ft caaiamr jjTtttgftom
A Uarralaur*ate Swrnrnt
$i| lUaljup C. 3. CCoppiu
t
HUforforr?, CDljtn, Sutte, 1017
the
M essianic Kingdom
a baccalaureate sermon
& By &
Bishop L* J* Coppin
Wither force, Ohio, June, 1917
Printed by
THE A. M. E. BOOK CONCERN
631 Pine Street
Philadelphia
The Messianic Kingdom
"But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His
righteousness, and all these things shall be added
unto you." Matthew 6:33
DOCTRINES RESTATED
This text is from the Sermon on the Mount.
One of the striking features of this most
remarkable of all the discourses of our Lord,
is, there are many restatements of doctrines
that were promulgated at the beginning, but
had come more or less into disuse, by the
multiplication of formulas, and traditions that
came in vogue with the material growth, and
spiritual decline of the nation.
Concerning divorce, for instance, our Lord
said: "Moses, on account of the hardness
of your heart wrote you this precept, but it
was not so from the beginning of the crea¬
tion."
3
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
SPIRITUAL KINGDOM
The idea of a Universal Spiritual Kingdom,
is also an old doctrine restated,
1 Before the divine right of earthly kings
was recognized, the Kingdom prepared from
the foundation of the world, beginning in
time, and continuing through eternity, was
offered as a reward of the righteous.
King David, in the midst of his power and
glory, recognized that he was but a subor¬
dinate sovereign and exclaimed: "Thine, O
Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and
the glory, and the victory, and the majesty:
for all that is in the heaven and in the earth
is thine. Thine is the Kingdom, O Lord, and
thou art exalted as head above all."
In the beautifully figurative Apocalypse of
St. John the Divine, after the vision of the
seven seals, and at the close of the vision of
the trumpets, and preceding the vision of the
vials, containing the seven last plagues, in
which is finished the wrath of God; the seven
angels sounded, and great voices were lifted
in heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world
are become the Kingdom of our Lord and
•1
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and
ever.
/ God's power and authority is established by
'the final overthrow of Satan, and the King¬
dom handed over to the rightful heir, our
iLord' s Christ.
And so, whether it pertains to the begin¬
ning of earth's activities, or the consumma¬
tion of all things, the divine purpose is clearly
indicated by the ever present throne and
sovereign.
f As much as the fathers of our country had.
to say about the consent of the governed,^
and, as much as later and lesser lights have ^
had to say against the idea of centralized
power, some of the present day statesmen
are asking the question, "Is democracy a suc¬
cess, or has republicanism, as at present mani¬
fested, had its day? It seems but a parody on.
democracy when millions of subjects have nef
* say in the government.
In the ages of the past, when simplicity
characterized the prevailing life of the peo¬
ple ; when men plucked off the shoe in evi¬
dence, or lifted a heap of stones as a witness
instead of giving a promisory note, the gov-
5
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
ernment was a democratic theocracy, with
the emphasis on the theocracy.
"From whence come wars and fighting?
,Wbfiac€-xome lusts that war in your mem¬
bers? Ye lust and have not: ye kill and
desire to have, and cannot obtain; ye fight
and war, yet ye have not."
Does not the earth bud and blossom, and
bring forth? Are not the barns filled with
golden harvest, and the greater barns? Have
not earth and air.xe^«aled their secrets to
inquisitive man ? Does not knowledge fill
the earth, as the waters the sea? Then whence
this absence of peace; and lack of security,
and tranquility, and fraternity, and moral
growth ?
Why has not the spread of righteousness
been commensurate with the intellectual and
material growth of the world? Why does
not our boasted civilization, with its superior
light and knowledge, bring to mankind that
universal peace and good will, that the dark¬
er ages of the past have failed to produce?
Why do we find in .the-national life of the
world's leading nations, moral delinquencies,
6
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
that would put to blush the lands yet in
darkness, that we seek to enlighten?
The answer to these questions, cannot be
indefinitely postponed.
As earthly governments are established to
enforce righteousness among the subjects, the
Divine government, the Kingdom of heaven,
is but a higher authority to hold even the
governments of earth in check, and demand
of kings and princes, and all in authority,
justice and righteousness.
More and more the nations of earth are
coming to recognize the necessity of a higher
spiritual power in the government of human
affairs.
CThe history of the world is, that kingdoms
nd empires fall, and pass into forgetfulness,
when God is not permitted to be the supreme
ruler of the realm. Let us not think of the
civilizations of the past that have vanished,
as being the only examples of sure destruc¬
tion of the people who forget God.
Turn your face toward the orient and what
do you see? In what light does the sangui¬
nary conflict, the murderous slaughter now
going on between the European nations, place
7
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
our boasted civilization? No competent and
honest student of history will dare to deny
that these unfortunate nations have long
since abandoned, to a great extent, the cardi¬
nal principles of Christianity.
Count Tolstoi, the noblest Roman of all
the peace advocates, for many years before
his death, plead with pen and voice against
the course that the nations were taking. His
pleadings were scarcely more with his own
nation, than with England and the Continent.
