to life after death, but nowhere in the Old-Testament Scriptures is immortality or eternal life promised for obedience to any commands therein given. Christianity, therefore, alone promises a future and an immortal existence. Christ says: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me." "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me tho he were dead yet shall he live, and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." "I go and prepare a place for you, that where I am there ye may be also." "Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life." Paul says, speaking of this mortal body: "It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body." a Here, therefore, we have specific and definite existence, a spirit clothed with a glorified and immortal body, a wondrous revelation when we consider it in contrast with all preceding religions.

Again, the Christian religion is new or original in that it teaches the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. There is nothing in heathen religion that teaches this relationship. Max Muller states, in his "Chips from the German Workshop," that no such word as "mankind" is found in human language before Christ-that there is nothing in language to express the kinship of the race. Before Christ it was Egyptian, Mede, Persian, Grecian, Roman, Scythian, barbarian, bond and free, but no word to express the

a I Cor. xv. 42~57.

kinship of man. Paul said, in his address on Mars Hill to the Grecian philosophers, that "God had made of one blood all nations to dwell on the face of the earth." The Grecian people, notwithstanding they were the most advanced of all others in reason, philosophy, and art, had no word in their language to show that they were related to any other peoples or nations; in fact, all other nations were considered barbarians by them and so called. Christ says: "Neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him." a He was the first on earth who taught to pray, “Our Father who art in heaven." The Christian Scriptures everywhere bear testimony to the fatherhood of God, and exalt believers by calling them sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty, "heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ."

We would observe, in the next place, that the Christian religion is the only religion that teaches humility as the road to greatness. Christ says: "He that is greatest among you shall be your servant." From that time on the greatest of earth have been the greatest servants. "He that shall humble himself shall be exalted."

Again, the Christian religion is original in that it is positive. Other philosophies and religions were negative. But Jesus, while restraining wrong, taught active goodness. He says: "Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire." Man must bear fruit. "By their fruits ye shall know them." By restraining all that is evil or a Matt. xi. 27.

sinful in man he could not be made positively good. He must do good in order to be good. Like a fruitless tree a man may be negatively good in society, or selfishly exclude himself from it, yet he, according to Christ, is only fit for the ax and the fire. Instead of the injunction "Oppress not the widow and the fatherless," the command is to "visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction." While caring for such no one would injure them. So along all lines of duty, while engaged in benefiting others, no one will wrong them. While blessing they can not curse. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you banishes all moral wrong as light banishes darkness. And Jesus says, "Let your light shine."

All the lessons taught by Jesus in His parables are positive. The miracles of Jesus were all characterized by positive good. On earth He "went about doing good" and in the final judgment He says, "Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto me." a

Again, He goes beyond all preceding law and religion in that He makes the intent to commit sin a crime and lust a sin and in that He teaches "on earth peace among men." The religion of Jesus is original in its entire sweep, in its facts, precepts, and promises, in not resenting wrong and in doing good to enemies. It required the death of its Founder for its completion. It is the only religion that has a Gethsemane and a Calvary on the road to life, and that embraces the entire duty and destiny of man.

a Matt. xxv. 40.

Finally, the Christian religion is new or original in that it is missionary.

J. Freeman Clark, in his book on the "Ten Great Religions," states his conclusions as follows: "All the great religions of the world, except Christianity, are ethnic religions or religions limited to a single nation or race. Christianity alone is the religion of all races. The religions of Persia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Scandinavia have come to an end, having shared the fate of the national civilization of which each was a part. The religions of China, Islam, Buddha, and Judea have all been arrested and remain unchanged and seemingly unchangeable. Like great vessels anchored in a stream, the current of time flows past them and each year they are further behind the spirit of the age and less in harmony with its demands. Christianity alone of all religions seems to possess the power of keeping abreast with the advancing civilization of the world. . . . It alone of all the religions of mankind has been capable of accompanying man in his progress from evil to good, from good to better."

The heathen religions being ethnical or national, did not propose to go into all the world and convert all other nations or peoples to their form of worship. Nor is the Jewish religion exempt from this narrowness. In the fifteen hundred years of its history we do not find that the Jews converted to their religion a village, town, or city, much less a nation. It is true they made some proselytes, but the Jewish system of religion was restricted to Israel as a nation. They were nowhere commanded in that system to be

come a missionary people or convert other nations to their religion. The Jewish religion was added to the former covenant and was designed at its consummation to bring the Messiah to the world. Its prophecies foretold and its prophets pointed out the coming One. It was said, speaking of certain kings: "And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed." a Isaiah, in speaking of the Messiah to come, said: "The government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." b In fulfilment of these and many other prophecies, Christ came in the fulness of time and established a reign of universal love, of mercy and forgiveness, which has been in the world and swayed its destiny for nineteen hundred years, blessing and cheering the living, comforting the dying, and giving hope of eternal life beyond the grave.

a Dan. ii. 44.

b Isa. ix. 6.