New-York tribune., 1874-03-09
DRAWING MEN TO CHRIST.
Tn R, Dr. Taylor at the Taenak congre9asonaI Church
The Rev. w. NJ. TaylOr, y. D., preached {

T> Rec DT. Taylor h Tdbersdck Congreod.orr Church
The Rev. w. NJ. Taylor, ID. d., preached to
large congregation yesterday morning at the Broad
way Tabernacle at Thiryfourth-st and slxthave. His
text was St. John, l232 "And l. IL be lifted up from
the earth, will draw all men unto me-" lie said:
There are here four emphatic words whose meaning
must be duly pondered II would enter into the spirit
OF this profound utterance of Christ. The 81" is
especially Marked and this is feature IN the dscourses
OF our Lord which certainly forces Itself upon our aten
ton and has it's weight evidence Of His dyin-
iy His sublime sefassertlOn meets us on every hand,
and nowhere frequently than in this Gospel Of
John in every chapter Of which aspect Of his
person and his work out in connection with new
81 am." Nor are these the expressions OF empty
egotism. They rather simple declarations OF the
truth aud II was no more osentatous in Jesus TO make
them than II in the to shine He could not have full
filled his mission without making them. They valuable
keeping prominently before our minds the fact that
his personal preeminence as the divine man, Ia the
foundation which the perfection OF his atonement
rests. This is clear from the words OF my text The
lifting up" Of another would have been OF no avail
it is only The lifting up OF Christ ina! eau affect the
hand Christ could only draw men TO him by being
only the lifting up of Christ that attract the
human heart TO bring i from sin TO holiness and
from the power OF Satan unto God But what Is this
"lfting I" II the phrase isolated IL might be
capable OF four interpretations, and We might take 10
either for his crucxion. his resurrection, or his
ascension, or his elevation before mems eyes In the
preaching Of the Gospel But viewed Ia It's relation 10
ihe context, even without the parenhetc comment Of
the Evangelist should be led TO regard IL descrp
tive Of the manner OF Christs death. For what
the occasion OF his using the wordsi Now no
knew that in two days he would be hanging
upon the cross. Lest their faith should be rudey
shaken by an event apparaDtly DISASTROUS, he
pares them for what is 10 happen by explaining 10 them
In sort the necessity and the results OF his death
His death thus TO be another ministraOR OF tho
great law that pervades the universe. The IL be
lifted up" does not imply that there any uncertainty
about his crucihxion. IL is equivalent to "when
lifted up from the earth" IL marks the date from which
the drawing" should begin. But how are men 10 DO
drawn unto mint The word ia very strong yet we
must be careful not to misunderstood It, We must not
take II denOtng coercion restraint Neither must
think OF it az physical thing leading simply TO
change their outward place. IL IA moral influence
brought 10 bear them. IL is Withdrawing OF them
from evil and drawing Of them 10 righteousness
by attractions which are In the cross OF Christ.
In the dark misery Of sin, man can have help save
from God but II God were 10 come simply God, man
would be destroyed by the vision OF His glory In
Jesus, however, He comes a human brother whom
can approach with confidence. II lie were only man,
there could be- no relief. IL He only God, there
would be. not confidence IN Him, fear aud terror.
But God aud man lie is. He draws TO Himself, and
the old prophecy !. fulfilled. shall be nabiding
place the storm and "A covert from the tempest" IL
not among the Jews alone that sacrifices prac
tced as religious rites. Every people has mad It's
Loytous. which though not of dyo but human origin.