The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-11-09
SERMON.
The Dfcfnify OF Christi
BY IRVING A. sEARLEs.
What think ye of Christ Matt. "a. 22.

We take for granted, without extended argu-
ment the historical existence OF Jesus. Jo-
sephus, Jew who wrote in Greek, says:-
Now, there was about this time Jesus, wise
man, II it be lawful to call Him man, for He
performed many wonderful works. He drew
over to Him many Of the Jews and also OF the
GentIes. This was the Christ, and the tribe
Of Christians named from Him exist unto this
day" Infidel writer's OF that age, CELSIUS and
Porphery admit His existence and write against
Him. Then there is the argument derived from
monumental institutions. II wlshed to prove
that the Declaration OF Independence was made
July 4th 1776, could adopt to two lines OF
proof. 1 could appeal to history and quote
Abbott and Bancroft. Or, could begin with
the last Fourth Of July. / find the day cele-
brated then. 1 ask why is this 2 The answer
comes: These public celebrations are in COM
memoration OF the Declaration OF Independ-
ence. How do you know that such an event
ever took place Our fathers taught US to
keep the day in memory of that event. They
received the custom from their fathers. and
thus you may go back to the eventful day when
~~~
ument, AID the bells of the nation rang and
bonfres were kindled in thousand towns and
hamlets. During all these years there never
was time when the American people would
have gone to observing that day as eommemo-
rative of the signing of the Declaration, had
not that event actually occurred. Christianity
has its commemorative institutions. There is
the Lords supper. There is the Lords day.
Why do We observe these as commemorative |?
Our fathers thus taught us. Our grandfathers
taught them, and thus you may trace the OBJ
servance OF these institutions away back TO the
days OF the Savior. There never has been a
time when the whole Christian world would
have gone to observing these institutions had
not the events they are designed to celebrate
really taken place. Then, there is the argu-
ment that Christ has followers now, When
see Lutherans 1 know that such man as
Luther lived when see Wesleyans / know
that such man as Wesley lived; and when /
see Christians know that such man as Christ
lived.
Another proposition that we wish to take for
granted without much argument, Is that Christ
was not an lmpostor. He took the wrong course
for deceiver. Consider the Messiah tho Je W.
lsh nation was expecting. They were look
ing for an earthly hing who would establish an
earthly kingdom, at whose head would proudly
stand the Hebrew nation. They were expect
ing material ruler with mat teriai crown upon
his brow, material sceptre in his hand.
and material armies waiting to do his bidding.
Hence they inquired OF HIM &c Art thou II e
who would restore Israeli" II Christ had
been an impostor He would have fallen in with
these pre-conceived notions and called for
armies to support Him In His claim. But He
goes directly opposite to all these pre-con-
ceved notions. Though they we're looking for
a material kingdom, He said The kingdom
of God is not meat and drink, but righteous
ness and peace and JOY in the Holy Ghost. !"
Though they we've expecting to fight for their
kingdom, He said Put up thy sword, My
kingdom is not OF tins world" Though the
Pharisee regarded himself as perfect, the elect
OF God, Jesus Christ said to him Repent"
Then the moral character OF Christ foTbids
the idea that He was a wilful deceiver. n
were an impostor there is not to be found in
the annals of time blacker heart than ais.-
But no one can take this view of Christ lie
went about doing good. Plate himself must
call HIM just person" Renan. the French
infdeI, says OF Him - lie was free from all
selfshness, the source of our sorrows, and He
thought only of His work, Hls race, and of
humanity"
A deadly plague was raging in Marsellles.
People were dying off by hundreds. The NAL
ady baffied the sklll OF the best physicians
They did not understa nd its nature To secure
the desired information they decided that a
corpse of one who had died of the plague must
be dissected. They were also agreed that he
who performed that operation could not hope
to live. Who would sacrifice his own life for
the good Of Marseilles meeting Of physi-
cans was called to ascertain II one could be
found who would undertake the task. Doctor
after doctor arose and gave good reasons why
they were not prepared to die just then, Finally
young physician said that he would do the
required work il his brethren in council would
see that his aged father and mother were cared
for. They consented, and he procured q pen,
paper, a piece OF lead, and the necessary IN
struments, and proceeding to a house where
one lay dead Of the plague, he dissected the
body, hastily wrote out the result OF tho exam
nation, wrapped the paper around the lead aud
threw it out of the window into the street,
where 1t had been previously arranged that the
doctors. would find it. He then lay down on
the floor, and in few hours he too was a
corpse. The people Of Marseiles never could
believe that no who would give his life for them
had bad heart. Christ leaves all tho glory
that He had With tue Father before the world
was, takes from HIS brow the Crown of the
Universe Crown whose every beam shone
above the brightness OF thousand suns, and
laid it all aside that lie might redeem us from
the thraldom of sin. We can't believe that the
heart that prompted such a sacrihce was bad.
The scriptural argument for the divinity OF
Chlist would embrace the following proposi-
tions: Q) lie Is called the son Of God IN
sense that no other person has ever been called
the son Of God. (2) He bears the name Of
God. CD lie had oil the essential attributes
OF God. "a He was sinless. (5) We are COM
manded TO worship Him.
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