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2 (816) THE
graph 3, of the Confession of Faith: 4'Yet as
nursing fathers, it is the duty of civil magistrates
to protect the church of our common
Lord, without giving the preference to any denomination
of Christians above the rest, in
such a manner, that all ecclesiastical persons
whatever shall enjoy the full, free, and un
questioned liberty of discharging every part
of their sacred functions, without violence or
danger. And, as Jesus Christ hath appointed
a regular government and discipline in his
church, no law of any commonwealth should
interfere with, let, or hinder, the due exercise
thereof, among the voluntary members of any
denomination of Christians, according to their
own profession and belief. It is the duty of
civil magistrates to protect the person and
good name of all their people, in such an effectual
manner as that no person be suffered,
either upon pretence of religion or infidelity,
to offer any indignity, violence, abuse or injury
to any other person whatsoever; and to
take order, that all religious and ecclesiastical
assemblies be held without molestation or disturbance.
''
Grant, for the sake of the argument, that
through the machinations of some religious society
there is danger of union between Church
and State, and as a consequence of this onion
the rights and privileges of our beloved Church
and other evangelical Churches greatly imperiled.
Does our church mingle with politics
when it cries out a warning against the
danger and invites the other Churches to unite
their efforts with her own? Does the minister
mingle with politics when he preaches about
this part of our Confession of Faith? Does
the session mingle with politics when it states
that doctrine? Does the Presbytery or Synod
or General Assembly mingle with politics endorsing
that doctrine ? Then we must be honest
and consistent and admit that if we as individuals,
as the session, as Presbytery, as
Synod and as General Assembly have the right
to speak out our Confession of Faith without
mingling with politics, because that Confession
is part of the Gospel, we have also the right
to invite the other sister Churches to do t.he
same. Yea, more, when the separation of
Church and State and religious freedom is an
accomplished fact, as it is here, and there is an
immediate or remote danger of union between
Church and State and of religious persecution,
then it is not only a right but it is a solemn and
sacred duty to warn the nation and to do it
not only as individuals but as Church, because
we uphold our standards not only as individuals
but also as Church.
MORAL INFECTION.
We are, in comparison, walking phonographs,
and register with a fearful accuracy everything
we see, touch, feel, think, experience. Men
become false, if they live with liars; cynics, if
they live with scorners; mean, if they live with
the covetous; affected, if they live with the affected,
and actually catch the expression of each others'
faces. It is verv imoortant. then, for everv
one, and especially for the young, to be very careful
as to the impressions he cherishes, the example
he imitates, and the habits he forms.?Ex.
Once more, reason cannot say, "I will not accept
what I cannot comprehend." Her creed
would be very short if she did. We completely
comprehend very few things, if anything. Reason
herself repudiates such a dictum as absurd. Yet
this is the heart and soul of rationalism, an error,
and a prodigious one. Man does not comprehend
the life of the grass he treads under foot, nor
the union of soul and body within himself, but he
is compelled to admit them as facts, whether he
comprehends them or not.
PRESBYTERIAN OF V" H E S<
PRAYER FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM.
Psalm 122, v. 6.
The recorded history of the Jewish Nation
shows them to be a remarkable people. From
Abraham on down through the ages, what
other nation can boast of so many mighty men;
and illustrious women. Law givers, poets,
warriors, preachers. The very chosen people
of God. Propheth, priests, kings, writers, historians.
And now in our day prime ministers,
p /-? "
uauuici uuiucrn, ^oiig<ressraeii, weauny Hankers,
first-class merchants, lawyers, doctors.
The greatest honor bestowed upon them was
when God sent His well beloved Son to be of
that race. And because they rejected Christ,
God has caused them to pass through a terrible
ordeal of suffering and persecution even to
this present day. They are scattered throughout
the whole world. Yet manage to hold
together as a race. They are accused of being
dishonest and tricky. Yet not more than
the average Gentile is. As a rule the Jew is
temperate in his habits, industrious, sober, polite,
gentlemanly in his conduct, a law-abiding
citizen. In the public schools the Jewish children
are eager to learn, especially the business
course.
it every man the world over was as straight
forward as the Jew is, there would be little
use for police officers and criminal courts.
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem." "We send
missionaries all over the whole world as far as
possibl eto carry the glad tidings of Salvation.
