The Washington times., 1915-02-08

Il Dut 10 90 justly,
I'M and to love mercy.
N and to walk humbly
| with thy God?"
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Is it possible that
the true religion Of
the Bible demands nothing more of us
than is expressed in this text? What
about the Jewish Law? What about
the Ten Commandments? What about
responsibilities to our families. to the
church. to the poor? What about the
study Of the Bible to know Gods will?
What about our responsibility for the
heathen? What about Baptism and the
Lords Supper?
Indirectly, all the matters covered by
these questions. and many more, are in
cluded incidentally in the provisions Of
our text. Sometimes whole sermon is
preached in a few words. No one will
requirement as stated in our text. Our
Creator could not justly or with self
respect ask less of His creatures who
would enjoy His favor. The interests Of
be required Of every creature permitted
the enjoyment of Divine favor to the
extent Of eternal life. Whoever fails to
come up to these conditions would thus
evidence his unworthiness of life ever
lasting. His prolonged existence would
merely be a prospering Of sin and a
menace to the happiness and righteous
ness Of others.
Let us see the scope of this Divine re-
uuirement. whose justice we have al
nral division of our text into three
parts: % Doing justly: tO Loving
mercy: 81 Walking humbly.
The requirement of justice in all our
dealings with our fellows commends it.
self to every rational mind. 1t includes
the whole Law of God A brief state
ment of that Law. which had our Lord s
approval reads. THOU shalt love the
Lord thy God with all thy heart, with
all thy mind. with all thy being and
love thy neighbor as thyself.' On these
two propositions "hang all the Law and
the Prophets"
It is but Just that VIC should recognize
our Creator as first: that we should
glorify the One who gave US our being
and all the blessings coming Herewith:
that We should be obedicnt to His
righteous requirements that make for
also but lust that we should recognize
the rights Of others. as we would have
them recognize our rights. The Golden
Rule is the barest of justice Not a
hairs breath less would come within
tho requirements Of our text. Do justly.
Come, then: let US reason together.
How many Of us do Justly in all OF
lifes affairs-in our relationship to our
God and to our neighbor:
Begin At Home.
Lot each criticise his words and his
deeds toward parents, children, broth
ers. sisters. toward husband. toward
wife. In all of our relationships OF life
do We treat those near and dear to US
according to the standards of justice
according to the Golden Rule" Do We
do toward them as we would have
them do toward us? II not. after
making beginning with the Lord
| striving to render to Him our homage
| and obedience let us closely scrutinizt
every word. every act. Of the home life
and see to what extent these can be i'm
| proved upon and made more nearly
| just. The majority of people. We fec
sure, will be surprised to know how un
just they have been toward those who
are OF the very nearest and dearest OF
! neshly relationships.
Follow the matter up and consider the
justice or injustice of your words ant
| deeds in daily life with your neighbors
and associates. Do you invariably speak
| to them in the same words and with The
| same tone and gesture that you would
approve il they were in your place ant
you, In theirs? In business do you drive
| a closer bargain with them than YOU
would think Just for thcm to make witt
you? Or, on the other hand. do you ash
| of them higher prices for the service:
or materials you furnish them than yol
would consider right II you were the
| purchaser and they the venders? d.
you treat all men. women, children. anc
| animals as kindly. as gently. as yol
| think would be just and right II vol
were in their place and they in yours
Do you speak as kindly of your neigh
/ bors as you would have them speak O
you? Or do you hold up their imper
| fectlons to ridicule as you would no
like them to hold UP yours?
Simple Justice-Nothing More.
Do you not begin to see. dear friends
that what God requires OF us is mucl
beyond what the majority have beel
rendering? DO you tell me that 1t Noul'
be Impossible to live fully up to tina
standard? agree with you. st. Pau
agrees. saying, "Wc cannot do III
things which We would" The Scriptures
again declare. "Therc is none righteous
no. not one All have sinned and com
short Of the glory of God
What shall We do? Because We ar
unable to live up to our own concep
tons and standards OF justice shall W
| dDd tntSt SOu TOrDlu
To ignore our best ideals of justic
would be to permit the downward ten
dencies of our depraved natures to carr
us further and further from God and tn
standards of character which lie ar
proves. We can surely be content t
40 nothing less than our very best
live up To our own ideals and to rails
those ideals as nearly as possible to tn
| Divine standards.
Suppose We do our very best daily
measure up to our highest conception
Of our God-given ideals and Standard
would God accept of this and count l
worthy of eternal life? Surely not: Th
Law Of the Lord Is perfect: Justice
Justice. Not the hearer of a law. nC
the well-wishing. receives the rcwar,
but the doer. Here, then, we find ou
selves in difficulty. with our heart
our minds. VIC approve Gods Law pr
desire 10 be obed!cnt TO Him, but FIN
as St Paul says, that many thini
which we wish to do We fail 10 aeon
plsh, and many things which We {
not wish to do VIC cannot avoid "N
cannot do the things that VIC would.
Like st. Paul We cry out. 20 wretchs
man that / am! Who shall deliver