The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-11-16
LECTURE ON CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
CONTINUED from Page ~

is the alone fountain of all being, OF
whom, through whom, and to whom
are all things. His knowl-
edge is infinite, infallible, and indie
pendent upon the creature, so as
nothing Is to him contingent or un-
certain
Words could not define more i'm
personal God, if we accept words at
their ordinary meaning. If we give
to the words quoted from the Con-
fession of Faith their ordinary and
rational meaning, we could not i'm
agine a better definition of an i'm
personal God. May l not fairly and
honestly ask: How can we think of
God who is infinite as being CON-
posed of flesh, blood and bones, with
all the infirmities and limitations
pertaining thereto? How can we
thus think of a God who is "Spirit?"
How can we thus think o ia God who
is ''eternal?" How can we thus think
of God who is without body, parts,
or passions?" l submit these ques-
tons in no spirit of captious criti-
cism, but by way of sincere and ear
nest inquiry.
The Methodist Episcopal church
adopts substantially the Westminster
definition, but leaves out the word
passions; thus describing God as
being without body or parts" And
yet our orthodox ministerial friends
including those of the Methodist
church-oppose Christian Science
largely upon the ground that, as they
claim, it teaches that God is not a
person. 1t remains for our orthodox
friends, not for Christian Scientists,
to explain how a God who is Gin
finite" who is Spirit" who is ''eter-
nal who is without a body, parts
or passions can be person in the
ordinary sense of the term. or a mere
ly big man." as he is so commonly
understood to be.
The definition above quoted is
found in the Westminster Confession
of Faith of the Presbyterian church
of the United States; and. as I have
said, has been substantially adopted
by all the orthodox Christian
churches. 1t does not appear in what
is called the Shorter Catechism. The
be ok from which I quote bears dafe
Of 1906, so that it stands as du-
thority now.
now call your attention to a part
of the New Testament record which
we consider as fundamental Chris
tian doctrine or teaching. I refer to
the great commandment given by
Jesus to his disciples, called by some
Bible commentators his Great Com
mission to the Twelve If it is true
that this part of the Bible is funda-
mental Christian doctrine or teach |
ing then surely those who desire to
live Christian lives cannot too much |
study nor too we'll understand it. For
present purposes, quote the account
contained in Matthew 10th:
Go not into the way of the Cen
tiles, and into any city Of the Sam |
aritans enter We not; but go rather
to the lost sheep of the house of Is
rael.
And as We go preach. saying the
kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers,
raise the dead, cast out devils; freely
We have received, freely give.
Provide neither gold nor silver,
nor brass in your purses. Nor scrip
for your journey, neither two coats, |
neither shoes, nor yet slaves; for the
workman is worthy of his meat" Or
of his hire, or wages, as it is else |
where rendered.
When we think of all the great |
works that Jesus did during his earth
stroyed all kinds of SIM how he heal |
ed all manner of sickness and dis |
ease, how he raised the dead, how he |
walked the waves and stilled the tenn
pest, and how he did many other won
derful works, | say, when we think of |
this, and view things from the stand |
point of our limited mortal senses, we
may well be astonished at the words |
which now quote as they are record |
ed in the 14th chapter of John, 18th |
verse; Verify, verify, l 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 palmer. 1t seems to be only |
question as to whether we shall accept |
them or reject them. We might well
suppose that when Jesus had made so
startling declaration he would have
ceased. We might we'll suppose that |
when he had in terms of such solemn
ty 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 man
kinds hopes and expectations and pos
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