Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-06-29

eousress as it is in Christ, exemplfed
by the homely Dutch, are the permanent
heritage Of all mankind and in its abid-
ing example, the South Africa republic
is an everlasting kingdom.
THE things which are seen are tenn
poral, but the things which are unseen
arc eternal" Is the United states a
nation that shall endure? How often
do we hear the superficial patriot, out
OF effcrvcscense, declare that our coun-
try must live forever. We all like to
think that, we may all believe with conf
dence that the governmental doctrines
which originated in America as the out
growth of faith in God and obedience
to his commands will be permanent.
Remembering, though, the experiences of
other nations, who will be bold enough
to declare that the nation we love shall
stand continuous and indestructible in
its present political structure? We may
be willing to fight. or, if necd he, to die
TO have it so. but we cannot forecast
the final issue.
| Taking the larger view of the Christian
optimist the question of material per-
manency Is not the matter of chief con-
Germ. We know that Greece and Rome
in their externalites. hut it was because
they We're founded upon religions that
provoked and fostered destructive i'm
mortality. We know. on reflection. that
whatever there may he of permanent
value that has come down to us from
these fallen nations is the result of
the appropriation of some truth out or
much surrounding error.
| hA ia.
our God and all other religions the
world has ever known is found in this.
namely: that the religion Of our God
has all Of the truth to be found in the
other religions, with none of their errors.
| Ills Kingdom is an everla sting King
dom because it is spiritually perfect.
1t is fair to assume that tho nation
which accepts the true religion as it's
ideal basis of government will approx
mate assurance of the perpetuity of It's
political organism in proportion to the
realization Of it's ideals If we shall
ever have anywhere on earth n govern
ment that in all its departments all the
time. measures uN to the standards of
true religion. it is right to expect that
such n government will last forever.
Let those who will scott at the youth
, or " great city VINO Irt, as tne young
people of Cleveland tried some sum
mers ago, to live as Jesus would If he
were here. but the truth remains that
Charles sheldon enunciated principle
of stable government when he declared
the need of society for race of men
who. walking in His steps. would strive
in all things at all times to do as
Jesus would do.
our own nation will approach the guar
antee of an immortal organism believe
as it aprroximates complete acceptance of
the religion of our God. His Kingdom is
an everlasting Kingdom ann His
dominion is from generation to genera
ton" OF this we may be certain
namely. that an earthly government
which espouses the principle of an
everlasting Kingdom will, at least, be
enduring in the spiritual precedents it
establishes. We may take Just pride
in having citizenship in a nation whose
principles are eternal. oven though its
constitution may he temporary. Why is
the Kingdom of God and His Christ
an everlasting Kingdom? First Of all
because it is founded on unselfshness
How often you hear the question. SIS
life worth the living?" Those who as,
, that question have not learned the real
purpose of life. They are out of harmony
with the teachings Of God. They have
not caught the spirit of Christ. One
!, commandment of the decalogue demands
repea ted emphasis; 1. is the last. --Thou
shalt not covet."
Let 1t never he forgotten that the
Master when here on earth among
men, taught that the greatest command
/, ments are these, Thou shalt love the
Lord. thy God. with all thy strength
and with all thy mind" and "thy neigh.
, Dor rs myself" "On these two com
nandments." by the declaration of the
Divine Authority, "hang all the Law
and the Prophets" These are the under.
lying foundations principles that guar.
antee absolute permanenCy to the King.
dom of God
We may have doubts as to the divinity
, of Christ We may question, II we
please, tho authority of the God of the
Christians but, without regard to divin,
!, authority or divine character. this muc.
is certain-namely. that Kingdom
, founded upon love and unselfshness /.
an everlasting Kingdom and that It's
dominion is sure, from generation tc
generation throughout the eternal ages
love the Christian church, and all the
institutions which have grown up un
der its fostering influence. but ever
though the churches and hospitals anc
colleges and alms-houses and all ee
emosynary institutions which are tn,
5 outgrowth of the Christian church shoulC
be swept OFF the earth. still would no
= be dissuaded from the belief that tn.
; Kingdom established by God and con
tinued in Christ, this Kingdom Of un
selfishness and love, or rather. OF un
i se!fishness growing out of love, sha,
abide forever.
The people of His own time were hare
in learning the lesson that Christ hac
I not come to earth to establish n Temporal
f Kingdom. They wanted Him to seize
Z visible sceptre and put Himself on thei
t throne, but the whole purpose Of Hi
= teaching and the ideals He sought &
$ exemplfy among His own people wer
that He had come to establish somethin
: more enduring than a throne of gol
% planted on the earth. He had come I
: establish spiritual Kingdom to whic
|. there should be no end. His earthl
i career was distinguished. as He live
= out His ideals Of this Kingdom 1
y Galilee, by utter absence of selfishness
y He gave Himself a ransom for many
: "He came not to be ministered unto, bu
n to minister" Such a Kingdom founde
s upon such a spirit and with such a hig
y purpose is bound to endure forever.