The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-08
THE LIFE OF our LoRD.
HIS HAPTTSM.

numerous points IN this discourse which thrilled
his hearers with awe in the contemplation of
this scene in the life of our Lord. IL must be
perused to approximate an appreciation of the
beauty and high order of mind apparent in this
sermon. The text was from M vt. ill.,, 49,
There cometh Jesus rom Galllee to Jordan, unto
John, to be baptized of him."
When men would gain knowledge of the general
physical characteTlscs OF q region OF country they
choose representative spots and study tnem, instead
OF examining every inch. Thus does the geologisG,
the Ootauist Thus do those who determine the
general climate temperature, and mete rologY of the
various parts OF our earth. The God of nature has
these facts of creation that small portion suices
to define the ruling features of entire section.
And SO uniform is this fact that science has been
able definitely TO locate zon as climate bolts, and
10 measure the bounds of storms, and to fix the
limits of frutiulness and serIlity. And so well do
these methods answer this end that no infringe
ment has been made upon them or successive and
improving generations, they search Tor increasing
knowledge Of these things
On a like principle DO attain to the knowledge
OF least twenty years OF the HE of our Lord
The detailed account of th3 surroundings of tue
birth OF his Son our avlour, through whom we are
constrained 10 adore Him, and with the Magi, pre-
hearts treasures awakens de to that detail
cal r1ed on, through His chdhood and yOuth, up to
his iull development; the man VINO was to be ''the
iempestW But God determines otherwise. lie
chooses single spot IN each leads Us INTO an ex-
ANIMATION of it, and bid us take our survey Of the
whole region from that standpoint And what
subiimity rises before our view, as we look ut tbs
child OOd in the light OF the inspired declaration,
The child grew and waXeI strong in spirit, filled
with wisdom; and the grace ot God was upon him!'
And how in peerless magnifcence looms HIS youth
before u, as It is sketched that scene whch pre-
sents him utteIing that wonderful "My Father"
which points TO His real re ations and mlnges with
this that strange subjecton to human parents,
through which, while He grows in wisdom and IN
stature" He increases IN favor with l1od and
manW And who finds not these single incidents
really representative in their character fully deter
mining what the whole OF each period was? But
HIo rnan in rhYah I1s fno
anointed OF God was to be Wrought out, and tae
great foundations oi life aud hope Righteousness
God takes us by the hand and leads close 10
every inch OF the wonderful region, that we may see
and learn how fertile is the career of Christ
Light, and guidance and blessing.
Jesus has attained the age of thirty years. This
is the legal age. Here the Prophet and the Priest
step forth upon the active duties of their oince.
And, now, Jesus walks forth from His obscurty,
never again to be hdden. He comes out OF Naliee
n Sat as EnS mas ioT SIX
point him out to men as well as personally know
HIM himself. AND here begins an earthly career
short indeed beng only three years IN continuance.
But, though short it makes history, varied, rich,
wonderful magnificent and wlthal interesting and
wOrthes, the world may furnish beside. The his
tory OF man. indeed but, in that man, the history
OF "the wonderful Counsellor, the Father of Eter
niy the Prince of Peace" Upon whose shoulder IS
'the government" and "of The increase of whose
government and peace there shalt be no
endr' There are names that grace the chronicles
of human achievement in government, in struggle
tor sacred principle and right, IN philosophy,
interest and wonder, and whose memory we are
glad to enshrlne in our affections and perpetuate
in monuments OF material enduring. Aud while we
read and CHERISH we send out praise and than kful
ness, beyond and above these actors in the of
their doings to the Great Power, almighty, WISE,
benefcent, that graciously wrought tnese wonders
in and through them Whatever our emotions, we
feel that read, though of WISE noole, great.
good, ay, holy, yet of men only-men dependent
Tor all they achieved upon that grace which IS no
weak instruments. But when We read this nara.
tive OF jesus public ministry OF but three years
athtHde. AT every stage of our progress pause,
amazed and mute. He speaks we hear, awe-struck,
as II the heavens rumbled, or voSe Of angels
almighty energy that called the creation into being
were exerhng itself. He suffers and our lips are
compressed our breath is held our forms are nailed
to the spot We move not, speak not, think not,
scarcely breathe! We only mutely adore, as If the
heart of the universe were wrenched in agony, and
carrying III ITS rent affections the burden Of a
worlds condemnation. Out of the limits OF human
being we are borne into region strange, marvel
lous, unearthly.
We can stand by bleastwork of most ponderous
strength and exquisite finish, that stays the current
OF the noblest stream to furnish power for man s
service, and freely express admiration and ap.
probation of the skill and enter prise manifest. But
OF character akin only to q sense of httleness and
Insignlflcance are our emotions when we look for
the first time on Nlagara's mighty cataract AS that
rife rapids if fastening to their reslstless plunge
the fearful preciplce in measureless mass, we
find ourselves speechless non-admiring, because we
"
man by his own power wrought; the latter we feel
TO be the resistless flood, pouring, at HIS command
II ON the hollow OF HIS hand, who built, by word,
the preoipice ever winch, Witn such swlitness and
gbt, those waters leap into the frightful depths
below Like this the effect OF looking into this in
mtable this strange narrative Before feel are
Lard out the sayings, works, and suferlngs OF the
Goldman. When He speaks we recognize Him who
declares Himself the Alpha and the Omega, the be-
ginning and the ending, the first and the last "The
Eternal WISDOM" the Word of God! "He speaks
as one having authority, and not as the Scrlbes ,
When He works we perceive Him in whom "dwell-
eth all the iulness OF the Godhead bodily, and Whos
is "all power in heaven and upon earth J" who up
works as one who cOn;roleth all things; who
"speaks, and it is done; who commands, and il
stands fast" And when He suffers, we sec in the
anguished fOm, nailed so submissively to the tor
turing and accursed cross-ay, in its iteessnes
before the expected time of deceass--the Word u
filled:-"No man taketh my life from me, but Ia!
it down of m sef; have power to lay 1T down.
And when He comes forth from the sealed ant
guarded tomb then IN fnll personlhcaton, we Sc
the truth of the 81 have power 10 take nay if
again" lie dies, and rises again, as one who can
not be holden Of death "
The opening event of this strange history nov
claims our attention. Let us repair to Jordan
memorable shOres-memorable, as once trOdden b.
Israel, they came, unGer Divine leadership, TO tn
possession of the promised land-ittng that th
pace of witness TO the ujiment OF one part OF tn
promise to and concerning AbTaham's seed shout
be the scene OF The manifestation to Israel OF I'll
completion of lulfment. Let us reyerently wal
here, and watch 10 see what shall transpre. ReVe
renty we say, for hear, the Fore unner speaks.
am the voice OF one crying III the wilderness, Pre-
pare ye the way OF the Lord; maze ItS lbs path pt1
repentance; but he that cometh after me is mghhe
than /, whose shoes am not worthy to bear. ID
shall baptze you with the Holy Ghost and with fire
whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughl
purge His floor, and gather His wheat into Hl
garner; but He will burn up the chat with un
points in the direction OF Gallee and singles out al
approaching form, and says, "Ihis is lie OF whom
spaEe, He that cometh after me is before me; for Ill
was before me, and of His fulness have all we re
celved, and grace for grace" And who Is IT tina