In his two famous works, "My Confessions,"
and "My Religion," he points out clearly, how
the nations were getting away from purity of
life, by departing from the simplicity of
Christianity, and were accordingly drifting
toward disaster and ruin.
He plead for disarmament, and against
graft and conquest. He plead for brother¬
hood and against tyranny and bigotry. He
plead for righteous living and against licen¬
tiousness and worldliness.
He plead the cause of the poor and defense¬
less, and mercilessly denounced plutocracy
and snobbishness. He was persecuted and
prosecuted, but would not hold his peace. He
8
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
was sure that he had a message to his nation,
and to the nations of earth; and with mag¬
nificent courage, he delivered it. Sometimes
it seemed, that like Noah of old, he stood
alone, yet he still lifted his voice and cried
"repent."
His voice was not long silent in death,
until the nations with whom he especially
plead, were in the grip of such a conflict as
the world had never seen or even dreamed of.
Our own nation, while remaining neutral,
furnished the munitions of war by which alone
the massacre could continue indefinitely, but
was eventually drawn into the conflict. A
lesson on sowing and reaping.
The people to whom I especially speak to¬
day, and for whose special benefit this historic
institution was founded, are not better than
others, unless they are—
To them also has spoken a prophet, who
was mighty in word and deed.
The place still seems hallowed by the con¬
secrated life of the immortal founder. Like
Tolstoi, he plead with all men, but with his
own people most.
Like Tolstoi, he seemed at times to have
9
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
had visions that were fresh and direct from
the throne of God. He warned against ig¬
norance. He warned against worldliness. He
warned against immorality, hypocracy, and
sham. He warned against excess and self
indulgence. He warned against irreligion. He
wished his beloved Wilberforce to stand as
a beacon for all that is highest and best in
learning and religion, and morals.
It remains for us who survive him, and
who honor his memory and interpret his pur¬
pose, to see to it, that our institution stands
pledged to the maintenance of the objects
for which it came into existence.
' It is for us to courageously declare, that
whatever course the learning of the world
may take, Wilberforce is pledged to Christian
Education. It remains for us' to say whether
or not the Kingdoms of the world shall sug¬
gest our social and moral standards, or
whether they shall bear the stamp of the
Kingdom of heaven.
It remains for us to say, whether or not
in these class rooms, miracles shall be de¬
clared myths, and the Divine Sonship scoffed
at, or, whether the faith of the fathers shall
still be our guide.
10
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
MESSIANIC PROPHECIES
Running all through the Old Testament
Scriptures, like a vein of gold through a
mountain range, are Messianic passages which
refer to a Sovereign and a Kingdom.
The dramatic second Psalm tells how the
rulers of earth take council against the Lord
and His anointed, and resolve to break their
bands, and cast away their cords.
The response is: "Yet have I set my King
upon my holy hill Zion." Then follows: "I
will declare the decree. Jehovah hath said
unto me, thou art my son, this day have I
begotten thee: ask of me, and I shall give
thee, the heathen for thine inheritance, and
the uttermost parts of the earth for thy pos¬
session."
Perhaps the most illuminating Kingdom
passage in the Old Testament is found in the
book of Daniel. The possibility of earthly
kingdoms carrying out the purposes of God
if true to their trust, the elements of strength
and weakness, and their final overthrow by
the Kingdom of heaven if unfaithful are
thus graphically given: "Thou, O King art
11
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
a King of Kings, for the God of heaven hath
given thee a Kingdom, power, strength and
glory. And wheresoever the children of men
dwell, the beasts of the field, and the fowls
of the heavens, hath He given into thine hand,
and hath made thee ruler over them all.
Thou art this head of gold. And after thee
shall arise another Kingdom inferior to thee,
and another third Kingdom of brass, which
shall bear rule over all the earth.
"And the fourth Kingdom shall be strong as
iron; for as much as iron breaketh in pieces
and subdueth all things: and as iron that
\breaketh, all these shall it break in pieces
and bruise. And whereas thou sawest the
feet and toes part of potters clay, and part
of iron, the kingdom shall be divided: but
there shall be in it of strength of the iron;
for as much as thou sawest the iron mixed
with potters' clay. And as the toes of the
feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so
the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly
broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed
with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves
with the seed of men: but they shall not
cleave one to another, even as iron is not
12
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
mixed with clay. And in the days of these
kings, shall the God of heaven set up a King¬
dom, which shall never be destroyed: and the
Kingdom shall not be left to other people,
but it shall break in pieces and consume all
these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever."
Another Old Testament reference says:
"Behold I send Elijah the prophet before the
coming of the great and dreadful day of the
Lord. And he shall turn the heart of the
fathers to the children, and the heart of the
children to their fathers, lest I come and
smite the earth with a curse."
John the Baptist is that Elijah spoken of,
says the Lord, and he came as an echo, a
voice crying in the wilderness: "Christ is
coming: make straight in the desert a high¬
way for our God. Repent, for the Kingdom
of heaven is at hand."
I think it is quite evident, that the doctrine
of the Kingdom was not fully understood in
Old Testament times, as it relates to its
spiritual aspect. I wonder if it is yet fully
understood.
Moses would lead the chosen of God to a
land flowing with milk and honey, and per¬
manently plant them.
