The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1915-08-12

iiGRAS10R RUSSEll)J his discourse EN-
phasized the i'm.
portance of the principles of justice. II
is u common mistake. the speaker de,
clared. to think that practically every,
body recognizes these principles and
applies them. The trouble with the
whole world. he asserted. is the failure
to appreciate justice. While there is
not much in fallen humanity to love
yet every human being calls for just
treatment We have no right to be I'M
just to even an animal. Ours would
be a wonderful world if every person
in it would practise the Golden Rule,
There would be no doing" neighbor
before he could do" you. On the con-
trary. there would be taking into ac-
count his weaknesses and his interests,
a disdaining TO take advantage of him.
Justice is the basic principle of the
Mosaic Law Covenant Thirty-ive
hundred years ago God entered into
this Covenant with the children of
Israel at Mount Sinai. and gave
them the Ten Commandments. with
the understanding that they must
keep the Law if they would be the
promised Seed of Abraham that would
bless all mankind. According to wheth-
err or not they would render justice,
would do to their neighbor as they
would wish him TO do to them. would
be the Divine decision as to their wOr-
thiness of being considered Abraham s
Seed But they could not keep the
Law. Their failure was due TO human
ity's fallen condition. ROmans 3:20.l
Not one of them got the promised re-
ward of everlasting life.
The Church and the Law.
The Pastor then discussed the
Church's relation to the Divine Law,
which they must keep as the Spiritual
Seed of Abraham. Galatians 3:S, III,
%; Romans S:4J Knowing that fallen
humanity could not keep all His Law.
God sent His Son. the LOgOs. into the
world to help mankind. Our Lord was
able to keep the Law and obtained its
reward-everlasting life on the human
plane. This life He offered up sacriti-
,cially. and the merit of His sacrificed
life constitutes credit which will be
applied for Adam and all his posterity
at the end or this Gospel Age. as their
RanSom-price. Then the whole world
will be turned over to Him. and imme-
,dately He will begin His great work
of blessing rHlnkind.
The ChurC~S first duty is to live up
as nearly as possible to the Law stand
ard, and then to present their bodies
diving sacrifice. as those who walk in
Christians apparently do. not see that
God expects His people to keep the
Law of Justice. While we cannot be
just in thought. word and
deed. yet there should be nothing less
than this in our intentions. Selfish
ness is so deeply ingrained in our nat
ural bodies that we fail to do perfect
ly. But conditions are not the same
with Christians as with Jews. tRo-
mans Sill If in the spirit of our
minds we observe the Golden Rule. the
blood of Jesus Christ is cleansing us
Our Obligations to Others.
The remainder of the sermon set
forth the practical application of the
Golden Rule Many of Gods people
seem not to realize that justice takes
precedence of love. Christians are OBJ
ligated to render justice. Everywhere
we find njustice-between parents and
children. employers and employees, be-
tween friends, neighbors and even in
the Church. A parent owes it TO his
children to provide them with rea-
education. religious home
training. and proper respect for his
own rights and those of others. Very
seldom will rightly trained child run
away from home. or fail in after years
to manifest a proper gratitude for pa
rental care received in childhood.
OF course employers cannot give ev-
erybody all that each would ask: for
some people would ask for everything
and then not be satisfied. But with
the right kind of employer and EN-
ploye. each would insist that the other
should have his rights; each would
what he would think right for
the other TO do. were their positions
reversed. This course would make a
great change in conditions.
As we think of what would be the
right thing to do. and as we are will
ing to do it. we become more just in
all our dealings. When we buy or sell.
there is reasonable way of doing.
It is wrong TO buy so as TO make the
seller lose money. If we were selling. !
we should expect TO make reasonable
profit not an unjust one. The employ |
nent of the Golden Rule would rigu-
ate all such matters.