Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1909-09-25


apt TO blame others strongly for mis-
demeanors OF which they themselves
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 crii,.
cism OF others is so kindly. So gener.
Gus. so merciful as to not involve u
condemnation OF his own course is
certalnly an exceptional man or wuui-
Ian. We call to remembrance our
Lords words. "With whntsoeven-ln,qis-
Pure We mete II shall be measured io
you again." and. interpreting our text
ID harmony with this. II our words are
l.gbnerOus and kind. loving and bencv,.
lent we shall receive similarly kind
I lfeatment " the Lord. n our lau.
gtmgc respecting others he harsil cyu.
tIot. critical. unbInd. we may expect
IrSprOfs from the Lord. whyf lar
ktAuse all mankind are by nature fallen.
iHiperfect. depravpd; and the lcrsnii
Who sees the faults ~ others aud fnIlS
70 see his own. needs the correctin1
c1lastisements Of the Lord to show him
his true condition reflected in his
cburse OF conduct and language t6
ward and respecting others: he lndl.
cntes that he himself needs to bc
taught some very important lessons
without which he will not be prepared
10 make progress toward the Divine
standards of character.
on the contrary. the person who ls
sVts
sympathetic. disposed io make allow.
ances for others shows that be h',s
learned nm important lesson already
aud that. to u considerable extent his
heart Is right. Whatever there II
wrong with such generous soul II
unintentionally wrrr~. wrong whl y
d lntrenched IN his nesh hut win
which his heart ls not IN accord. By
his kindly words respecting others he
marks himself. indicates his character
as OF the kind which God can approve:
ds one OF the class who at least love
their nelghbor ns themselves and thus
imply also that they love God. because.
as the Apostle points out. "He that
loveth not his brother whom he hath
seen. how eau he love God whom he
hath not seenY" COntrariwise ne who
loves his neighhor speaks generously
OF him. II merclful toward him. and
compassionate. undoubtedly wou'd
greatly respect aud love the Divine
character IN It's perfection of Justice.
Wisdom ana Love.
Blessed Are the Mereiful.
This brings us tO another Scripture
OF similar tenor; blessed are the mer-
clful for they shall obtain mercy" n
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 aud that Yet that Law was
Intended In great measure 10 show tu
Israel and 10 the world the inIpossi.
billty Of an imperfect man or woman
keeping perfectly the Divine require
ments. When the Lord would state his
Law FROM the other standpoint lus.
lively and not negatively. he sums the
matter up la few wUtds. Thou shalt
love the Lord Supremrly aud thy neigh.
bor us thyself. lie who Is mercltu j.
| ord. because he more than others a,-
proXimales the standard ~ the Divlni
Law Love; for merry Is the express
sion of love.
We see, then. that the Divine prom
lse that he who Is mercifu to his
nelghbor will receive the more mercy
from the Lord is not a mere ipse dirt.
nor u mere rewa7ding OF such proper
course. Rather IL Is In harmony with |
The principles aud essence OF the divine |
government, because the more gener-
Dus aud loving the heart, the nearer 10 |
he perfect condition.
II this principle could be rightly seen
by Christian people II would work an |
almost instantaneous revolution la the |
hearts aud conduct OF all who desire |
Divine approval aud favor. Instead
N burning Que another mt the stake; |
instead of putting on thumb screws;
instead OF condemning one another To |
eternal torment. Christians would be |
seeking 10 bless one another, 60 thinS |
lnd feel kindly respecting one another
lnd disposed TO pray Gods blessing |
ipon those who despltefully use them
md persecute them, Instead OF slan-
Ter aud Misrepresentation aud enylous
the spirit Of love ana
,lnduess aud mercy aud godlikeness
would more aud more prevail amongst
hose who have named the name OF
Christ aud have professedly enlisted
lnder his banner aud covenanted 10
walk In his footsteps.
Nor would the blessing stop with tue
,hurch. The world. seeing such an
example OF love and kindness, would
be ready 60 take knowledge OF the fol
DIVERS of Jesus, as they did In the
LAYS OF the apostles saying, Behold
low these Christians love one anoth-
re- Then our Lords words would |
have a practical illustration, "A new
commandment | give unto you, that |