The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-29

therefore perfect" Now distinguished
from worldly morality. BE ys per-
feet. even ~ your Father which 10 in
Heaven 10 perfect" implies q rela-
tionship. q likeness, similarity of
character. God made the flowers and
and because He 10 our Father We are
His children and can become like Him.
This is the great truth Of the incarna-
ton.
that man cannot be compared with God,
for one Is bounded and the other is
boundless. And unless there be some
thing In mans nature which truly and
properly partakes OF divine nature the
demand for perfection would be hol-
low s.ockery. and cruel impossibility.
But are there not strong evidences
OF infinitude in the nature Of man? Is
there not something boundless. endless.
infinite in mans soul that only God
can fill All history and all experience
teaches that having" can never salts
~ nature that is designed for DE
not satisfy him. The restlessness OF
the young ruler who came to Christ
proves this. And no one that ever
lived has been satisfied with his own
life. And in this very dissatisfaction.
with our own capacities lies a proof
of that perfection towards which we
are ever striving and which we can
never attain. r.'.
soul furnish proof Of the likeness
Of man to God. With respect to our
and spiritual capacity we state
that they are not only indefinite. but
absolutely infinite. He who has ever
truly and heartily loved another
knows what it is to par,ake OF the in
fnitude Of God. In the emphatic Ian
guage Of the Apostle John. he literal
" felt his immortality-"God in him.
and he in God" For that moment in
fnitude was to him not a name. but a.
reality. He entered into that realm
where time and space have vanished.
and nothing remains but boundiess
eternity.
Were it not for this condition that
We can become like our Father in
Heaven the very thought OF God would
be painful to US. and in the simple
trustfulness Of our nature towards
our Creators trustfulness that a
child and the philosopher alike cam
feel-lies another strong demonstra-
ton of the poss' bility OF our likeness
to God.
But why should we wish to be per-
feet? Because your Father which Isl
in Heaven is perfect" answered Christ
Not because worldly prudence says 1t isl
better to be moral. better to be hon
est, better to be just; not because al
mistaken religionist says give up your
happiness here in order that you may|
have more hereafter. All such advice
is essentially selfish. Well doing and
are often linked together.
But bIessedness Is not the motive which
Christ gave for well doing. Disinter-
estedness, mercifulness for the sake OF
being merciful; meekness for the sake
Of being meek. not mercy in order that
we may obtain mercy, or meeknessI
that we may inherit the earth. Is what
the gospel taught. II we were asked.
~ fo~ in fch al
than in any other this unselhsh. dis
interested feature comes forth. It'll
would be this. Love ye your enemies.
do good and lend. hoping for nothing
again"
The true Christian Is not concerned
about his own happiness; he has not
time to be concerned about himself;
he has not time to put that selfish
question which the disciples put TOT
their Lord when they were but half
baptized with His spirit. 10. We have
left all and followed Thee, what shall
We have therefore, This question isl
Of the earth and not Of heaven. So!
from the text OF to-day. We learn that
happiness Is not our aim and end;
that there is no rest on this earth forI
man. for rest means death: that the
motto OF every Christian banner Isl
forward: that there IL no rest in the
present and no satisfaction from his!
own approving conscience. No truel
Christian soes home at night and says
TO himself. We'll done, good and faith
full servant" Rather, like St. Paul.
the greatest servant of them all. ou.I
motto should be Forgetting thosej
things which are behind and reach
ing forth 10 those things which are be-
fore. 1 press towards the mark for the
prize Of the high calling Of God I'M
Christ Jesus"
We desire to correct the Colonel in