In like manner, the value and dignity of man require that he should hold his own personal honor in reverence. His word should be as good as his bond. It should not be necessary to bind a bargain with an oath. Such practice leads easily to profanity. Jesus said also, "Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not {73} make one hair white or black. But let your communications be Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." [Sidenote: Reverence for personal purity.] Again, the divine possibilities in him, demand that every man should be willing to make any worldly sacrifice rather than defile his soul with evil. As Jesus put it, The light-of-the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!" "If thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire." Thus we learn, that, in the teachings of Jesus, man is the crown of creation. He is the noblest work of God. He has in him the possibilities of Godhood. He is indeed the son of God. That is why there has been manifested such unstinted love for him. And that is why man should cultivate sincere reverence for God, and reverence for his own personal honor, and reverence for his own personal purity. "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." (See Shakespeare's Apostrophe to Man in "Hamlet.") {74} THE REFERENCES John 3:16. Mark 9:42. John 15:12-13. Matt. 10:29, 31. Ps. 8:4. Matt. 5:33-37, 45, 48. Luke 15:2-7. Matt. 6:22, 23. Mark 8:36, 37. Luke 9:47. 1 Cor. 3:16, 17. THE QUESTIONS 1. What does the parable of the lost sheep illustrate? 2. What value did Jesus place on a man's soul? 3. What difference did a man's station in life make to the love of Jesus? 4. Why did Jesus place so high a value on the soul of man? 5. What duty does man owe God? 6. What duties does man owe himself? 7. How is the body of man the temple of God? {75} {76} PICTURE: THE FORGIVING FATHER, Molitor {77} X THE FORGIVING FATHER [Sidenote: The parable of the prodigal.]