The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-02-17
Sermon by
CHARLES T.
RUSSELL.
Pastor Brooklyn
Tabernacle.


Norfolk, Va, Feb 13.-Are the words
of our text true? Is it possible that
the true religion of the Bible demands
nothing more of us than is expressed
in this text? What about the jew
ish Law? What about its sin-offering,
it's burnt-offering, its thank-offerings?
What about the ten commandments?
What about the digest of those COM
mandments approved by our Lord Je-
sus. Thou shalt love the Lord thy
God with all thy heart, with all thy
mind, with all thy being, with all thy
strength; and thou shalt love thy
noighbor as thyself"? What about
Church attendance? What about our
responsibilities to our families? TO the
Church? To the poor? What about
study of the Bible to know Gods will?
What about our responsibility for the
heather? What about baptism and
the Lords supper?
Indirectly, dear brethren, all the
matters included in our questions and
many more are included incidentally in
a whole sermon is preached in few
words. No one will dispute the rea-
sonableness of the Divine requirement
as stated in our text. Our Creator
could not justly or with self-respect
ask less than this of his creatures who
would enjoy his favor. The interests
of all demand that these principles
n - Of mo
permitted the enjoyment of Divine IA
vor to the extent of eternal life. Who
ever fails to come up to these condi-
lions would thus evidence his I'M
worthiness of life eternal; his pro-
longed existence would merely be a
prospecting of sin and menace to the
happiness and Righteousness of others.
But now let us see the scope of this
Divine requirement. whose justice we
have already acknowledged. We note
the natural division of our text into
three parts:
~ Doing justly;
(2) Loving mercy;
3) Walking humbly.
The requirement of justice in all our
dealings with our fellows, commends
itself to every rational mind. 1t in
cludes the whole Law of God. A
brief statement of that Law which
had our Lords approval reads, Thou
shalt love the Lord thy God with all
thy heart and all thy mind. all thy
being and all thy strength; and thou
shalt love thy neighbor as myself. On
these two propositions hang all the
Law and the Prophets. 1t is but just
that we should recognize our Creator
as first; that we should glorify the
One who gave us our being and all
the blessings that come therewithi
that we should be obedient to his
righteous requirements that make fol
our own happiness and that of others
1t is also but right that we should
recognize the rights of others, as we
would have them recognize our rights
The Golden Rule is the barest of jus
tice. Not a hairs breadth less would
come within the requirements of oul
text, Do Justly. Come, then, let us
reason together. How many of Us
do justly in all of life's affairs-in oul
relationship to our God and to oul
neighbor?
Begin at home. Let each one crit
else his words and his deeds toward
his parents; toward his children; to
ward his brothers; toward his sisters
toward husband; toward wife. d.
we in all of our relationships of life
treat these who are so near and 81
dear to us according to the standards
of justice. according to the Colder
Rule? Do we do toward them as W.
would have them do toward us? l.
not. after making a beginning will
the Lord, Striving to render to hin
our homage and obedience. let us close
ly scrutiniZe every word, every act o
the home life and see to what extern
these can be improved upon and made
more nearly just. The majority o
people, we feel sure, will be surprised
to know how unjust they have beer
toward those who are of the yer.
nearest and dearest of heshly relation
ships.
Follow the matter up and conside
the justice or injustice of your word
and deeds in daily life with you
neighbOrs and daily associates. Do yo'
invariably speak to them in the SAM
words and with the same tone ant
gesture that you would approve If the.
were in your place and you in theirs
In matters Of business do you drive
closer bargain with them than yo'
would think lust for them TO max
with you? Or, on the other hand. G
you ask of them higher prices for tn
services or materials you furnish then
than you would consider just and RICH
If you were the purchaser and the.
the vendors? Do you watch yc''
relations upon your neighbours gaCda
as carefully as you would wish you
neighbor to watch his chickens as X
spects your garden. If you had one
Do you blow no more tobacco smok
in the face Of your neighbor than 20
face? Are you as careful about VIII
Ing your feet when entering his hous
as you would like him to be when er
tering your house? Do you treat a
men. women. children and animals n
kindly, as gently. as properly ever
way as you think would be just IN
right IL you We're in their place an
they in yours? Do you speak as kind
ly of your neighbors as you woul
have them speak of you? Or do 20