The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-11

There are some writers whose names
are known TO all weII-read persons. out
who are themselves but rarely read.
Thus. in current social discussions. the
name OF Karl Marx frequently recurs;
Yet who has ever really read him? Ba-
con is often quoted. but seldom read;
which is true of most of the old Eng
lish essayists. Even Shakespeare.
greatest of uninspired writer's. is really
little read outside of the schoolroom.
The masters of literature are honored
and neglected. But a certain small col
lection of letters. intended by their
writer's for private circulation, have
come to place Of greater pay
er over the thinking Of man
kind than all the classics. These
are the New Testament Epistles. which
have largely shaped the theology and
the character of the Christian church.
Thirteen or possibly fourteen of these
are by that great scholar and phiIoso-
pher and traveller and saint, the Apos-
tie Paul Three are by the Apostle
John. who wrote also the Fourth Cos
pei and the Book of the Revela ton.
Four are by Peter and one by James
and one by Jude. There is uncertainty
a to the authorship of the Letter TO
the Hebrews
These twenty-one letters sweep the
whole gamut of Christian living. They
tell what constitutes a Christian and
how Christians should behave II the
whole body of Christendom could be
set to reading the Epistles faithfully
for a year. most of the perplexities
which at present becloud our social
cleared up. Three characteristics
mark most of the EpistIes. They are
tinged with the personality of the
writers. as all good letters should be.
Back of every one is a man whose in
dividuality was known to all readers
Of the letters. Then they deal with
present duties and conditions. Pri-
marily they were meant for particular
groups of Christians, and so they
abound in names. Just as a letter writ
er today sends greetings to the folks
Most striking of all. however, is the
manner in which these letters center
about the person and purpose of Jesus
Christ. They throb with passion for
him. even as q lovers letters are at
tuned to the note of love In reading
them. we learn less about the churches
to which these letters were sent than
We do about the Head of the Church,
Jesus Christ. our Redeemer.
Astounding in familiar quotations,
the New Testament EpistIes are
known. in part. to every educated per-
son. To choose favorite passages IS
easy; to limit the number is difficult
Here are few. which are better worth
reading than comments upon them.
even as the meal is better than bill
of fare.
For the wages of sin is death: but
the free gift of God is eternal life in
Christ Jesus our Lord--Romans 6:23-
There is therefore now no condem-
nation to them that are in Christ
Jesus-Romans 81.
For the mind of the flesh is death
but the mind of the Spirit is life and
peace. So then. brethren. We are
debtors. not to the flesh, to live after
the flesh; for if ye live after the flesh.
ye must die: but If by the Spirit ye
put to death the deeds of the body,
ye shall live.-Romans S-6:13.
And we know that TO them that love
God all things work together for good.
even to them that are called according
II his purpose.-Romans S:2S.
But if thine enemy hunger. feed
him: if he thirst. give him TO drink;
for in so doing thou shalt heap Goals
I beseech you therefore brethren.
by the mercies of God. to present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, accept
able to God. which is your spiritual
service.-Romans 12:1-
Now we that are strong ought to bear
the infirmities of the weak, and not TO
please outselves.-Romans ISL
For am persuaded. that neither
death. nor life, nor angels. nor prin-
cipalities, nor things present, nor