Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1907-02-20


lem, that he had a reputation for theology" Zac-
cheus stands for the sinner, even tho nowhere In
the Word are Publican and the sinner found synono-
nous, the Holy Spirit usually coupling the Publi-
can and the sinner together, which would not be
found so il they could be used interchangeably or
were identical in meaning.
Our writer very kindly gives us the hereto
known details in the life OF Nathaniel tells where
he lived, what he was his standing and habits that
he stood aloof from the movements of John the
Baptist, and Why's that Philip did go to Jordan he
cause there was a multitude; a mystic, the
other a of affairs. That Nathaniel was
"quiet, modest, difident, questioning person, and
he stayed at home, gathering what was written
about the Messiah in Scripture, accumulating, COM
paring reconciling evidence, and creating portrait
which would satisfy his reason, and bv which he
would identify the coming One." To reconcile
evidence to meet ones reason, has in it the char
acteristics of faith faith believes, does not recon-
ce; searching for proof, comparing Scripture with
Scripture helpful; but the microscope and knife
not the instruments for helpful, restfu research,
but suggest something lacking in the record d-hints
of supplemental work through reason, the introduce
tion of Datura law and the application OF science in
the spiritual world. We are told that Nathaniel
learned, speculative, conscientious, and that he
would see Jesus himself; but for Philip, who hears
and beieves, simple child OF faith, the great
doctor has no kindly mention. That which pleased
God does not give pleasure to this Doctor, while
Nathaniel, the doctor would have us believe, was
occupied with his senses in perpexity and sadness,
adjusting that which was written, discounting the
Messah's claim on him; he finds no help from
critical Philip who is easily satisfied, and hence
no criterion for him His estimate OF the ancient,
the honored, the oldest and best Book is seen in
this query, and yet is the question of Jesus to be
settled by the ancient book?' There is not an ee-
ment in this sketch of Nathaniel in harmony with
the Divine record.
The only way out of darkness into light is by
faith; reason remote as to THE end the
silly of congress of religions. Jesus will
satisfy no man who will not believe in Him. The
Pharisees got nothing from Him; Mary found every
thing to meet her every need in Him. Faith
always reason never, brings the sinner enrapport
with Jesus Christ. Deliverance from sim its power,
it's penalty, comes through simple, child-lke faith
| in the cruciied and risen One and no other way
The simple and the critic go in at the same door,
and the former is not retarded by his lack of mind,
the latter not helped by his superabundance.
j We now come to the consideration of the pen
portrait of Nicodemus ''the iormalist" by this un
! trustworthy carcaturist who prostitutes the Word
OF God as presumable basis for ''The Life of the
Master" but who ignores what is written and SUBJ
j stitutes his ideas in the place OF Gods Words
/ The Holy Ghost gives all we can possibly know of
this 'man OF the Pharisees, "-name, office, time
and interview Of Jesus, the conversation Of John
three; the brief word Of John seven; supplemental
line or more in John nineteen. This satisfies the
child Of faith who is fully persuaded that all he
needs to know has been revealed by the Spirit, and
for the learned doctor to intimate that Nicodemus
would miss certain academic flavor in jesus
speech dear unto scholars, !" is but fling into the
face Of the Omniscient Christ insult too base to
be chronicled; such sacrege is without precedent,
save in the mouths Of the profane and vile This
attack upon the divinity Of our Lord oDscures
al the pretty touches found in the preceding papers
the divine man who shocked Nicodemus with his
prOvincialisms, this irreverend and unsafe teacher
inconsistently tells us in another place 'sknew the
thoughts Of the Pharisees and confused them in His
dealings with them" This Doctor fOrestalIs what
| is wHtten on the sacred pages as he 1niects his
| faulty words into the face Of Him who knew all
THINGS for NicOdemus without liear or favor, con-
iessed himself to be in the presence OF one who
came from God and who had God with Him, which
while not up to the mark, was at least greatly in
advance Of the one who dares to writa this parody
upon the life Of the Master. Who would dare to
insinuate that God would even send an untutored
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