The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-10-14

WE BELIEVE THAT THROUGH
THE ATONEMENT OF CHRIST
ALL MANKIND MAY BE SAVED,
BY OBEDIENCE TO THE LAWS
AND ORDIN NOES OF THE
GOSPEL. ARTICLES OF Faith 81
Pope's famous line, Order IL
Heavens first law" has often been
mis- rpplied. Order is a result Of COM
plIance with established requirements;
of necessity, therefore, it cannot be
first It is an effect. not the primary
cause. "A more thoughtful generaliza-
ton leads to the conclusion that
obedience IL the basal law Of Heaven.
and that this law is equally valid
and as truly operative in things per-
tanning to mortality.
Jesus Christ, through whom the
plan of salvation has been made
available to mankind, has prescribed
the conditions under which We may
become its benefciaries-the terms by
which citizenship in the Kingdom OF
God may be secured.
Among these specified conditions
is baptism by immersion for the re-
mission of sins The gross materialist.
who wilfully refuses to see or to
acknowledge anything beyond the af-
fairs OF earth. may ask: How can
water wash away sin? In answer, be
it said, water cannot remove the
stain of guilt: nevertheless. obedience
to the law Of baptism as required by
Jesus Christ is truly a means of
securing forgiveness. Obedience, not
water, Is the cleansing JUNCTION.
Have you never read of Naaman.
captain of the Syrian hosts. who
sought relief from his leprosy through
the ministration, of Elisha, the man o.
God? Read Kings. chap. 81. The
prophet commanded the leper to wash
himself seven times in Jordan, and
promised that through obedience the
man would be clesnsed. But the
naughty Syrian was offended at the
simplicity Of the requirement. He
had expected some ceremonial spec
tacle of power. a display of miracle
But by the counsel of his servants
he went ''and dipped himself sever
times in Jordan, according to the
SAYING of the man OF God: and his
flesh came again like unto the flesh
of a little child. and he was clean. y
The waters Of Jordan had no spe-
ciM virtues of healing. but 'obedi'
ence effected a cure from the leproui
affici,on. which was rightly regarded
as at once a bodily disease and q
cuI Sc
And what Of the widow, whose sons
were to be sold into bondage be-
cause she could not psy her late hus-
bands debt? Read 2 Kings 4: 10.
She came to Elisha in agony OF soul;
and the prophet told her TO take the
one little pot of oil in her house,
and pour from It into as many ves-
sells as she could borrow. With scru-
pulous care she complied with every
detail OF the instructions given her
by the man of God. and the YES
sells were filed from the single cruise.
Then sh, came and told the man
of God. and he said, Go. sell the
oil. and pay thy debt. and live thou
and thy children OF the rest"
Obedience is q source OF power
even as is prayer. When the Jews
marveled at the wisdom OF Christ
He told them of a very simple YET
effective way OF obtaining. each for
himself. knowledge of supreme
worth. MY doctrine is not mine
said He, but his that sent me.
II any man will do his will. he shall
know OF the doctrine. whether II
be OF God. or whether speak OF
myself" John 7:1s. 10.
In every day affairs we comply
without question with the require