13
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
Isaiah looked beyond the captivity, and saw
the ransomed of the Lord return to Zion, fully
restored to their pristine glory.
Even the disciples who were daily with our
Lord, hearing His words, and His interpreta¬
tion of Scriptures: even after His resurrec¬
tion, when they were come together, asked
Him, saying: "Lord wilt thou at this time
restore again the Kingdom of Israel?"
THE GREAT TEACHER
It remained for our Lord, himself the King
of the Spiritual Kingdom, to make plain Old
Testament prophecy, restate the doctrine of
the Kingdom, and open the door to all be¬
lievers.
It becomes us as those who walk in His
footsteps, and who proclaim the doctrine of
this Kingdom, to insist upon obedience to His
sovereign will even in these awful days of
skepticism, materialism, and divers forms of
unrighteousness; when many professed fol¬
lowers are either silent, or, speak with a com¬
promising voice. When many who pose as
religious teachers, take the course of least
14
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
resistance, when skeptics attack Christianity,
at its most vital points.
The coming of our Lord to earth, was a
necessity in the plan of salvation. Man was
far removed from Eden. The struggle for
eyjstpnre a struggle caused bv sin, was not
apt to develop a tender Material/
success did not always tend toward spiritmal
mindedness. Laying up treasures on earth,
did not always carry with it a desire to lay
up treasures in heaven.
Kings who sat upon thrones, did not always
have incorporated into their constitutions, the
Golden Rule. Appetite and passion came to
control men to such an extent, that their
highest and best civilization was self destruc¬
tive.
Then, as now, those who ruled the king¬
doms of earth, were mindful of material ad¬
vancement : over anxious about material pow¬
er ; bent upon the acquisition of material
wealth; laying up treasures on earth, where
moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves
break through and steal.
Then, as now, the age was bent upon pleas¬
ure ; reveling in extortion; inventing all man-
15
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
ner of devices to satisfy the appetite, passion,
and the love of show. Destroying the family
unit by the divorce habit.
Pontius Pilate struggled with his conscience,
and his sense of justice. He was moved by
the pleading of his wife, who had a vision,
and he sought to release the Divine Captive.
But when the accusers cried out: "If thou let
this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend,"
he had not the moral courage, nor the spirit
of self denial, to make the wise choice be¬
tween being in the right, or being in the
world's favor.
f To us, and to all of us, comes the same
crucial test as that which came to Pontius
Pilate. And like Pilate we must decide,
whether to heed the loud, boisterous, and
popular voice of the world, or the still small
^voice of an enlightened, Christian conscience.
THE CRITICAL PERIOD
There are none so severely tried, as those
who, just entering upon active life, must de¬
cide upon a course, and take a stand.
^ I have the tenderest feeling and the great-
16
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
,est solicitude for the young man and young ]
woman, who, finishing the prescribed course
of learning, go out into life, face the world I
in all of its stern realities, and meet conditioriS I
that innocence and inexperience never dream- j
ed of. ^
They have been accustomed to hearing the
voice of instruction, calling to wisdom and
knowledge and virtue, and all that is good.
But suddenly they are ushered into a medley
of sounds, saying, lo here! and lo there! Many
things that they have been taught were most
essential, will be pronounced by some, as
worthless.
/ In the world's severe competition, the law ^
| of equity is often set aside by the law of
^expediency.
The teaching of the school room is: "Hon¬
esty is the best policy ;" the practice of the
world is, the best apples on top.
The Golden Rule says: "All things what¬
soever ye would, that men should do to you,
do ye even so to themthe practice of the
world is, every man for himself.
However well furnished one may. be with
theories, the test of character is in practice.
17
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
Education, as a means of enlightenment,
is intended to enable one to quickly discern
between good and evil; between truth and
error; between that which is permanent and
that which is passing.
But it is possible for one to discern the
right course, and yet fail in moral courage
to pursue it. It is not given to every one
to approach puberty with the magnificent
strength of the Apostle Paul, and put away
childish things. How-be-it, the schools do
not always fully prepare the student for this
most critical period of life.
/ When our Lord began to teach the doctrine
I of self-denial, self-sacrifice, abnegation, doing
f good for evil, losing one's life, in order to
i find it, becoming poor in order to inherit true
[ riches, and the like; it was a revelation to
Hhe rabbis, and philosophers.
Often when a college professor takes the
stand, that the Christ life is the only life
worth living, that the sentiments of the
world's leaders of society cannot be trusted,
that the popular amusements that hold mod-,
ern society with an iron grip, are not elevat¬
ing, and productive of higher ideals; such a
18
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
professor is in danger of being characterized
as a literary derelict, out of harmony with
modern thought and a fit subject for Profes¬
sor Emeritus. Unless he has superior learn¬
ing, and a plenty of physical strength and
courage, with a good Trustee Board, his re¬
tirement may be near at hand. Nevertheless
this is the class of men that has dignified the
pulpit and professions of all ages, and become
the world's greatest benefactors.
