Chapter III 



PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY REVIVED 



The first question which naturally suggests itself is this : 

 What was Primitive Christianity ? We know, only too 

 well, what passes current as Christianity nowadays* 

 If consists largely of creeds and dogmas ; of forms and 

 ceremonies ; of outward observances and institutions ; 

 and it seems strangely compatible with slums and with 

 millionaires ; with American cotton rings ; with war ; 

 and with numberless other outrages on humanity* But 

 what was the Christianity of Jesus ? 



One of its most striking features was surely its 

 exquisite simplicity* 



Its theology was the Universal Fatherhood of God* 

 That, and of course, all that it implied ; but practically 

 nothing more* 



Its morality was the Universal Brotherhood of Man* 

 That, and all that that imphed, and I need scarcely say 

 that to Jesus it implied a very great deal* 



Just as filial love was to be the primary religious 

 duty of the follower of Christ, so fraternal love was to 

 be his primary moral obligation* You will remember 

 how, when Christ was asked which was the greatest 

 Commandment, He answered, *' Thou shalt love the 

 Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul 

 and with all thy strength '' ; and then He added, very 

 pertinently, '* And the second is like unto it, thou shalt 

 love thy neighbour as thyself**' 



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