Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-10-29
plainpess as well as to its sweeping

tnt klOiJ bhOol
Teaching them TO observe all
things whatsoever / have command
ed you; and 10. l am with YOU Away.
even unto the end OF theworld."
This language is plain and unqual-
flied. II we accept 1t for what 1t
distinctly says we must conclude
that 1t embraces all OF that first great
commandment, as well as all of any
other commandment or instructions
given by Jesus to his disciples. With
outwishing to criticise or condemn the
views OF others, l must frankly say
that i do not see how any one can
read these plain words and give them
"a moments thought and continue
longer to think or to say or believe
that any part of the first command
ment or of any commandment ever
given by Jesus to his disciples was
to be put aside or to become obsolete.
Especially so when we consider the
closing words of his final command
ment, Teaching them to observe all
things whatsoever / have commanded
>
even unto the end of the world"
In direct connection with Jesus
first great commandment and his fin
al commandment, / desire to call your
attention to one more declaration
made by the Founder OF the Chris
tian religion.
When we think OF the great works
that Jesus did during his earthly Ca
reer, how he overcame and destroyed
all kinds OF sin, how he healed all
manner of sickness and disease, how
he raised the dead, how he walked the
waves and stilled the tempest, and
how he did many other wonderful
works, l say, when we think of this.
and view things from the standpoint
of our limited mortal senses, we may
we'll be astonished at the words which
l now quote as they are recorded in
the 14th chapter of John, 18th verse:
Verify, verify, / say unto you, he
that believeth on me, the works that
do shall he do also" Plain words.
| do not see how words could be
plaiRer. 1t seems to be only ques-
ton as to whether we accept them
or reject them. We might well sup
pose that when Jesus had made SO
startling a declaration he would have
ceased. We might we'll suppose that
when he had in terms of such solem-
nifty and plainness declared that those
who believe on him should do the
great works that he did, he would
have reached the utmost limit oil
mankind's hopes and expectations and
possibilities. But he did not stor
there. He went further and uttered
these yet more astonishing words.
And greater works than these shall
4 he do; because j go unto the Father.
Because / go unto the Father as
he here says, land 10, l am with you
Away, even unto the end of the world
Away, even unto the end of the
world" as he says at the close OF
his final commandment. If these
words are true, we must believe that
the Christ power and the Christ spir-
! it were never withdrawn from this
world Jesus went unto the Father
into a better unde standing of the
divine law whereby he did his mighty
works upon the earth, and by virtue
of which those whobelieve on him
were to do not only the works that
he did, but greater. Here, / say, is
Jesus great commandment to his dis
ciples Christian Scientists are not
responsible for it, Mrs. Eddy did not
write it, 1t stood unrepealed, un-
changed unmodified, long ages before
her birth, long ages before the birth
Of anyone claiming the name of Chris
tian Science today. We are not re-
sponsible for it, but we are RESPONSE
BILE, together with all other processing
Christians. for either accepting or re
jecting these plain teachings.
May we not fairly ask our friends
of all Christian churches: If it Ii
right TO do or to undertake to do {
part of the work which Jesus sale
must be done by those who believ,
on him, is it not right in a great
er measure to do, or to undertake tC
do all of such works? If, on the 9th
er hand, it is wrong TO do or undertake
to do all those works. it is wroni
in relative degree, to do or under
take to do a part those works. How
then, can anyone claiming to be
follower ofthe Christ consistently dis
avow or denounce the teachings o
Christian Science and the glorious
results thereof?
Christian Scientists do not CLAIM
to be able at this period to do all tn,
works that Jesus and some of hi
disciples did, but they do sincerel,
: claim to be making an honest an,
united effort in that direction.
And even thus far their labors hav,
been crowned with such wondrous an
gratifying success that they may wei
be encouraged to go on and on in tn,
Christ way, with the full hope an,
expectation and knowledge that |
they are true to their trust. sooner o.
later there shall be accomplished her
upon earth all of the great works tina
: Jesus did and taught his disciples I,
do, and which he commanded them I,
hand down to all the nations OF tn,
world. as we have clearly shown. No
only so, but the greater works which
he prOphesied shall also be accom-