It is the Wesley, Allen, Payne, Shorter,
Moody, Simpson, Philips Brooks, Amanda
Smith class that has set in action world move¬
ments for the good of mankind; organized
forces religious, intellectual, and eleemosyna¬
ry, that have gone on blessing the world. It
is this class, that has in all ages, brought
about the reformations that so changed the
course of events, as to give the world, or the
age, a new lease of life.
It is this self same class that our present
age most needs to check the surging current
of worldliness. This kind never becomes ex¬
tinct. These are the salt of the earth. They
are not all conspicuous like those whose
names I have mentioned. Some of them will
19
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
never, he. known to the .world,.but they never¬
theless make up the seven thousand who never
bow. .to Baal.,.
Our -Lord-brooked all opposition and con¬
tinued to preach the!.gospel of .the Kingdom.
The • early. disciples -were withstood by the
sa.me opposing world forces, but they too, like
their Divine Master, continued to proclaim the
doctrine of the Kingdom, not, .fearing e.ven
death.
In. commissioning the Twelve our , JLord
warned them of opposition, that, would go to
th,e ..extent, of expulsion from cities to which
they would go to preach. But .He directed
them" to. say. as they departed: "Nevertheless,.,
the Kingdom of God has come untp you."
Neither .were they to be dismayed and give,
up,-.the, struggle,- but,., the commission was,
"When they persecute you in this city, flee
ye into .another.."
.This idea of a Spiritual Kingdom, over-,
shadowing, the .kingdoms of the world* enters
vitally into the whple course of revelation.
Has. -its root in Old Testament teaching: is
paramount in the teaching of our Lord; is
most prevalent in the New Testament writ-
20
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
ings, reaching its climax in the Revelation of
""St. John, and' is the one all important, and
ever new subject for the Christian Church.
The safety and perpetuity of natrons and gov¬
ernments, depend upon obedience to the doc¬
trine- and morals, as set forth in the Kingdom
"code.
ORIGIN OF THE KINGDOM
When" we begin at Sinai, and accept the
"Decalogue" a£ the constitution of the moral
' "government of the" world, we only have one
definitely written chapter in the Magna Char-
" ter that seeks to include in its government,
all the- nations of earth. Quite enough was
written down by Moses in the ten words, for
" the'immediate government of the newly estab¬
lished nation to whose leadership he had been
"called, and the doctrines embraced in this
"brief and simple code, were sufficiently com¬
prehensive, to admit of a development to suit
"changing "conditions that the growth of the
nation would require.
But, we who accept the doctrine of a triune
God, maker of all things, and judge of all
21
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
men, cannot escape the idea that we are sub¬
jects of the theocracy, set forth in the text.
We must then go beyond Sinai, and stand
with Moses at the genesis of all things, and
behold the Almighty One, who is from all
eternity, creating a world and all things there¬
in, upholding it by the word of His power,
planning its physical constitution, establish¬
ing its moral government, and justly claim¬
ing the right to rule His own world.
When one reads with an open mind the
story of Moses as told in the first chapters of
Genesis, he seems to be transported from
earth and its beclouded environments, and
carried into an atmosphere that is pregnant
with the Divine efflation.
When time leaps from the womb of eterni¬
ty, and discloses the chaos and void that pre¬
ceded cosmic order and harmony; giving birth
to the first moment when the universe ex¬
isted.
When God, who is from everlasting, breath¬
ed upon the substance that came into being
by His will.
When the spirit of God was brooding upon
the face of the deep.
22
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
■ When light, by Divine command sprang into
being, before the King of day appeared upon
the scene.
When by Divine command, the firmament,
sun, moon and stars, fish and fowl, and myriad
creatures that creep, and beasts that roam,
came into existence.
And God saw that it was good; capable
of growth, development, and perpetual re¬
production. But the work of creation was
not complete.
For the Author of all things, there was no
companion. If Angels existed, they were only
spiritual automatons. A companion of God,
must be in the spiritual image of God; with
freedom of will, susceptible of spiritual de¬
velopment, and but a step removed from
God.
One, who by communicable attributes be¬
stowed by God, could take charge of the new
creation as divinely appointed viceroy, and so
direct its government, that the divine purpose
creation would be fulfilled.
"And God said, let us make man, in our
image, after our likeness; and let him have
dominion over the fish of the sea, and over
23
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and
over all the earth, and over every creeping
thing that creepeth upon the earth."
What power and authority bestowed upon
man, creature of God, son of God, heir of
God! What fellowship and harmony, and
co-operation, between the Creator and the
creature. God the sovereign, man the sub¬
ject, harmoniously working for the develop¬
ment and highest good of the newly estab¬
lished universe.
Man in his pristine glory and honor, tak¬
ing charge of his kingdom in which a note
of discord had not sounded ; the sensation of
fear had not been experienced; and where
moral delinquency was unknown.
On this conception of God, as Creator, and
possessor of heaven and earth, rests the doc¬
trine of His unlimited and unquestionable
dominion,, in nature and providence.
The earliest government of the world, of
which we have a definite record, was a the¬
ocracy. Abraham, and Moses, and Samuel
were called of God and placed in authority.
A succession of judges, from Othniel to
Samuel, all chosen of God, governed Israel by
24
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
the space of three hundred and seventy years.
