The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1919-03-01

judgment of Coo.
Good men have been frequently mis-
judged by the world. One of the most
godly. of all the missionaries of the
church was James Evans, who minis
tered to the Indians of the frozen
north. He incurred the hostility of
officials of the Hudson Bay company
because he taught the Indians to rest
from their labors IN the Lords Day,
although he demonstrated to the COM
pany's officials that those resting one
those who labored seven days. When
Evans went to England he was re-
ceived coldly everywhere and was sur
prised and broken hearted over the
fact. Then he learned that q CAM
paign of Misrepresentation had been
stood this cool reception. Justice was
finally done him, but how hard to bear
such an experience as hisi
However, even when the world has
the best of intentions toward us, its
judgment is likely to be wrong. Jesus
said: "Woe unto you when all men
speak well of you" On the other
hand, ne said: BLESSED are We when
men shall revile you and prosecute
you and say all manner of evil
against you falsely for my names
sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad"
AS a matter of fact, the worlds
standards of judgment are wrong. Our
text throws much light on this point.
In the margin of our Bibles, the word
Judgment" is here translated "day,"
so that Paul is saying: SIT is a very
small thing that I should be judged Of
mans day." MANS day" is contrasted
with the "day of the Lord" which is
govern "man's day. are not the prin-
ciples of the Lord but rather of Satan,
who is "the God of this age" Hence,
a Christian may expect to be mis-
judged by the world, for he is a pill
grim and stranger here. The Pilgrims
in Vanity Fair, as John Bunyan has
pictured them, were looked on as out
landish men and people took them for
Bedlamites. 1.-THE world knoweth us
not"
Next, Paul goes on to speak of self
judgment. What an arresting state
ment-"I know nothing against my
SELF" Certainly he was not one of
those who turn the grace of God into
lasciviousness. Although not under
law he insisted that the righteousness
of the law should be fulfilled in us
who walk after the spirit. He knew
nothing against himself.
But he Immediately goes on to say,
"Yet am I not hereby justified" Paul
knew too well the imperfection of hui
man self-judgment. Had he not nee
honestly thought he did God service by
prosecuting Christians, and did he not
approve the murder of Stephen? Even
if there is no sin in our consciousness,
it may Turk beneath consciousness,
seen by the eye of God alone. The
most holy Christians feel the propriety
of singing,
Every moment, Lord, I need
The merit of thy death.
Finally, Paul speaks of the judgment
of the Lord, concerning which several
interesting statements are made.
To begin with, the Lords Judgment
will be complete, for he will bring to
light the hidden things Of darkness
and will make manifest the counsels
of the hearts," This is a solemn
thought. yet how comforting! Only
God knows the deepest things in us
and we shall be manifested at the
judgment seat of Christ. A story is
told of a man who had a reputation
of being most misery. After his death
it was discovered that he had pinched
and saved to bless a woman whom he
had loved years before and who had
married another, and to help her chill
dren. The money that came so Dlys-
teriously to that poverty-stricken fam
lily, and which made education and all
good things possible, came from the
miser who lived in the next street and
whose name was a by-word in all the
town. What revelations the "day Of
Christ" holds for us!