The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-10-03
a SERMON

.4-37., Delivered by Dr.. G. c. VIII
va, June 10, 1915.
! that 1t is the claim which demands
the love 1t is love which creates
the claim. 1t Is not the mere defini-
ton which creates the demand. Love
makes the definition. In order to
press 1t home upon him, Jesus tells
him little story.
Near to where he was speaking the
road ran from Jerusalem to jericho.
There was deep ravines and stretches
Of danger through which the traveller
must pass as he went from one city
to another. Long stretches of shad-
ow made it possible for the robber
and the thief to carry on his nefar-
ious work One day Jew started
along the road AS he passed one
Of the dangerous places a group OF
robbers started out upon him. They
robbed him, beat him, stripped him,
and left him half dead. AS he was
lying there in pain he heard footsteps
approaching. Lifting his head. he
saw the priest coming. and in a mo-
ment his spirits rose. Here Is help
at hand, and he begins already to feel
easier. But to his surprise, he pass
es by on the other side. A passing
Levite, on his way home from some
religious duty perhaps. does exactly
the same. A third time he hears
footsteps of beast approaching. AS
he lifts his head again, he sees that
it is hated Samaritan. No help
can be expected here. But as he lies
there the Samaritan stops and dis
mounts. He draws near and looks
at him. Perhaps the man does not
now expect relief. He may exult
over fallen foe, or give him another
kick to remind him Of his national
and religious inferiority But to his
surprise ne begins to examine him.
Pours reviving wine into his lips;
anoints his wounds with oil. With the
gentleness and tenderness Of wom-
an he lifts him upon his beast takes
arrangements of the best kind he can
for his future care. That is all.
Jesus makes no application. He
simply turns to the aquestioner and
says. (Which of these was his neigh
Dor The only reply possible is
made-he that showed mercy. With
a word of command, the incident is
ended. Jesus says, go thou and do
likewise"
Stories That Tive.
Many stories live for awhile. But
the parallels Of Jesus lose none OF
their beauty or power, because they
are at the very centre divinely practi-
cal. Again and again we use them
to show us the way of life, and they
appeal to us because they lift an
ideal which is always winsome and
helpful. The parable of the good Sa-
marian has become the example of
warm-hearted benevolence and pract1-
cal love. We read 1t with varying
feelings. 1t condemns some of us.
It encourages others. 1t instructs all.
No harsh word Is there. 1t appeals
to all because OF it's spirit of kindness
and it's evident claim upon the
thought and consideration Of uy all.
It has in 1t the sting Of rebuke for all
close-fisted refusers Of help and of all
row and restricted relationship. 1T
carries fund of inspiration to the
open mind, and stands as an invita-
ton to the willing who would fain
find the way Of life. And to us as
to the man who called out the para
BILE, the words of Jesus still come,
go thou and do likewise"
In closing, let me suggest that at
times we are all of us DESTROYS of
bringing life nearer to the standard
which Jesus set up for US. If we
would make progress at all we shall
have to come back to Him and learn
the secret and the method OF true
living. In the first place we must
settle the fact that at least we are
trying to give to God the loyal love
Of our whole being. This is not an
easy thing to do. Tendency, will,
weakness. all of them make them
selves felt. In supreme moments OF
test we know that we are found want
ing. But there are times when all
else seems small and insignificant as
we consider the great issues which
hang upon thought, character and
conduct. In the hurry and rust OF
life we are forgetful of the high
claims and the deep purposes which
they produce. But this does not
lower the standard or change the law.
The demand still comes to us. At all
costs we must assure ourselves Of
the fact that we are at least seeking
to love the highest when we see It,
And then, we must learn that love to
God only expresses itself in love to
our fallen men. The writer who came
after Jesus declared that II we do
not love our netghbor whom We have
seen, it is impossible to love God
whom we have not seen. And that
is not an easy task. Our brother is
imperfect. Our neighbor is not to
our liking. The men we should help
and love are not nice men. But that
is Just the reason why we should set
our hearts and minds and the very
soul Of us to gather strength for the
task which Is after all sacred priv
lege. To return to the words of
Jesus Is the one hope Of the church
and the individual To make them
the rule Of life Is the only means of
rebuilding character, and the one way
to bring men to see the value and the
beauty Of religion. E
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