Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1909-09-25

are guilty. The man whose words re-
specting others do not condemn him
self is TO be congratulated as happy
man indeed. The person whose criti-
cism of others is so kindly. so gener-
Gus. so merciful as to not involve a
condemnation of his own course is
certainly an exceptional man or wom-
an. We call to remembrance our
Lords words. with whatsoever meas
ure We mete it shall be measured to
you again." aud. interpreting our text
in harmony with this. if our words are
generous and kind, loving and benevo-
lent we shall receive similarly kind
treatment of the Lord. If our Ian
guage respecting others be harsh, Gym
ical. critical unkind. we may expect
reproofs from the Lord. Why? Be
cause all mankind are by nature fallen.
imperfect. depraved; and the person
to see his own. needs the correcting
chastisements of the Lord to show him
his true condition reflected in his
course of conduct and language to-
ward and respecting others: he indi-
Gates that be himself needs to be
taught some very important lessons
without which he will not be prepared
to make progress toward the Divine
standards of character.
On the contrary. the person who IS
kind. gentle. fergiving. forbearing.
sympathetic. disposed to make allow
ances for others shows that be has
learned an important lesson already
and that. to a considerable extent. his
heart is right Whatever there is
wrong with such generous soul is
Internationally wrong. wrong which
is intrenched in his flesh. but with
which his heart is not in accord. BY
his kindly words respecting others he
marks himself. indicates his character
as of the kind which God can approve:
their neighbor as themselves and thus
imply also that they love God. because.
as the Apostle points out. He that
loveth not his brother whom be hath
seen. how can he love God whom he
hath not seenw Contrariwise he who
loves his npighbor speaks generously
of him. is merciful toward him. and
compassionate. undoubtedly would
greatly respect and love the Divine
character in its perfection Of Justice.
Wisdom and Love.
Blessed Are the MercifuI.
This brings US to another Scripture
of similar tenor: Blessed are the mer-
ciful. for they shall obtain mercy" 1t
is true that God gave to natural Israel
a code of laws which defined the course
of life for Them saying. Thou shalt not
do this and that. Yet that Law was
intended in great measure to show 10
Israel and to the world the impossi-
bility of an imperfect man or woman
keeping perfectly the Divine require
ments. When the Lord would state his
Law from the other standpoint-pos
lively and not negatively, he sums the
matter up in few words. Thou shalt
love the Lord supremely and thy neigh
Dor as thyseIf. He who is merciful is
in the condition to be blessed of the
Lord. because he more than others APP
proximates the standard of the Divine
Law-Love; for mercy. is the express
sion of love.
We see. then. that the Divine prom
Use that he who is merciful to his
neighbor will receive the more mercy
from the Lord is not mere ipse dirt,
nor a mere rewa-ding of such proper
course. Rather it is in harmony win
the principles aud essence of the divine
government. because the more gener-
ous and loving the heart, the nearer to
the perfect condition.
If this principle could be rightly seen
by Christian people it would work an
almost instantaneous revolution in the
hearts and conduct of all who desire
Divine approval and favor. Instead
of burning one another at the stake;
instead of putting on thumb screws;
instead of condemning one another to
eternal torment. Christians would be
seeking to bless one another to think
and feel kindly respecting one another
and disposed to pray Gods blessing
upon those who despitefully use them
and persecute them. Instead of slan-
der and ton and envious
insinuations. the spirit of love and
kindness and mercy and godlikeneSs
would more and more prevail amongst
those who have named the name of
Christ and have professedly enlisted
under his banner and covenanted TO
walk in his footsteps.
Nor would the blessing stop with the
Church The world. seeing such an
example of love and kindness. would
be ready to take knowledge OF the fol-
lowers of Jesus, as they did in the
days of the apostles. saying. "Rehold.
how these Christians love one anoth-
err" Then our Lords words would
have a practical illustration, "A new
Commandment give unto you. that
We love one another. as ! have loved
you,-to the extent of laying down our
lives for each other As the Apostle
declares. I'VE ought also to lay down
our lives for the brethren"
1t has seemed at times, as though
some of those who profess relationship
to Christ as members of his Church
do even more of petty evil-speaking
and slandering and busy-bodying than
do the worldly who make no profess
sion whatever. According to the stand
ards set forth in our text the worldly.
if they have more of the quality of
mercy in their hearts will evidently
be more pleasing to God than those
who have made much profession and
neglected the Masters commands and
failed to cultivate his spirit of love
and mercy. in word and deed.
Let US all remember our text and APP
ply it. by thy words shalt thou be
justified. and by thy words shalt thou
be condemned AS we think of the
ract that these sermons reach the eyes
of about seven millions of readers
weekly. we feel the weight Of our re-
sponsibility. 1t is our desire that they
be just such as the Lord can approve,
aud such as will be helpful to hearers