Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-06-08

I
to save, death as the one mighty to DESTROY
The 14th chapter of Isaiah gives us tS
background of this picture. The scene
laid in Babylon, the king of that CITY. til
greatest man of al the earth in his day.
introduced upon the stage. He is so iarg
that as be walks the earth trembles. an,
Kingdoms fall. He is so tall that his heat
beats among the stars. He is so full of as
surance and power. His language is lik,
to his person. Il will exaIt nv thron,
above the stars of God. | will ascenC
above the clouds. l will be lie the Mos
High"
the King of Babylon here speaks f.,
man. de is the mouth piece to his aspira
tions. This earth can't salty man. Like
Alexander, could he possess it ali, he would
weep for other worlds. There is q need be ia
the case. He must ascend above the clouds
and plant him elf above the stars.
He builds too low, who builds beneath
| the stars
| Yes, he aspires to be like the most High
And these aspirations of his are to be salts
| fed in Christ, who is the true mouth piece OF
the race; who has done all, and more than
the would-be champion of man, aspired to
do. For be has set his throne above the
heavens, and man IS on that turone. And
those in Christ are to be like that man, and
to be like that man is to be like the "Most
High" But out of Christ, all these hopes
and aspirations are to be disappointed, as
they were in the case of :he King of Bah
ylon.
For now the prophet introduces another
figure on the stage while the King is boast
ing of his power and glory. That figure is
death. He but brandishes his spear and
the great King falls an easy captive.
Now the scene changes, and we are in
hell, where death reigns. And as the King
of Baby Ion, the mightiest man Of the earth,
is dragged down to hell by one who is
mightier than he, the whole empire of
death is in commotion. There is a mighty
stir in hell. Hell from beneath is moved
for thee, to meet thee at thy coming.n
They all speak out at once, saying:
How Ort thou fallen from heaven O,
Lucifer, Son of the Morning ?"
Art thou also become weak as WEI
Art thou become like unto us?'
Like unto the 'Mcst High" he aspired
to be; like unto the miserable victims of
death he became.
Tins shall all the aspirations and hopes
of man perish when his trust is not fixed
on one mig tier than death. Only in Christ
can we triumph over death and him that
hath the power of death, that is the devil.
But let US follow the prophet as be un-
folds the vi ion before US. We see there is
no hope in an arm of flesh, mighty though
it be as the King of Babylon himself.
And yet there Is hope. These aspirations
of man are not to be quenched in the
bIackness Of the pit. He longs for champ
ion, and his longing is to be satisfied.
The Prophet breaks forth into singh e.
= Unto US child is born, unto us a son is
given, His name shall be called Wonder
full, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Ever |
lasting Father, the Prince of Peace"
One thus named, but like unto the Son |
Of Man, now appears on the stage. he is |
not so striking figure, at first, as the King |
Of Babylon. At first sight there is not |
much promise in Him. His visage is SO
married that many are astonished at Him.
hat man should desire Him. He is de-
pised and rejected. Presently He is smit-
en- of God and afflicted. Death assaults
Him, and lie, too, falls into the grave, the |
trOnghOld of death. But, not like the
King of Babylon, never to rise again. For
low the Prophet sees Him emerging from
he grave, and death, instead of ending
las prolonged His days. Death has nor
poiled Him, but He he's spoiled death.
lie has not proved weak as other men, but
tops forth from the grave to see the travail
# His soul, and to divide the spoil among
he strong.
And now, as hell was moved at the con-
uests of DEATH ell heaven is now
moved at the proves OF one who has con-
uered death, and, leading captivity cap
i've, is ascending from the field of His
attles, up to throne in heaven. All
eaven, the world of light and life, is
moved to meet Him at His coming, The
Tarders on the walls and by the gates are
ending from the battlements and viewing
18th intense interest the cavalcade, with
thirst at lis head, now approaching the
lty of God. 1t was a spectacle, the like
which the angels had never witnessed
ntil this day. The man, Christ Jesus,
le head of an apOstate race, to whom all
over in heaven and on earth had been
lvea, in the identical body that had been
llled and bur ed, ascending in all the
omp of heaven, to be seated on the Faith
s throne, and to be head over all things
= His Church.
no is this" the Prophet hears them
,claim, that cometh from Edom, with
yed garments from Bozrah? % (Edom is
e land of an enemy, and Bozrah its capt.
l) This one that is glorious in His APP
lrel, travelling in the greatness of His
rength ?" A
Thus, looking down from the walls they
g Christ coming up st the head Of the s
Lst concourse. He was travelling like
oneral in the greatness of his strength, or
the head Of great army.
Christ now responds to this challenge:
[ that speak in righteousness, mighty to z
ve." Here we have brought out again S
@ striking contrast between the conquests Z
death and him that hath the power of
,ath, and the conquests of Christ, who
death. 1he one was powerful
destroy, the other powerful to save. :
Fer God sent not his Son into the world
condemn the world but that the world
rough Him might be saved" Glory be !
ITO his name, as it was, is now, and shall {
forever.
But the colIoquy continues; 6 Where
re art thou red in thine apparel and thy
rments like him that treadeth the wines
tt" a
g have trodden the winepress alone 8
ID Of the people there were none with me Z
there was none to help therefore mine :
yn arm brought salvation unto me-" X
es, when lie encountered our foes no
e could he Him. But thanks be unto
cd, he stood not in need of help. He :,
as and is powerful to save. 3
But now the colloquy ceases, and the
orus of many voices bursts forth, 8 Lift :
your heads, 0 ye gates ; and be We lifted 9
ye everlasting doors; and the King Of 9
DRY shall come in" 7
The response comes back from the gates, X
Who is the King of Glory?' q
And like the voice of many waters the 8
swer rolls back, 1.-THE Lord strong and z
ghty, the Lord mighty in battle, The
)rd of hosts, He is the King of Glory" q
And now the bars go back, the glittering
ties revolve, the everlasting doors are
ing wide open. Z
But who can speak of what the eye hath z
It seen, nor the ear heard, nor the heart 1
nceived. Oh! for an angels harp and
above that of this earth, to
lg the honors of our King. But ours is &
t the vision of ancient Seer who looked
yond the veil and saw, with steady eye,
revelations bright. Ours is Bot the
# of Paul, who was caught up into the