From Samuel to the captivity, the govern¬
ment fluctuated between the theists and
idolators. At last the theocratic reign, in
its visible and material form, disappeared,
through repeated backsliding, and the religious
descendents of him who wrote the first code
on Mount Sinai were carried away captives;
were scattered and peeled; and their national
life brought to a sad end.
For a period of 400 years or, from Malachi
to the coming of Christ, the prophets were
silent, and there was no open vision. The
world in its religious aspect swung and drift¬
ed between a form of Judaism and pagan
philosophy. The Jews required a sign, and
the Greeks sought after wisdom.
The time was ripe for a voice from heaven
to speak, not according to the ritual and tra¬
ditions either of Mount Gerezim, or Mount
Moria, but to speak with authority, and the
authority must be backed up by infallible
proof, that it was from above.
So the Great Teacher came, the Promised
Messiah, and with the voice of love, called
the earnest seekers after truth; with wither-
25
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
ing denunciations, rebuked the hypocrite, and
with signs and wonders which God did by
Him, proved His claim to the title of World's
Teacher and Redeemer.
PAGAN PHILOSOPHY
The Kingdom of Heaven upon earth, is a
reign of righteousness and truth, as opposed
to that of sin and error.
The voice of teachers had been heard, and
the multitudes in quest of happiness had fol¬
lowed only to be disappointed. The aching
void of conscience was not satisfied by the
multiplicity of human devices that were of¬
fered to satisfy the soul's longings.
Doctrines were multiplied as were imagin¬
ary Gods, until Mars Hill resounded with a
babel that confused the wisest of the Athenian
philosophers, and sent them in their extremity
to erect an altar to the unknown God.
Judaism, with ethnic narrowness, and pol¬
luted doctrines, was unable to longer supply
the world's religious need.
Greek philosophy, with originality of
thought that was at once fascinating and even
26
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
refreshing, with a more or less brilliant array
of philosophers, whose places in history con¬
stitute a forward step in the intellectual
progress of the world, with Athens as the
centre of the system, and_ Socrates as the
most imposing figure, began a search for the
certitudes of Hfp that carried speculative
thought to the uttermost limit of unproved
theories. Anything new, got a hearing. Every'
brilliant leader won a following. Religious
opinions and gods to back them multiplied,
until it required five figures to count them.
The men who put forth those theories were
masters of assemblies in their day and gen¬
eration, Some of their theories came as close
to truth, as the doctrines of Arminianism, and
-Calvinism approach each other. Socrates de¬
veloped and taught a trinitarian doctrine: not
a triune God, but a trinity of happiness, virtue
and knowledge, as being indissolubly connect¬
ed ; and forming the life of the soul.
These philosophers drew conclusions as to
the origin of the universe, from material
phenomena. For instance: plants are sustain¬
ed by dew and rain, therefore water must
be the beginning of all things. Again, animals
27
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
die without air, hence air must be the great
primal cause. Diogones attributed to air, an
intellectual energy. The later philosophers
became more and more materialistic, and ac¬
cordingly less concerned about the spiritual
nature of man.
The ages rolled on, and nothing seemed
absolutely settled; certainly not, as it pertain¬
ed to religion. The longings of the soul can
not be satisfied with speculation. -
The woman at the well of Samaria was will¬
ing to disregard the social and religious stand¬
ards of a life time, if she could but find the
water of life th&t would satisfy her thirsty
soul.
Whatever of good may be said of the last
four centuries Of the old dispensation, as to
intellectual activity, it Cannot be said, that
any religious standards were fixed that out
lived the age in which they were born, or
extended very far beyond the life time xof
their authors.
THE GOSPEL DAY DAWN
In the midst of this confusion of tongues;
in the midst of this soul struggle, and spiri-
28
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
tual darkness; in the midst of this longing
for peace ; in the midst of this ceaseless search
for the sum .bonum of life, came the gentle
call from the Son of man, saying, "Seek ye
first the Kingdom of God and His righteous¬
ness. Come to the. fountain of living water
and drink. Cast off the galling yoke of Satan,
and take my yoke upon you. Wherefore do
you. spend money for that which is not bread?
and your labor for that which satisfieth not?"
Then, the people who sat in darkness saw
a great light. . Broken cords of hope, broken
from long and weary years of waiting, began
to vibrate. The wilderness of. despair that
beset the human heart, began to blossom.
Men of every race, and station, and kindred,
and tongue, were attracted by the new light
that suddenly, burst , upon the world.
The Jews said,, we have found Him of whom
Moses in the law and the prophets did write.
Thfe .Syrophenecian woman said, let the dogs
eat the crumbs that fall from the Master's
table.
The Roman centurion said,, only speak the
word, and my servant shall live. Devils said,
"Torment us not before the time," cried out
with fear, and fled from His presence.
29
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
The afflicted multitudes were healed, and
the poor had the gospel preached to them.
It was the Sun of Righteousness with heal¬
ing in His wings, shedding his beams of light
and life upon the world. Is it any wonder
that the multitudes- followed Him, and the
common people heard Him gladly?
The new awakening was all the more joy¬
ous, because mankind had sought in vain for
an experience that would satisfy the soul's
longings.
