Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-07-04
&eadiua fur the Sabbath.
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
GLORYING IN THE CROSS.

by which we can define what is meant by the
word glory no one is at any loss to understand,
with tolerable correctness, its general import.
The objects in which the human family glory,
are very numerous. Some glory in their pov.
erty, whilst others glory in their riches some
glory in their intellectual powers and extern
sive attainments, whilst others glory in their
stupidity and ignorance. Strange as it may
seem, some of the human family glory in the
fact that they are destitute of the fear of God
and have no regard for man, whilst Others
glory il their religion. The strangest thing,
however, Of all is, that by far the greater
number of men glory in their own shame.
The Apostle Paul prayed that he might
never glory in any thing except the Cross of
the Lord Jesus Christ All those who have
read the New Testament, are aware of the
fact that Paul was q most remarkable man.
The world has seen few such men. He was a
learned man, and he was man possessed of
more than an ordinary amount of common
sense. He was no enthusiast. His mind was
strictly of Il logical turn. He never con-
cluded that thing was right, because it was
traditional or a general custom. He reason
ed closely. and accurately about every sub
ject which was presented to his mind. Hence
it cannot be said that he was one of those i'm
pulsive mortals who are tossed about by every
wind of doctrine. Whenever Paul espOused
any cause, he did it honestly and sincerely.
By the Cross Of the Lord Jesus Christ, it
must be evident that the Apostle means the
great mediatorial work of the Lord Jesus
Christ. Literally, the Cross of Christ de-
notes those two pieces of timber filled togeth-
er so as to fcrm an engine of cruelty in the
shape Of the letter T. To this the Saviour
was nailed, and upon it he died. No refer
ence is made by the Apostle to the Cross
proper; but to the work which the Lord Je-
sus Christ finished upon the Cross. In other
words, it was the work of redeemiug love-
the last act of which was accomplished on
the Cross-to which Paul referred when he
said, MAY never glory except in the Cross
of our Lord Jesus Christ" or as it is transla-
ted, "Ged forbid that should glory save in
the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" Gala
tians vi: IA.
Paul must have had some good and solid
reason for deliberately coming to such con.
clusion as this. The course which he chose,
cut him off from the society in which he was
raised, and in which he was qualified to shine.
Paul might, had he seen fit, stood first among
the first men of his age Intellectually, he
was without rival, and his social position,
notwithstanding the fact that he was Jew.
was equal to that Of any man in Rome. He
was "free born" Deliberately, he chose to
sacrifice wealth, fame. position and ease, BY
espousng the cause of the Lord Jesus Christ.
This act cut him of from the Jews, and made
him hated by the Geutiles
Now had Paul been one of those rash, in
considerate men, who, under sudden impulse,
come to conclusions that they would, hut nev-
er can revoke, and do acts that they would,
but never can amend, he might conclude that
there was nothing, after all, in the Cross of
the Lord Jesus Christ worthy of being gloried
in. But Paul counted the cost before he took
the step which he had taken. He understood
what he had lost and what he had gained by
following Jesus. He knew that with both
Jew and Gentle, the cross was term of re.
proach. Now what is there in the work which
Jesus Christ finished upon the Cross, which
led Paul, man of cool and deliberate judg.
ment, to say, "God forbid that should glory,
save in the Cross Of our Lord Jesus Chriat?
What did Paul see in that work which was so
great, that everything else was, in comparison
with it, nothing2
In the work of redemption which was FIN.
shed by Jesus Christ on the Cross, Paul saw,
and any one who will examine into it may
see, exhibited in a most astounding degree,
the power, the wisdom, and the love Of God.
Deity, as manifested in the doing and dying
of the Lord Jesus Christ, 80 far transcends
any and all other manifestations of the Su.
preme Being, that the finite mind of every
created being can only be struck with utter
amazement. "Great," says Paul, "is the mys.
terry of Godliness." This greatness or aston
ishing thing in godliness, consists in the fact
that, "God was manifest in the flesh, justified
in the spirit, seen Of angels, preached unto
the Gentiles, believed on in the world, re.
ceived up into glory" 1st Tim. iii: 16. In
the union of two natures-one divine and the
other human-in the person of Jesus Christ.
we have an exhibition of Almighty power
aud infinite wisdom, such as is seen neither in
the creation of men nor angels. Here we see
him whe is self existent, without beginning
of days or end of years, born Of a woman;
here we see him, who is the creator of all
things, become tender babe; We see the
law-giver of the universe accused, judged and
condemned; we see on the cross the author
of life expire and die. The infinite wisdom
of God devised the plan of redemption, and
the almighty power of God executed it. Paul
gloried in the Cross, because he saw God,
wise and great in it, as he could see him no
place else.
In the Cross, Paul saw the fountain of re.
deeming love. Here he saw God loving sim
ners, and giving his own son to die to save
sinners What love is there to be compared
to this? 1t is pure, unmerited, undeserved,
but boundless as the universe. 1t is love
which passeth understanding. God 80 loved
the world-poor, miserable, rebelious sim
ners-that he gave his only begotten SOB that
whosoever of Adams race will believe on
him, shall net perish, but have eternal life.
L. h. Lana oc Ia IN IL