The Greeley tribune., 1910-03-24

loh OF Juu0s IScnriot, who betrayed
him. After his crucifxion. and just
before his ascension. he gave to
those disciples Il final commandment
which IL recorded ut the close OF the
book OF Matthew. l ask your at
tention to its plainness as well as to
its sweeping character:
Go ye therefore. and teach ali
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 l have command
ed you; and 10. am with you al
ways. even unto the end OF the
world"
This language Is plain and un-
qualified. III We accept II for what
I distinctly says we must conclude
that 1t 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 criticise or condemn
the views OF others. I must frankly
say that I do not see how any one
can read these plain words and give
them a 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 to his dis
ciples was to be put aside or to be-
come obsolete. Especially so when
we consider the closing words OF the
final commandment, Teaching them
to observe all things whatsoever l
have commanded you. and 10. am
with you always, even unto the end
of the world"
In direct connection with Jesus
first great commandment and his
Anal commandment. I desire to call
your attention to one more declara-
t!on made by the Founder of the
Christian religion--and II will be OBJ
served that with the exception OF the
l0Sd Psalm l have quoted exclu-
sively from the teachings of the
Founder of the Christian religion,
and this ought to be good authority
for all processing 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 ether
wonderful works, l say, when we
think OF this, and view things from
the standpoint OF our limited mortal
senses, We may well be astonished
at the words which l now quote as
they are recorded in the 14th chap
ter of John. 18th verse: Verify,
verify. ! say unto you. he that be-
lieveth on me. the works that
do shall he do also Plain words.
do not see how words could be plain
er. II seems to be only q question
~ to whether we shall accept them
or reject them. We might well sup
pose that when Jesus had made SO
startling declaration he would
have ceased. We might well sup
pose that when he had in terms OF
such solemnity and plainness de-
clared that those who believe on him
should do the great works that he
did. he would have reached the ut
most limit Of mankind's hopes and
expectations and possibilities. But
he did not stop there. He went fur
ther and uttered these yet more as
tonishing words: And greater
works than these shall he do; be-
cause l go unto the Father"
Because 20 unto the Father"
as he here says, "and 10. / am with
you always. even unto the end OF the
world" as he says at the close Of his
final commandment. II these words
are true. we must believe that the
Christ power and the Christ spirit
world. Jesus went unto the Father,
into a better understanding OF the
divine law whereby he did his
mighty works upon the earth. and
by virtue OF which those who be-
lieve on him we're to do not only the
works that he did, but greater. Here.
! say. is Jesus great commandment
to his disciples. Christian Scientists
are not responsible for 1t. Mrs. Eddy
did not write It. 1t stood unrepealed.
unchanged. unmodified. long ages
before her birth. long ages before
the birth Of anyone claiming the
name of Christian Science today. We
are not responsible for 1t. but we are
responsible, together with all other
processing Christians. for either ac-
cepting or rejecting these plain
teachings.
Again, in Mark 18th we read:
And these signs shall follow them
that believe; in my name shall they
cast out devils; they shall speak
with new tongues; they shall take
up serpents, and If they drink any
deadly thing, 1t shall not hurt them
they shall lay hands on the sick, and