Solomon in all his glory, had run the gamut
of worldly pleasure, and power, and wealth,
and wisdom, and pronounced it vanity. Hear
his testimony:
"I communed with mine own heart, saying,
lo, I come to great estate, and have gotten
more wisdom than all they that have been
before me in Jerusalem; yea, my heart had
great experience of wisdom and knowledge,
and I gave my heart to know wisdom and
to know madness, and folly, I perceived also
that this is vexation of spirit.
"I said in mine heart, go to now, I will
prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleas¬
ure ; and, behold, this also is vanity. x
30
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
"I sought in mine heart to give myself to
wine, yet acquainting my heart with wisdom;
and to lay hold on folly, 'till I might see
what was that good for the sons of men
which they should do under the heaven all
the days of their life; so I was great and
increased more than all that were before me
in Jerusalem; also my wisdom remained with
me, and whatsoever mine eyes desired, I kept
not from them, I withheld not my heart from
any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all labor;
and this was my portion for all my labor.
Then I looked on all the works that my hands
had wrought, and on the labor that I had
labored to do, and behold, all was vanity and
vexation of spirit."
/ The old civilizations passed away, because \
'they lacked the moral and spiritual elements
L which alone can save a people from ultimate ■
destruction. It is hard to conceive of a na¬
tion that has no element of good; and that
which is good in part, will last for a time.
Being partly iron, guarantees elements of
strength that will enable it to endure for a
season; but being in part potter's clay, fore¬
tells its ultimate destruction.
31
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
If the ages of the past have lost their in¬
terest for us, and the.banks of the Euphrates
seem too remote for practical suggestion, we
may turn our attention to our own day and
time, and study the civilization on the banks
of the Potomac.
Mr. Lincoln once said, "A government can¬
not survive half slave and half free." Our
government had lived and flourished, because
it was, to sav the least, half free, with enough
moral, intellectual, and physical strength; with
enough daring, and adventure, and inventive
genius to give it a momentum that would
keep it going and growing for a time. But
if it was to endure, and become the happy
and enduring home of the people of all nation¬
al and race varieties, who sought under its
flag freedom and opportunity, it must have
the clay separated from the iron; the chaff
from the wheat, the evil from the good.
Its first effort to purify itself, cost rivers
of blood, millions of treasure, and filled the
land with widows and orphans, and the shad¬
ow of death. After a partial cleansing, it was
given another probation, with a prosperity
and growth that exceeded by far its previous
32
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
record. But the lapse of the nation into a
double standard of moral, judicial and civil
procedure; with the perpetration of crimes
more shocking than even a barbarous people
were ever guilty of, brings it again face to
face with that eternal and unchanging justice,
which has always declared that God is not
mocked.
A DANGEROUS TENDENCY
The signs of the times indicate that there
is a tendency even among many who influence
the thought of our times, to drift toward
agnosticism, a most convenient first step to
take by those who are losing faith in things
divine.
Dr. James H. Leuba, professor of psychol¬
ogy in Bryn Mawr College, recently address¬
ed a questionary to a large number of men
of letters: historians, scientists, sociologists,
physical scientists and psychologists. The
replies are given in a book since published.
The writer states that he finds an astonish¬
ingly large percentage of disbelievers and
doubters in a personal God, and in immortal-
33
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
ity. More believers in immortality than in
a personal God. Men love life and are will¬
ing, even desirous of living on after the brief
period of physical existence allotted man,
hence, the number who believe in immor¬
tality.
But there seems to be an unwillingness to
be supervised, and restrained by the Almighty
One. Hence, fewer believers in a personal
God. The desire is for a liberty that spells
license, hence, the inclination to bring the
mind around to a point in speculation, where
it will reject the idea of a personal God. It
is the young man reaching his majority, and
demanding the latch key, that he may go and
come at will, without question or restraint.
It is the younger son coming of age
and saying, "Give me the portion of goods
that falleth to me." It is the danger¬
ous tendency of grown ups, to experiment
with newly acquired freedom. The human
mind is susceptible of such expansion and im¬
provement, that it seems impossible to satis¬
fy it. Having learned much, it craves to know
more.
Having followed the course of nature up
34
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
and through its meanderings to first cause,
it demands of protoplasm the cause of its
existence.
Strange to say there are many who claim
to have honest doubts about a personal God,
as taught by the Scriptures, until it becomes
convenient to seek out a passage which seems
to be susceptible of an interpretation that
establishes some favorite theory. They are
willing to believe that a personal God, with
divine power and prerogatives heard the
prayer of Noah while under the influence of
wine, and in answer to his prayer sent down
a curse upon Canaan, that was so effective
as to reach and remain with the posterity of
Ham, even when they are not of the root and
offspring of Canaan. This is a belief in a
personal God with a vengeance, but it limits
His power to one race variety.
Our present age, as wise as it is, is trying
to supplement its store of knowledge by look¬
ing into the past. Men are going with pick
and shovel into the bowels of the earth, en¬
deavoring to find among the ruins of buried
civilizations, that which will enrich the mind,
and add to its stock of knowledge.
35
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
As wonderful as is our present civilization
(most wonderful of course in its own age and
estimation) it stands speechless and silent be¬
fore sphinx, pyramids, and lost arts of past
ages, and longs for a key to their secrets.
