offensive to those who might desire to practice them.

Others imagine that an intellectual assent to certain statements
concerning the church or the Bible or Jesus is sufficient to fix the
life in stability. But the great Teacher does not place the emphasis
so much on what men may think of His character or mission, nor even on
their honest opinions on the theories of the past and the future, which
have delighted mental gymnasts since the world was young, to Him the
great differentiating fact touches those dynamic convictions that are
determining your conduct this day.

He places conduct before creed. He long ago took that method of
teaching which modern pedagogy approves. He taught religion by the
manual method. Instead of saying, as theologians do, first comprehend
these doctrines and then you will be able to do them, He says, first do
these things, practice My precepts, and they will ere long become plain
to you. Men learn religion by doing. Begin to do the right and you
will get the reason; get the rule through the example. Deeds are the
solvents of doctrines.

The house of life is built differently from any other; we get the plans
by erecting the structure. In the realm of character it is houses
rather than architecture we need. Build but one hour's conduct
squarely on the plain, cogent teachings of the man of Nazareth and you
will serve the world better than if you gave a lifetime to the
explanation of His words.

Doctrines are but teachings intended to be done into deeds. Doing them
you gain a larger peace of mind and sense of stability of life than in
any other way. If you want the equilibrium of faith you will find it