The Portland daily press., 1874-02-10
The Power of Christ's Cruciflxion,

The following is an extended synopsis Of
the sermon delivered at State Street Church
by the pastor, Rev. E. Y. Hincks, from I'd
Corinthians XIII A; Though he was cruel
fed through weakness, yet he liveth by the
power of Cos.
There is deep suggestiveness in the life
of Christ. Studying it we find truths whose
application is universal and everlasting. We
find features in it which have their counter
part iu the collective lite of his church. and
the individual lives Of his disciples. Mirrored
in him we see great and far reaching facts in
the history of his people, as we see in the
crystal water at our feet the reflection OF
mountains those frowning SUBMITS str e.ch
far away.
The striking feature in Christ's life which
the apostles language hints at hos it.
| Ter part in the history Of his people. Like
him they have crucifxion weakness, like
him resurrection might. As in his life, so
in theirs, the teebleness is only temporary and
apparent, the power real and everlasting.
This is true of Christ's church in its historic
progress, it is true of Christianity in its aggres-
sive working. it is true of the individual chris
tian life.
Let us briefly trace out this great truth in
each of their separate spheres,
That dozen of unlettered men who under
took to inaugurate at Jerusalem religious
movement which should have worldwide
sway and everlasting and evergrowng power
surely seemed to have very feeble prospect
of success.
The people who put their master to death,
are to be made to believe that be was such
man that great crime was committed inc
cifying him, and belief in their own sin
is to be the lever with which their
ancient religion is to be torn from its
foundation in their hearts. Did ever an un-
dsrtaking appear less feasible? And who
were the men who undertook this almost
hopeless task? Men Of humble station and
without prominence, lacking brilliant gifts.
Literature, philosophy, wealth, social preju
dice, national feeling-what earthly power
was not against them? If they could get
foothold in Judea what could they do be-
yond? How could they interest the refined
and intellectual Greek, and the luxurious
Asiatic, and the proud Roman, to whom the
name of Jew was byword? how interest
them in Nazarene criminal, how make them
sacrifice every earthly interest in order to be-
come his disciples?
What element OF weakness was lacking to
this movement at its beginning? How faith
fully does it represent the aspect of feeble
ness which He, in whose name it was nau-
gurated, wore when He carried his cross
along the street followed by derisive crowd.
But eighteen centuries have passed, and
now we are ready to ask for the issue of that
chimerical undertaking.
Were those twelve men foiled, and does
the temple stand? Did Greek and Roman
and Asiatic spurn the name Of the Jewish
criminal? All those twelve men held the
nations plastic in their hands. Their move
ment has shaped civilization. The roblest
nations of the globe have got from it their Or
der, their freedom, their morality, their hope
full and energetic life.
We can testify that those twelve men are
welding most potent influence in Us and
around Us to-day. Our characters are shap-
ing under the power of their religion. 1t
forms our ideas of the invisible world. 1t
gives us our standard of morality. 1t gives to
many of us new principle of life, an inward
power over sin, and an inspiring hope of COM
plete deliverance from its thrall3om. 1t is
great power in the world of thought Its as
sertions are the central and governing truths
about which the movements OF the most high
" cultivated minds are constantly turning.
The real and everlasting power OF Chrls-
a. .lek kafN No ~ hold CONTRAST
to its temporary and apparent weakness and
in this contrast we see deep resemblance
between him who was crucified through
weakness. vet liveth by the power of God and
that church which is his body.
Buff instead of looking over the historic
progress of Christianity. we look at it at any
one moment, as an aggressive religion we
shall see the same contrast coming clearly in
to view. Aggressive Christianity embodies
itself in the missionary. 1t wins its position
and power in the world BY missionary effort.
Now the missionary is character whom the
world regards as weak. His undertaking
seems TO it to be chimercal, and he who en-
cages in it to have the weakness which all in
fatuated people show.
The means with which he attempts to do
his stupendous work, the story of the cross
proclaimed with faith in it's supernatural pow
er wear and always will wear contemplate
appearance to the worlds eye. 1t sneers at
them to-day as It did when Grecian culture
Knocked the apostle on Mars hill.
The W ,rld may confess the value of the re-
suits which an aggressive Christianity has ac-
comp!ished, but it will despise the means by
which it achieved them. Christianity when
working for the worlds redemption, must
wear an apparent weakness like that of HIm
in whom the world saw helpless criminal
when he was doing his mighty work for its
redemption from sin. IT.
The Christ like missionary is indeed as ms
master, and the weakness which lie wears re-
fleets the crucifixion weakness OF Cnrist'