Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-11-03
MATTHEW'S GOSPEL
LINKS old AND NEW
DR.. Smiths Third Lecture Or
First Book Of New
Testament
OUTLINES ITS TEACHINGS

| Likening the Gospel of st. Matthew
to pontoon which the author threw
from the Old to the New Testament
| linking them together, comparing the
first book of the New Testament tc
sort of Panama canal. linking the
Pacific Of the Old. Ito the Atlantic OF
the New, and calling the conscience
storage battery" DIR. C. Afphonso
Smith yesterday morning delivered
the third of the series of lectures on
the Bible. at the Presbyterian church
The auditorium was well filled, and
the congregation gave marked atten
ton to the discourse which was of
highly interesting and instructive
character. The manner of presenting
his subject, the subject matter itself
and the feeling of his hearers that
and his command of the subject, with
which he has thorough familiarity
give the lecturer a marked distinction
appreciated by his auditors, and the
occasion of the hearing these lectures
lis an opportunity in a life time
Yesterdays topic for consideration
was the Gospel of st. Matthew DIR.
Smith said in part, some people de
sire to know something of the per
sonality of an author, but he desires
the credentials, especially if that au
thor is writing the biography Of
Christ He told how Matthew come
to write the Life of Christ. The au-
thor was tax gatherer, Publican
Publicans were likened with sinners,
and tax collectors were despised of
men. Matthew was Jew. well
trained in all the Jewish doctrines
and practicing all the rites and cere
monies. He occupied an unenviablt
position as collector of taxes This
was before taxation without repre-
sentation" was thought of. Matthew,
who was exceedingly unpopular, was
sitting at the seat of customs, when
Christ came by, looked at him and
said Follow me-" He got up imme-
diately and followed Him.
Dr. Smith said, though we have no
description of the personality of
Christ, there was something about
Him that was unforgettable. that
made men feel like bending the knee.
Something about His expression never
to be forgotten. Probably when Christ
saw Matthew, knowing he was a tax
gdtherer. He said. Here's business
man. trained man. he can be made
Into something, and He asked Mat
thew to follow Him."
Matthew gave a feast reception,
and invited Christ, who was present.
Someone commented on Christ being
in gathering of rPublicans and sin
ners" which were synonymous terms
Sinners meant outsiders, not one of
the crowd. Christ probably heard
some one say. why does he not select
his own crowd, why does he sail with
this crowd?" But Christ, knowing
what was in their hearts saidst1 did
not come to save the righteous, but
sinners" -
Christ felt challenge to everything
imperfect. His slogan was THE
GLORY of the Imperfect" Shakespeare's
Hamlet is said to be full of quotations,
| but while Hamlet gave to the world
amazing quotations, they are not to be
taken with those of Christ. He
never opened His mouth that He did
not say something that you know
by heart today
Christ felt a challenge for every
thing imperfect, said the lecturer He
never admired architecture or hand,
some persons, he was not Interested
in the perfect things 1t was the
glory of the imperfect that appealed
70 Him. Christ did praise the lily.
the flower of the field, which He said
solomon in all his Story was not ar
rayed like unto. but he did not praise
handsome folk or privileged Tx. they
were not of His crowd. The speaker
said Socrates and Plato were not that
way.
DIR. Smith said there never fiickered
across the mind of Matthew, the writer
of the first book of the Old Testament,
the shadow of a doubt that Christ was
credentials with him. The four Cos
pels are alike on certain fundamentals,
their common denominator is that all
believe Christ is the Son of God, and |
He is omnipotent. All tell OF the cru !.
cifxion and that He rose again and !
appeared to them after He was risen /
You say" said the lecturer, there |
is not much left. Oh yes, there is. |
This Goldman, this wonder-worker, |
Matthew tells more Matthew is most
individual in emphasizing that it is all |
prophesied of him.
There are SO references. more than
the chapters, in Matthew in which 1t |
is said THAT it might be fulfilled ac-