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10 (700) THE
change in man's constitution at any given point
in history such as justifies us in expecting another
and different revelation? If not, then why
seek in New Testament times for a repetition of
those laws governing man's relations to God
either in himself or in his possessions? Why ignore
that canon of law which declares that a
law once made remains in force until abrogated
by the same power which made it?
In Matthew 23:23, we read, "Woe unto ye
scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay
tithes of mint and anise and cummin, and have
omitted the weightier matters of the law, judg
ment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have
done, and not to leave the other undone." Luke
11:42.
Now you will observe, first, that the only
commendation our Lord ever passed upon the
Pharisees was in connection with their observance
of the law of the tithe. This constitutes a
distinct "Thus saith the Lord" in favor of the
tithe. But there is not one "Thus saith the
Lord" in the New Testament in favor of the
Sabbath, and yet many who refuse the tithe
would be' shocked if told the Sabbath had no
authority. Our Lord not only commended the
tithe, but he commended the punctiliousness with
which the Pharisees observed it, descending to
"all manner of herbs." Of course they observed
it in all the larger matters of flocks and herds
and crops of larger grain, but they did not
stop there, they observed the law clear through
even in minutiae, and were commended.
You will also observe, second, a very important
thing I would not overlook, namely, that the
observance of one law cannot atone for the neglect
of another. Every law stands for itself.
Hence while appealing for the observance of the
tithe I would not leave the impression that it
is more important than other of God's laws. It is
simply a very much neglected law that I would
see restored to its proper place in Christian life.
In Hebrews 7, which has already passed under
review, we are told that tithes were paid to
Melchisedek because he was a perpetual priest
and a type of Christ, they must therefore be
paid to the great Antitype. Heb. 7 :8, "And here
men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth
them of whom it is witnessed that he
liveth." Now how is Melchisedek still living except
in Christ, If then he received them who still
lives tney must still be paid to him. In both dispensations,
therefore, Christ claims as his own
the tithe. And still further the writer argues the
perpetuity of the tithe from this, that Levi, who
under the Levitican dispensation received the
tithes, himself paid the tithes, being in the loins
of his father Abram who paid tithes to Melchisedek.
And our Lord being a priest forever after
the order of Melchisedek must forever receive
tithes from priest and people alike.
There was fine philosophy in the little boy's
definition of a friend, when he said, "A friend
is a fellow who knows all about you, but likes
you!"
Some of our good Methodist brethren, whose
righteous souls were most justly vexed by the
official announcement in the Vanderbilt TTni
versity Commencement program of the University
"german," are practically arguing that
here is seen the strongest reason in favor of the
church's ownership and complete control of that
institution.
Home is the place where we are treated the
best and grumble the most.?Anon.
1'ItESBYTEKlAK OF THE S
"NOT THE RIGHT TIME."
"Not the opportune time" are words which
have sounded the death-knell of many a call to
duty and aggressive work in the church. "With
them men have soothed themselves into idle waiting,
unfruitfulness, and listless indifference.
True it is that prudence is a Christian virtue.
True it is, again that many precipitate efforts
have been disastrous failures and have been,
sometimes even more than inaction and indifference,
productive of great discouragement. Yet
it is none the less true that without an initiative
nothing has ever come to pass. It is far better
to try many things and fail in most of them
than never to try at all.
Happily for the Christian, there need be no
iear ot the ultimate success of any effort that is
prompted by obedience to the divine command
and that is made according to the divine method
'given in the "Word. If his Savior tells a man to
go into all the world and preach the gospel to
every creature, he may know that the Lord will
be with him alway, even unto the end of the
world. That companionship will insure success
in the mission. If the Lord tells a man to sow
beside all waters, he may rest assured that the
Lord will see that the good seed is not lost. With
the Christian it is not the same as with the unbeliever.
The former has the abiding promise of
God that no word of his shall return unto him
void.
J 1 " * * -
jcaini <anu worn as well as taith and works go
together. The believer has the right to undertake
what worldly wisdom seems not to endorse or
approve. If he lays hold upon the promise the
Savior becomes responsible to see the result accomplished.
The greatest victories in the world
belong to those who have fought out the battle
back in their hearts and have gone out at
last, not knowing whither they go, but taking
a step at a time, and with each step finding the
way open for the next. "To him that hath shall
be given." Yon mountain puts itself right in
my way towards the destination before me; but
if I keep on, when the proper point is reached,
the way will be open before me, and I shall see
how skillfully it has been engineered in advance
for me through the barriers that to me at a distance
appeared to be unbroken.
