Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-11-05

neaied ana the other works men,
toned therein accomplished, In ac-
cordance with the teachings and me-
thods OF the founder OF the Christian
religion. But they are not compelled
to rest upon this alone. This COM
mandment is substantially reiterated
in the other gospels. shall not
stop to notice these particularly, but
| do desire to call your attention to
another commandment which Jesus
gave to his disciples, with the excep-
tion OF Judas Iscariot, who BETRAYED
him. After his crucifixion, and lust
before his ascension, he gave to those
disciples final commandment which
is recorded at the close OF the book
OF Matthew. ask your attention
TO its plainness as well as to its
sweeping character:
Go We, therefore, and teach all
nations, baptizing them In the name
OF the Father, and OF the Son, and OF
the Holy Ghost.
Teaching them to observe all
things whatsoever I have command
ed you; and 10, I am with you al
ways, even unto the end OF the
world"
This language Is plain and un-
qualified n we accept Il for what
II distinctly says we must conclude
that II embraces all of that first
great commandment, as we'll as all
OF any commandment or instructions
given by Jesus TO his disciples. With
out wishing to criticlse or condemn
the views OF others, ! must frankly
can read these plain words and give
them moments thought and CON
tinue longer to think or to say or
believe that any part of the first
commandment or OF any command
ment ever given by Jesus 20 his dis
ciples was to be nut aside or to be-
come obsolete. Especially so when
we consider the closing words OF the
final commandment, "Teachlng them
to observe all things whatsoever 7
have commanded you, and 10, am
with You Away, even unto the end of
the world"
In direct connection with Jesus
first great commandment and his
final commandment, | desire TO call
your attention to one more declRrn-
tion made bv the Founder of the
Christian relglon--and II will be ob-
served that with the execution OF the
10Sd Psalm have quoted exclusive
" the teachings OF the Founder OF
the Christian religion, and this ought
to be good authority for all profess
Ing Christians.
When we think of all the great
works that Jesus did during his
earthly career. 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, | say, when we
think of this, and view things from
the standpoint of our limited mortal
senses, we may well be astonlshed
at the words which ! now quote as
they are recorded in the l4th chap
ter of John, 9th verse; Verify, verl
ly, ! say unto you. he that beleveth
on me, the works that do shall he
do also" Plain words. do not
see how words could be palmer. II
seems to be only a question as 10
whether we shall accept them or re-
1ect them. We might well suppose
that when Jesus had made so start
ing declaration he would have
ceased. We might well 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
of manklnd's hopes and expectations
ana possibilities, But he did not
stop there He went further and ut
tered these yet more astounding
words. "And greater works than
these shall he do; because go unto
the Father"
Because ! go unto the Father" +"
as he here says, "and 10, | am with
you Away, even unto the end of the
world" as he says at the close Of his
final commandment n these words
are true, we must believe that the
Christ power and the Christ spirit
were never withdrawn from this
world Jesus went unto the Father
into a better understanding of the
divine law whereby he dld his
mighty works upon the earth, and
by virtue OF which those who believe
on him were 10 do not only the
works that he did, but greater Here
! say, Is Jesus great commandment
20 his disciples. Christian Scientists
are not responsible for Il. Mrs. Eddy
did not write II. II stood unrepealed
unchanged, unmodlfied, long ages
before her birth. long ages befor,
the birth OF anyone claiming IN,
name Of Christian Science today. w,
are not responsible for II. but we are
responsible, together with all othel
protesting Christians, for either &C
ceptlng or rejecting these plalr
teachings.
May we not fairly ask our friends
OF all Christian churches; II Il 4
right TO do or 10 Undertake to do
part OF the works which Jesus sal,
must be done by those who believ