And it is all right. But what of God's chosen
people right at our door? This writer has endeavored
when the opportunity offered, to
speak a word to these people, hoping that
God's spirit would open their minds and hearts
to the truth as it is in Jesus. They always receive
it kindly and with deep interest, and
are willing to hear all you.have to say upon
the subject. On one occasion one Sunday, at
the close of service, a messenger came to the
church to say that some one was sick and desired
my services. As quickly as possible I
went to the number of the house given and
was met by a young, very pretty Jewish lady,
who told me that her little baby was sick. I
went in at once to see the condition of the
_l_*l J - 1 T ? " " "
ciiiiu, ana as i sat ior a moment thinking,
the lady spoke in an anxious tone of voice and
said: "Oh, Doctor; will my baby die!" I replied,
"your baby will not die, unless the Lord
wants him." She answered with much feeling,
"The Lord shan't have my baby. I will
spank the Lord." I said, "Oh, you must not
speak that way." Her husband, who was a
German Lutheran spoke up and said: "Doctor,
you see your God is not the same God that
hers is." I replied, "Yes He is, iust the same
God." Then I began with the Jewish history,
and gave an out-line of their Temple service
and sacrifices to show her what it all meant
in Christ. When I had said a good deal to
her she asked, "How did you know all of
this?" I answered, "Because I read it, and
I know it is true." The baby got well all
right, and soon after this I had anothoT*
chance of talking to them one night wiien the
husband was sick. I enlarged more upon the
subject this time than the first. "Pray iof
the peace of Jerusalem.*' Another Jew I
saw in his own store where I had gone to make
a purchase. The man was telling me of the
rude way some people would abuse . in- g
suit him on account of hit race. 1 benn by
advising him to make those people no fewer
?to take no notice of them. 1 spoke of
the Jewish people, thei? religion tin
sacrifices pointed t<
terested that he
) D T H [July 10, 1912
touiers coming in, listening to what-1 was saying.
So I had to break off and leave. When
1 started out he said, "1 am much obliged to
you, sir." Perhaps this was all the Gospel
this man had ever heard. There are other
instances besides these. Showing the readiness
with which these people will listen when
the Gospel is presented to them. "Pray for
the peace of Jerusalem. They shall prosper
that love thee."
Now, my good friends of the Southern Pi-?D
byterian Church, let us take God at His word.
First is a command: "Pray for the peace ol'
Jerusalem." "The lost sheep of the house of
Israel." Next is the promise "They shall
prosper that love thee."
Christ will never come in person until liis
people are evangelized. Oh, what a power
these Jews will become when the veil is lifted
from their minds and hearts. When they I
can see the light of the glorious Gospel shining
in the face of Jesus Christ their long looked
for Messiah. Ethiopia calls; we answer?
why not His own people? One of the most
plaintive and saddest wails found in the Bible B
is in the 142nd Psalm. "I looked on my right B
hand, and beheld, but there was no man that
would know me; refuge failed me; no man
cared for my soul." I cried unto thee: "0
Lord, I said, Thou art my refuge, and my portion
in the land of the living. Attend unto my I
cry; for I am brought very low; deliver me I
from my persecutors; for they are stronger
than I. Bring my soul out of prison, that I
may praise Thy name; the righteous shall compass
me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully H
with me." David wrote this. It was written B
by inspiration, and is prophetic.
Pray the Lord of the harvest, that He would
send forth laborers into His harvest field.
White already to harvest. These people are
waitine for VOU. Manv of t.hem at.t.pnd f.hris
tian churches. To my personal knowledge,
they have contributed without solicitation in
large amounts, to the completion of a handsome
Presbyterian church. Let each member
qualified to do this evangelistic work, constitute
himself a committee of one to say to these
good people, "Come, the Spirit and Christ, and
the Church, say come."
Quite a large number of Jews have been
converted to Christianity, and they are still
coming in. There should be a concerted movement
upon the part of the churches of Christ
for the accomplishment of this work. The
world will not be evangelized in this or many
generations to come unless His own sheep are
brought into Ilis spiritual fold. "They shall
prosper that love thee." It has been said that
in the city of New York alone, every third or
fourth person one sees upon the street is a
Jew. Onr towns and eitien npp wnll flllod with
them. What an opportunity for the Church!
Literature of various kinds, tracts, pamphlets,
newspapers, have been and are being published
for distribution. Now let every one as far
as possible, secure these and sec that they
are properly distributed. Pray that the Spirit
will give you the opportunity. Then do it
in a kindly, loving spirit, using common sense
and tact; and Christ will bless the effort in
His name. Thomas. C. Carter, M. D.
Hustle, Essex County, Va.
The moon in an eclipse complained to the
sun, ''Why dost thou not shine on as usual?
"I am shining as I always do," the srun replied,
""but don't you see that the earth has gotten
between us?" So it is with the believer when
(Jafltae*. gjSGod has not hidden his /face nor
ceased tc shine, but the earth with fte carnal
^^^^^V^^ares has come between.?^Selected