It looks out into boundless space, and won¬
ders how all things that now exist, could
have sprung from nothing. It stands at the
door of biology and asks in vain for the
secret of the origin of life.
Life itself is regarded by man as his most
valuable possession, and he is willing to give
anything in exchange for life; and yet, with
all of his scientific knowledge, his span of
life is shortening, and we read of the age
limit of the past, only to wonder how such
longevity was attained.
The strong body, of whose superior strength
we are wont to boast, is an easy prey to the
invisible microbes that float in the air.
The strongest mind is easily dethroned by
mental pressure; especially by a conscious¬
ness of guilt. The spirit of a man will su¬
stain his infirmity, but a wounded spirit, who
can bear? What a strong hold in the day of
36
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
trouble, the spirit is! To be able to at all
rejoice in tribulation sounds paradoxical, but
nothing is more true; I mean the spirit in
the highest and noblest sense, in the trichot¬
omy of human nature; the infusion of God's
grace; the supernatural presence, helping, su¬
staining. But, a broken spirit! When the
spirit itself is wounded, weakened and dis¬
tressed, it has no higher faculty to which to
appeal.
/ Religion is the spontaneous effort on the
part of the soul, to supply that which is lack¬
ing in man. Irreligion is the rejection of the
^fundamental truths of religion.
Why should master minded man, but a step
removed from God, accept and worship at
the shrine of a religious substitute that had
to depend upon something outside of itself
for its greater strength? Or why should a
man perish for the bread of life, when a table
is prepared for him, with bountiful and in¬
exhaustible supplies? Why should finite man,
appeal to less than the infinite to supply that
which the human soul lacks?
37
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
THE WISE CHOICE
Seek first the Kingdom of God and His
righteousness, and all these things shall be
added to you. What are "these things" that
shall be added? Notice, the things enumerat¬
ed as being greatly desired, are life,—what
shall we eat and what shall we drink? Rai¬
ment—where withal shall we be clothed?
Some one has said, all that we get in this
world is our victuals and clothes.
These are the things about which man is
ever anxious, and over anxious. And why
this annoying anxiety? Who can by taking
thought add one cubit to his statue? And as
to food, the birds without barn or storehouse
are fed. As to raiment, the lilies are dressed
in gorgeous apparel.
He clothes the grass, and feeds the fowls
of the air, and marks the sparrow's fall.
For the waiting world, seed time and har¬
vest continue. The cattle upon a thousand
hills feed upon His bounty, while the fields
drop fatness. All nature obeys His laws and
does His bidding.
The trees of the wood rejoice; fire and hail,
38
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
snow and vapor, stormy wind, mountains and
hills, fruit trees and all cedars fulfill His word.
Shall man alone be skeptical and rebellious?
Man, crowned with glory and honor; made in
the divine image, and but a step removed
from the Elohim! Man, heir of God, and
joint heir with His Son; redeemed and pur¬
chased by the blood of Jesus Christ. Man,
for whom the Kingdom was prepared from
the foundation of the world.
Prof. Charles Darwin, the noted scientist,
and evolutionist, was visited by Lady Hope
a short time before his death. He was sit¬
ting up in bed, propped up by pillows, and
was gazing out on a far stretched scene of
woods, and corn fields. He held in one hand
an open Bible.
Says Lady Hope, "I made some allusions
to the strong opinions expressed by many per¬
sons, on the history of the creation, its grand¬
eur, and then their treatment of the earlier
chapters of the Book of Genesis."
He seemed greatly distressed, his fingers
twitched nervously, and a look of agony came
over his face, as he said:
"I was a young man with unformed ideas.
39
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
I threw out queries, suggestions, wondering
all the time over everything; and to my
astonishment, the ideas took like wild fire.
People made a religion of them."
After making some remarks upon the holi¬
ness of God, and the grandeur of the Bible,
he invited his distinguished visitor to speak
on the following Sunday afternoon in his gar¬
den pavilion to his servants and the neigh¬
borhood people who might care to come.
"What shall I speak about?" said Lady
Hope. The answer came in a clear emphatic
voice: "Christ Jesus and His salvation."
And why should not Christ Jesus and His
great Salvation be the most important theme
of the learned Darwin, or the most humble
peasant on earth? He who "was the highest
among the holy, and the holiest among the
high; who, with His pierced hands lifted em¬
pires off their hinges, turned the stream of
history from its channel, and still governs the
ages."
What can give one more joy, than the con¬
sciousness that God accepts his sacrifice, like
that of righteous Abel?
What can offer one such security as the de¬
fense of the Almighty?
40
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
What can guarantee success, like walking
in the footsteps of Jesus Christ?
What can bestow so much honor, as God's
approval of one's life?
What can give a safe passport through this
world like a diploma bearing the Divine seal?
What can comfort in trouble like the prom¬
ises of God?
The pleasures of the world are transient
and disappointing, and the wages of sin is
death. The experience of all ages is, that
the best the world can offer its votaries is,
momentary pleasure, with an enslaved con¬
science, and not even a promise of future re¬
ward.
