The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1918-05-17

~ - history of motive
= - to right action, we
find that sometimes it is gratitude,
sometimes love, sometimes duty, some
times prudence, sometimes recogni-
ton of mans sonship to God; but
here comes the motive Of fear, and In
these days when mems hearts are fall
ing them for fear, it Is motive that
should receive some consideration
without Impotence. Some Of the mo-
tives referred to above, and which
seem to have made the motive Of fear
for long time almost obsolete, have
according to the judgment of many
gone into the discard. AS we find
certain theories as to mankind In its
closer brotherhood and assumed SON
ship to God being great decisions, we
may ask whether, after all, the motive
Of fear may yet have an occasion for
use.
In many American communities vice
today is rampant, unchecked, and such
communities are living in terror. Why?
because the vicious element have no
fear Of being punished, the action OF
the courts and juries in the past show
ing that there is little likelihood that
person, If he assumes a proper atti-
tude during trial or appeals to the sym.
pathy Of the public and the jury, will
have to suffer. It IL simply matter
Of record that where there Is this lack
Of fear vice f1ourishes.
Why not carry the principle into the
realm Of religion? Never in the his
tory of the world, certainly not in the
time of those living, was physical pain
and damage and loss so apparent as
just now. Money is swept away by
the billions. Cities and towns are
devastated. Countries are overrun
millions are laid down, and the things
that naturally cause physical fear are
now operating as rarely as ever before.
Should not this enter somewhat into
our consideration as to a religious
fear?
Should We Fear God7
Let 1t be fully considered at once
that the fear Of the Lord as presented
in the Scriptures is not chiefly an
emotion produced by threatened evils,
but rather reverence Of God and as
motive it should operate along the
lines of respect for God because he Is
holy and reverent. The fear Of pain
connected with losing the favor or
friendship Of God is In place, too, but
the moment that is admitted there
is admission of fear of another kind
fear as it is defined, "an emotion ex-
cited by threatening evil or impending
pain, accompanied by desire to avoid
or escape It," There Is place for this
kind of fear Of God in connection with
religious experience, and that motive
should have more recognition than in
the past. Why Is this SO?
First, because God is back Of every
fering or pain. Law does not operate
automatically. No evil resulting from
violated law is blind thing; it is the
result of infinite wisdom and intelli-
gent provision. God is behind every
law.
Secondly, there are the clearest
teachings in the Word Of God that
evil will be punished by God. From
the moment it was said: "In the day
thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely
die" to the present moment, sin has
been punished. 1t is specifically said :
"The Lord shall reward the doer Of
evil according to his wickedness."
"The face Of the Lord Is against them
who do evil, to cut off the remem-
brance Of them from the earth" God
says, 81 will punish the world for their
evil and the wicked for their fniqui-
ties" 81 myself will fight against thee
with an outstretched hand, and with a
strong arm, even in anger and In great
wrath" Several Of the parallels Of
the New Testament teach the retrib
utive wrath Of God. 1t is God the
Judge who will say in the great judg-
ment day: Depart from me We that
work in iniquity."
And, thirdly, the thought should be
carried to the hereafter. Men are
facing the hereafter these days as not
before. More people have died in the
last three years than any three years
preceding, possibly excepting some
periods in the history Of the world in
a time Of pestilence. Millions are
slain on the battlefield, other millions
die in war-stricken countries by starv-
alton, and other hundreds Of thou
sands suffer violent death. What Of
the future world as we contemplate
the multitudes sweeping into it?
No Apology for "HeII."
When Jesus was speaking to his dis
ciples he did not make any apology
when he said "hell." He meant the
abode of the wicked in the other
world. The disciples were to fear the
God who could cast both body and soul
into hell, but they were not to fear
man, who could only kill the body.
The burning city of destruction was
good place to leave, and Bunyan's
pilgrim left it as rapidly as he could.
We might ask, "Who in these days
fears the pain and hopelessness of
hell?" But the great fact is, hell re-
mains. and the Word Of God is plain
as to those who will fall into 1T.