Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-02-13


After a number of heart-searching
questions suggested by his text, the
speaker called attention to the rea-
sonableness OF the Divine require
ment as stated in his text, and de.
clared that our Creator could not justly
or with selfrespect ask less than this
of His creatures who would enjoy His
favor. The interests OF all demand
that these principles be required Of
every creature worthy Of eternal life.
Whoever fails to come up to these con
ditlons would thus evidence his un.
worthness Of life everlasting. His
prolonged existence would merely be a
prospecting Of sin and menace to the
happiness and righteousness Of others.
The Pastor then noted the natural
division OF his text into three parts,
and discussed these In order He show
ed that the requirement Of justice In
all our dealings commends itself to
every rational mind, and includes the
whole Law of God. II Is but just that
we should recognize our Creator first,
and render obedience to all His right
eous requirements that make for our
own happiness and that Of others. It
is also but right that we should rec.
ognlze the rights of others, as we
would have them recognize our rights
Begin Justice at Home
The Golden Rule, he declared, is the
barest of justice. Not hairs breadth
less would come within the require
ments Of his text He suggested that
each one crltlcise his own words and
deeds toward parents, brothers, sis.
ters, husband, wife, and consider
whether he treats those who are neaF
and dear to him according to the stand.
ards OF justice. DO we do toward them
as we would have them do toward usl
II not, let us-nfter making begin
ming with the Lord striving to render
to Him our homage and obedience
closely scrutinize every word and act
Of the home life and see to what OK.
tent these can be made more nearly
Just. 'Fhe majority Of people, he feels
sure. will be surprised to know how
unjust they have been to those who
are Of the very nearest and dearest Of
fleshly relationships,
The Pastor suggested that eNch FOL.
low the matter up and consider the
Justice or the injustice Of his words
and deeds with his nelghbors and his
daily associates, Then followed a sc.
ries of searching questions for the pur.
pose of assisting in the selfexamlna-
tlon. Do we invariably speak to 9TH
ers with the same tone and gesture
that we would approve II they were
In our place and we In theirs? Do we
drive a closer bargain with them than
we would consider just for them to
make with MS? De we speak as kindly
about our nelghbors MS we would wish
them to speak Of us2 Etc, etc.
Simple Justioe--Nothing More.
Should any one begin to see that
what God requires is much beyond
what the majority have been render
ing. and should he declare that 1t would
he impossible TO live fully up to that
standard, the Pastor would agree with
nlm. As ST. Paul says, I'VE cannot do
the things that we would" The Scrip.
lures again agree and declare, There
is none righteous, no, not one. All
have slnned and come short Of the
glory Of Cod Romans $40, Y,
lie then showed that because we are
unable TO live up to even our own con
cepuons and standards Of Justice we
are not to abandon those standards.
On the contrary, to ignore our best
ideals OF justice woud be TO permit the
downward tendencies OF our depraved
natures to carry us further and fur.
lher from God aud tho standards Of
character which He approves. We
should do nothing less than our very
best to live up TO our own ideals and
to raise those Ideals as nearly as pos
slble to the Divine standard
The Pastor then discussed nj length
the Divine attribute OF Justice, and OK
planned how God hns arranged that
through the death Of His Son He can
Justly offer life to the human family
condemned In Adam. He declared that
possibly God could have arranged some
uther way Of dealing with sin and sin
neiS. but the fact that He adopted this
method assures us that no other would
have been so wise 50 Just No Other
method would have 50 fully demon
strntcd Gods wisdom Justice, Love
and Power. In the death OF Jesus ns
mans Ransom.price God has provided
for the satisfaction OF Divine Justice
rs respects mankind For the good Of
Nh God requires that those who would
benefit by His mercy must cultivate
mercy In their own hearts, otherwise
they viii receive no mercy