would you do?
What? Proceed to eddlcate him. Pre-
ject him into next week. That Is, II there
was anything left
shock opened bis Bible and read, But /
say unto you. that We resist not evil; but
whatsoever shall smite thee thy right
cheek turn to him the other also That Is
what Jesus Christ says, Ike
He does, Ell? Does it mean just that!
Ike felt that this was a serious difficulty.
Yes, II means just that.
Are all you fellers like that?
This wrought in Shock sudden confu-
sion.
Well, Ike. I'm afraid not, but we ought
to be: and We aim to be-
well said Ike slowly, I guess l amt
made that way.
.'Then Shock turned the leaves of his
Bible. and read the story Of the cruel
brusng OF the Son of Man, and on to
the words. Father, forgive them Ike
had heard this story before, but he had
never seen It's bearing upon practical life.
~ say" he said, with reverent admira-
ton in his voice. He did It, didn't He?
That's what call pretty high jumpin'. amt
It? Well he continued, can't make no
promises, but tell you what--Tll aim at 1t.
/ will. honest. And when you see me weaken
you'll jack me up. won't you? You'll have
to stay with me. for Its q mighty hard
proposition
Then Shock took his hands. Ike. you're
a better man than / am, but / promise you
l Will stay all l can with you. But there
will be days when you will be all alone
except that He will be with you. Now
listen and Shock turning over the leaves
of his Bible read 'Lo, 1 am with you al
ways and a little further over and read
again, L can do all things through Christ
that strengtheneth me- That is His prom
Use. Ike. He has promised to us from
our sins. Do you think you can trust Him
TO do that?
why, sure said Ike. as If nothing else
was possible. That's His game, amt It?
I guess He'll stay with it. He said SO,
didn't He?
Yes said Shock with sudden exalta-
ton of faith, He said so, and He will stay
81 Ton't he af Ha viii 500