The conclusion, in connection with spiritual
work for God and humanity implies that there
are periods and pauses in obligation. Duty's
call is an ever present one. It is not for us to
reason why, ours but to dare or die. Better to
fail in trying to do right than never to try at
all. The conclusion that the time is not opportune
is in many cases taking counsel of self
and ignoring God. It is projecting oneself into
the equation and making it the larger part. In
proportion as self is the object or determinant in
respect to duty, will the latter become vague
and incapable of impelling us. Ready obedience
eliminates self. Deciding that the time is not
opportune is usually taking counsel also of one's
1* ? *
iears. 11 is repeating the experience of Peter,
who essayed to walk upon the water and actually
did so until, looking away from. Christ and seeing
the wind boisterous, he became afraid and
began to sink.
"Nothing venture, nothing have," is an old
proverb that savors more of truth and experience
than of the nomenclature and principle of
chance. But the Christian does not venture in
doing for Christ and Christ's church. He is
simply obeying, and his Master will see to it
that he suffers no loss. He is throwing himself
upon the power of God that never yet failed any
man.
God has no blessing for the man who will not
with the courage of faith do his part to bring
OOTB [ August 2, 1911
about the desired end. Boldness iu the faith is
divinely enjoined. It is not inconsistent with
humility, with quiet trust, with prudence. Its
special power lies in the fact that it emphasizes
the "nows" of the Lord. "Now is the accepted
time." "lie that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing
precious seed, shall doubtless come again
with rejoicing., bringing his sheaves with him."
LESSONS FROM ABRAHAM.
Very few characters are as fully delineated
in the Bible as that of Abraham. More space is
given to mm tnan to any otner man beside
Christ. His name is mentioned oftener than
others. Ilis life and its lessons may be considered
by joining his name to leading places or personagages
associated with that life.
He was called from Ur, the place of his nativity
and the home of a third of his life. He left
it not knowing whither he went. The command
of God was sufficient. It w?s more than heroism
that took him. It was faith. Faith is the mightiest
principle in the world. It works in the dark
and lays hold upon the unseen.
He owned not a foot of land in Canaan until
he bought a grave for his wife. But everywhere
he stopped he built an altar. Shechem, Bethel,
Mamre and Beersheba witnessed this act of devotion.
Maybe if he had erected one in Egypt
he would have kept out of trouble there. His ac-,
knowledgement of God gave him eventually <a title
to the land. "All things are yours, and ye
nt i ? * *
are \jnrist'8"
He was long disappointed in the hope of a
son. But his faith held on and was rewarded.
It looked for the fulfilment of the promise that
he should have seed. He thought it had come in
Islnnael, perhaps, but God had something better
for him. His wife's name was changed from
Sarai, "Contention," to Sarah, "princess."
Isaac was given, his name meaning "laughter."
Contact with the world was on two occasions
harmful to the man of faith. Dwelling in Egypt
for a time, and again later among the Philistines,
he yielded to the temptation to tell an
untruth. It was indeed a half-truth that he told
concerning his wife, the half-truths are sometimes
whole lies. When intended to deceive or
mislead they are as bad as the most pronounced
falsehood.
Abraham had a close association with his
vi/ml. T -A mi - ~
iicpucw, uui. ine aittcrence between the two
lay in the fact that Abraham was a man of
faith, while Lot was a man of the world, resting
in sin and present things. The event proved the.
difference. One has well said, "Had Lot left to
Abraham the cities of the Plain, yet would
Lot have carried even to Hebron his own Sodom
and Gomorrah." Abraham's prayer for Sodom
illustrates man's ways. It stopped with ten. A
fuller faith, aifd warranted importunity as its
expression, would have brought the number
down to one.
The covenant of God with Abraham embraced
six points or pledges. (1) I will bless thee. (2)
I will make of thee a great nation. (3) I will
make thy name great. (4) Thou shalt be a blessing.
(5) I will bless them that bless thee, and
( lirco tliaT** 4-V-X **
i/Hiil curse tnee. (b) In thee shall all
families of the earth be blessed. The comprehensiveness
of this covenant of God with Abraham
cannot be exceeded. And it was God's covenant
with all who are Abraham's spiritual
1
I feel, I grieve, but by the grace of God I fret
at nothing.?John "Wesley.
Things done well and with ease, exempt themselves
from fear.?Shakspeare.