The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-05-16

says that he will obey the law oil
Moses and the admonitfons of the
prophets, but. that those same princi
pies shall apply in the hearts Of the
| citizens OF his new kingdom. That
moral order which Is in accordance
with the Divine standard Is still to be
observed. Christianity gives no IL
cense to It's followers. The righteous
ness which Is of Christ does not les
sen our moral obligations. Jesus says
| that not the least 'jot or TITLE" the
smallest part of Hebrew letter. the
"dotting of an or the crossing of a
IT, shall be set aside They must all
be realized in the lives of his follow.
ers
Responsible for Teachings.
In order to emphasize this still fur.
ther, he tells those whom he calls and
appoints to his service that they shall
be held responsible for what they
teach, as well as what they practice,
with regards these commands. To
teach men to break one of the very
least is to become least in his new
kingdom. To obey and to teach 9TH
ers to obey is TO become great in this
new kingdom. Such Is the Importance
he places upon the Old Testament
teachings and his statement as to its
authors. Let us beware reading into
his words any meaning that shall set
aside this portion of Holy Writ. or
that shall suggest any question as to
their accepted authorship or author
ity. But Jesus was also aware of the
danger of outward obedience or mere
perfunctory fulfilment OF that law to-
gether with the myriads of traditions
that had grown up with 1t. Hence II
is that he so specifically warns his
followers that their righteousness, /.
e. right relations, must exceed that
of the Pharisees whose loyalty to the
law and to tradition is so famous. His
followers must keep not only the form
but the spirit also, and so he goes on
to illustrate Beginning with an old
commandment, Thou shalt not kill. /"
he shows US that the outward final
act Of murder is but an outgrowth Of
the spirit of mans heart, hence he
who hates his brother man Is in dam
ger of, I. e., already in the power Of.
those forces that in their elimination
will bring him before the tribunal.
anger, contempt, condemnation
t"thou fooI") all of these are upright
eous, they are criminal, and the SEN
tence of death already rests upon him
who will not repent of these things.
Nothing more clearly reveals the
state of our hearts than the way we
speak to or about others, whether our
speech be full of love or hate, selfish
ness or generosity. The difference be-
tween the one who hates and he who
kills is only accidental and not essen.
.ial.
In danger Of hell" Jesus clearly
Indicates in all Of his teaching fu-
tire state OF punishment as well as
lie of bliss. and granting that these
words are only symbolical, OF which
20 be delivered from the reality These
words are of the naerest nonsense II
they be not true, and certainly we
sannot accuse Jesus of testing nor
suggest him to be fool Qacking In
knowledge) as be speaks upon SO seri-
ous subject When we speak con-
temptuously or fiippantly upon the
subject Of hell we are rejecting upon
the wisdom and knowledge of Jesus.
Jesus Philosophy Simple.
Remembered thy brother hath
hught against thee" The philosophy
of Jesus is perfectly simple. If an
ger Is criminal then he who Is guilty
must of necessity become reconciled
20 that one whom he has offended.
Not merely that we are to forgive
those who have wronged US. for that
IS not such hard matter. But we
must get right with our brother who
has aught against us before our gifts
will be acceptable unto God. Some
one has said, 1T is far easier to give
up q coin than to give up quarrel.
1t is easier to lay down a generous
offering than to lay down grudge"
This requires haste, We must agree
with our adversary quickly or else ne
will turn upon us and presenting his
righteous cause before the tribunal
bring upon US Judgment for our an
ger, our consciousness. or our con
domination. Once thus brought before
the Judge, be it an earthly tribunal,
public opinion, or loving God, our
opportunity is past and we shall be
obliged to pay to the uttermost, even
so small part as farthing-about
two-fifths of cent os course we
know the difference between a man
having a grudge against US and his
having just cause or claim against US.
We cannot control the hearts OF 9th
ors, but we can set all just causes or
claims Alright and then forgiving his
grudge even seventy times seven we
shalt find our offering not only accept
able In Gods sight. but sweet smell
Ing SAVIOUR as well.
II is because or a lack of adjust,
menf right here that SO many of our
prayers are not answered. We must
settle these Just claims sometime:
ct Us do 1t Quickly"