The voice of God calling mankind to the
Kingdom of grace, seems louder, and more
insistent just now than ever before.
TRUE AND FALSE STANDARDS
There comes a time in the experience of
men and nations, when even those who pro¬
fess loyalty to the Kingdom are tested, like
the army of Gideon was tested. Such times
are upon us now.
41
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
The world war does not prove that Chris¬
tianity has failed, but, that the so-called
Christian world has failed to come up to the
real Christian standard; and that God is now,
as of old, stepping aside, while the world
fights the battles that have been brought on
by following its own standards of civiliza¬
tion.
We devoutly pray and hope, that the ter¬
rible scourge of the war will result in a uni¬
versal reconstruction of moral standards;
though as yet it would seem that the lesson is
not perfectly learned.
A recent number of the Woman's Journal,
under the caption of "A Thin Veneer," says:
"According to the press reports three mil¬
lion illegitimate children have been born in
Germany since the beginning of the war. In
Berlin, the number is increasing by 20,000
annually. In some cities, almost half of the
children born during the past year were born
out of wedlock. The government is said to be
systematically cultivating the idea, that it is a
patriotic duty for all women, married or
single, to replenish the population/'
For two hundred and fifty years, in our owm
42
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
country, it was considered an economic priv¬
ilege, to increase the number of slaves, by
the prostitution of defenseless slave women,
who were given the choice between sacrific¬
ing their virtue or their lives. Thank God,
many chose the latter.
The world has been following religious
standards which would make God a re¬
specter of persons, by having churches
bearing His name that exclude from their
membership and from their altars proscribed
races; and besides, make social and financial
standing a test of membership. It is written
in the Bible: "My house shall be called of
all nations the house of prayerbut we have
written in our traditions: "This house, though
called house of God, is only for a select class."
Social standards, that build houses of cedar,
surrounded by light, pure air, and sanitation,
in exclusive neighborhoods, with legal re¬
strictions ; while those who are excluded by
the unchristian spirit of caste, are doomed to
unsanitary quarters, to contend with disease;
and experiment upon the law of the survival
of the fittest.
Political standards that write into a Declar-
43
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
ation of Inedpendence, that all men are creat¬
ed equal and endowed by their Creator with
certain inalienable rights, among which are
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; but
write into State Constitutions, declarations
by which those God given rights are abrogat¬
ed, as it relates to many.
National and International Standards by
which the Kingdom code that forbids world-
liness is set aside, and a social order estab¬
lished, that will admit of gambling in various
ways. Traffic in ardent spirits. Loose mar¬
riage and divorce laws. Popular amusements
that lower the moral tone of society, by mak¬
ing the theatre and the ball room popular
resorts for Christian people. Sweat shops that
enslave the dependents who must toil on and
on for a mere existence. Disregard for the
Christian Sabbath. Legalized slums of vice,
under the suggestive name of "red light dis¬
tricts." A subsidized Press that cannot ex¬
pose sin in high places. An enslaved pulpit,
called and directed by man, and forbidden to
speak out against certain forms of crimes and
wickedness. Building of armies and navies,
and inventing all kinds of instruments of
44
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
death, by which the strong may subjugate
the weak, and rob them of territorial pos¬
sessions. The manipulation and regulation of
stocks, and values, and traffic, in such a way
that the rich and strong, grow richer, and
stronger, while the poor and dependent are
reduced to a condition of hopeless poverty
and want.
All these practices have been tolerated, en¬
couraged, legalized and standardized by the
very so called Christian nations that are now
in deadly conflict, notwithstanding the fact,
that religious activity was never more active
than now; especially in our own fair land.
But religious activity is not necessarily
Christianity. Our Lord said: "Ye call me
Lord, Lord, but ye do not the things that
I command you. Ye compass sea and land
to make one proselyte, but when he is made,
ye make him two fold more a child of hell
than yourselves."
GOD'S CHALLENGE
The voice of God is calling long and loud,
for true discipleship; for loyal citizens of the
45
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
spiritual Kingdom; for those who do not love
the things of the world more than the things
of God.
The call comes especially to the oppressed
of earth. It is a challenge to choose between
His standards, and those of the world; and
at the same time an occular demonstration
of what the standards of the world lead to.
It is an opportunity for those who are class¬
ed as backward in what the world has been
holding so dear, to become forward, in that
which God holds dear.
It is an opportunity for those who are re¬
jected by men, to set up a Christian standard
acceptable to God, and out of which He may
build a new civilization upon the ruins of that
which we see crumbling day by day.
Who will accept the Divine challenge ?
Shall we, who most of all people upon the
face of the earth, need Divine favor and guid¬
ance?
Shall we, whose place among men, though
proscribed, is the heritage of faith and prayer?
Let Wilberforce, our Pioneer school of
learning, and a most valuable inheritance, set
4*5
THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM
the example, and lift up a standard for the
people, and for all the people.
A standard that will be a suitable memorial
to the sacred dead, whose prayers and sacri¬
fice hallow the place.
A standard that shall fittingly represent
what the second Century of African Meth¬
odism should stand for, and that will be a
harbinger of the new heaven, and new earth,
wherein dwelleth righteousness.
11
47