The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-07-10

eye for an eye and tooth Tor CoQIn.
but say unto you, resist not him that
is eviL-Mathew v.39.
Be not overcome of evil, but over
come evil with good.-Romans KILL
The first portion Of ow text consists
of words spoken by our Blessed Lord
and Master in that magnificent ser
mon, now so well known as the ser
mon on the Mount; and they are
words which we would do well to pom
der upon, so that we might learn to
act in accordance with their teach
ing; and the second portion OF our
| text were words delivered by the great |
apostle to the gentle st. Paul, and
were addressed to his early Roman
converts to christianity, and they bear
out and enlarge the teaching con-
veyed TO US by the previous words of
our Lord.
aye have heard that it was said
an eye for an eye and a tooth for a
tooth: but I say unto you resist not
him that is evil"
Most important are these words
and especially so when we find so
many professed christians constantly
| endeavoring to explain them away,
and by their traditions making the
words Of Jesus the Christ of more
effect.
When we consider the general treat
ment of evil and the criminal, we will
find that from all appearance and
hearsay, that the majority of pro-
fessed christians act in dianetrical-
| ly opposite way to that which our
Lord and Master has instructed US to
act in our dealings with evil; they
seem to prefer the old idea of ga
tooth for tooth and an eye for an
eye," which our Lord so plainly and
, emphatically condemns, for after
quoting the old idea which was in
vogue In his day and which alas is
still so commonly practiced, He adds,
but I say unto you 'Resist not him
that is evilw or as some authorities
render it; "Resist not evil"; and the
{ Apostle st. Paul charging upon this
? same principle adds, 'but overcome
2 evil with good"
It therefore becomes a self evident
fact that according to the teaching of
Him whom we who call ourselves
christians profess to follow, that to
attempt to overcome evil by any force
: of vindictive or retahative punishment
is not only an impossibility but also
distinctively wrong from true chris
tan standpoint; and when we remem-
Der that retaliation and vindictiveness
by the law of compensation begets re-
! taliation and vindictiveness, we can
Begin to realize the truth that the
] only way to overcome evil is by good.
In the first place to overcome evil
I in ourselves it is useless to abuse and
condemn ourselves to keep thinking
of the evil thus impressing it ever
more and more deeply upon ou1
minds, but the easiest plan, the christ
ly plan, is to Danish and forget il
by resolutely setting about to think
about them to do only that which is
- good, refusing to allow an evi
thought to take root in our minds
= ever mindful of the fact that all evi
: is first realized in the realm o.
thought before it can be manifested
- forth in action; "for as man think
: eth in his heart so is he"
"a Then again in our treatment o.
criminals, the punishment should new
er be vindictive, it should never b,
inflicted with any idea of getting ever
for the wrong committed; it shoult
first be meted out with an earnes
m desire to reform the wrong-doer, an,
4 secondly with an idea of removing hin
~ from where in his present evil franz
p of mind he might harm others, bot
e by his actions and examples; W
p should place him under restraint wit
- a view to work a reform within hin
y and then convert him into usefU
member Of society, which when &C
= complished he ought to be set at Lib
~ erty as one cured.
We treat people who are PHYSICAL
-, diseased with consideration and kind
- ness, we place them when not in
position to meet the expenses of pr
~ vate treatment at home or at privat
room in the hospital, in the publ
ward, where they receive the best c
~ attention and care, and are not di:
:, missed until pronounced sufficient
cured, this is the true christian spir
IA Of unselfish devotion to the welfare {
~ our fellow creatures, it is practic;
n. christianity; again when people b,
come mentally deranged we plaC
90 them in an insane asylum, whel
mr. again they receive kindness and Il
ne proper treatment unless those
charge abuse the trust imposed upc
- them which unfortunately sometim,
~ occurs. But when we come to erin
IN inals, that is the morally insane, v
seem to forget our christianity al
often sink back to state of savas
: retaliation, "of an eye for an eye al
pr tooth for a tooth" which our Lol
and Master absolutely prohibits, f,
says He, Resist not him that is evil
Every penitentiarv and urison in