Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-25

Cain thought that the secret murder
could easily be covered up. but God had
| written an Interchangeable law, that still
surprise men with its revelations. that
declared BE sure your sins will find you
out" Gains crime not only found him
out but he was startled by Gods ques-
ton, Where is Abel thy brother? This
is the question that God still puts TO men.
Our responsibility as a man for men ex-
tends beyond the family circle. We have
a social responsibility that cannot be
eyaded. What" asks Phillips BROOKS
about the lives to which our misdeeos
have given a fatal direction. though We
ourselves have turned to God? what
about our guilt for their sinS?' cam
desperate defense was a lie and then an
attempt to evade his responsibility.
The Lord answered Gains cynical, cal
lous question by another that went To
the root of his sin, What mast thou
done ?" that accused him Of murder
The charge against him came from the
blood of his brother. whose voice had
been silenced, came to the Almighty iroii
the soil that it had colored with It's
crimson stain. Abefs piooo olo "oe 10y
In vain, for a threefold curse came
down upon Cain: Cursed In his soul. pe>
ing doomed to carry his awful guilt UNI
forgiven with him wherever ne went;
cursed in his labor, for the earth snouia
not henceforth Yield her fruit; cursed
in his person, for wherever he went hs~
was henceforth a vagabond upon the
EARTH
God did not give him sentence OF
death. All penalties inflicted by our Lore
have as their purpose the reformation OF
the offenders. Capital punishment wouio
not have given Cain the necessary oppor-
tunity to reform his life by replacing ms
vicious tendencies by tendencies toward
virtue. The punishment seemed 40
a coward of him until God in his COM
passion gave him a sign that would pro-
tect him in danger. just as many MA
son. as well as members OF otner Irater-
mites, has found that he has received
protection in his distress by giving
sign, so God gave to Cain one that pro-
tected him.
James Russell Lowell. the poet. diplo-
mat and statesman. shows I'm MS poem
"A Parable how far short the churches
of Christ and the disciples or our Lord
have failed to carry out his program for
the evangelization of the world We cat
not evade the charge that Lowell places
in the mouth Of our LORD when ne said:
Have ye founded your thrones and affairs. then.
On the bodies and souls Of living menu
And think We that building will endure,
Which shelters the noble and brushes the poorf
Then Christ sought out an artisan.
A low browed, stunted. haggard man,
And a motherless girl whose fingers thin
Push from her family want and sin.
rbese set He in the midst OF them,
and as they drew back their garment hem
1or fear OF deflement, 10. here" said He,
The images We have made Of Me-
The religion of Christ based ur on a per-
sonal faith in Him requires a spiritual
experience that Is revealed i'm a social
expression. that manifests His love for
men, by carrying out His program for the
salvation of society. The practical appl!-
:ation of our faith to the problems of /
oday is the best proof of the efficiency
# Christianity to save not only men but
society. When We think of our sins We
ught to rejoice that we have today the
all OF Christ's blood that calls us to
epentance. reformation and righteous
ess- The writer to the Hebrews has
eized upon this tragedy to set forth the
mercy Of God i'm Christ. whose blood
peaketh better things than the blood OF
IbeI."
Do you realize that "AbeIs speaks OF
lurder, Christs OF substitution. AbeIs
vengeance. Christ's of mercy. Abei's
{ the countenance that has fallen and
heart which N filled with remorre.
hrfst's that being justified BY faith We
ave peace with God"