The Washington herald., 1922-06-24

business men are taking notes Of
the things that make for weakness
or prosperity. the leaders in the
intellectual world are as quick to
hang out danger signals and to
spread the news OF any new method
that promises Improvement In
teaching.
why This Timidityf
why is it that timidity only
manifests itself in dealing with
spiritual things? Morality is the
basis of society and religion is the
foundation Of morality; why should
there be hesitation in speaking to
one concerning his souls welfare?
Is 1t merely a matter of religious
coldness? There are degrees of re-
ligious enthusiasm, running all the
way from freezing point to boiling
point. Those who are just above
freezing have no heat to give out !;
in proportion as ones religion Is n
active element in his life he feels
the spiritual urge that compels
him to utter a warning prompted
by love and grounded on friendly
concern for his fellows.
I'VE know that we have passed
from death unto life. because we
love the brethren"-thati is the test
as to whether one has felt Christ's
Transforming power. And how is
this love to be manifested? .?
Brethren, II a man be overtaken
in a fault. ye which are spiritual.
restore such an one in the spirit OF
meekness; considering thyself. lest
thou also be tempted" When one
is concerned as to his own condi-
tion he is naturally alert to the
condition of others.
Perfect love easteth out fear"
The danger of being rebuffed will
not prevent the doing OF ones duty
IL one has vigorous sense of
duty. just as Ezekiel was not to
be afraid of their words" or be
"dismayed at their looks" so the
Christian Is called to do his duty
regardless of the reception that
may be accorded his words. The
condemnation of his own consci-
ence is more to be feared than any
criticism that fidelity to duty may
call forth.
The Foundation Of Life.
Thus far our text deals with the
wicked who has not turned from
his way; now II turns 20 the
righteous man who fails.
II. after starting right. the
righteous man turns back and dies
in his sins, his righteous deeds will
not be remembered.
Again, When a righteous man
doth turn from his righteousness,
and commit iniquity. and lay a
stumbling block before him, he
shall die; because thou hast not
given him warning. he shall die in
his sins, and his Righteousness
which he hath done shall not be
remembered"
Those who lay emphasis upon
deeds rather than faith accept the
Buddhist method of calculation.
Buddhism sets the good deeds Off
against the bad deeds and makes
mathematics. The good deeds must
outweigh the bad deeds: the ac-
count can be cast up at the end of
each day or week or year. II the
good exceeds the evil, there Is a
balance to go on; II the evil ex-
ceeds the good. the balance is on
the "TOHB sue OF the ledger.
Neither Christianity nor Judaism
countenances the elimination Of
faith: 1t Is the foundation upon
which life is built. II one sins and
repents. his sins are forgiven; they
are blotted out and he begins life
anew. By the same rule, II the
righteous man turns back to sin.
his good works are blotted out. II
is the direction In which one is
going that counts, not the distance
that he has gone.
II a man Is born again. turns his
face toward heaven and travels
straight forward. nothing in the
past can mar his progress; and so.
II one turns his back on God ana
travels toward perdition, no good
that he has done in the past can
save him.
One phrase of these two verses
has excited criticism-"and I Law a
stumbling block before him."
Some who assume to have q mora