Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-04-16

Supreme Intelligence working in and through
those causes. Not smatterers in science merely,
but men Of established reputation, begin to talk
Of there being mechanical forces alone in the uni.
verse, and complacontly relegate the idea OF there
being any contriving, creating controlling mind
displaying itself in these forces to the category Of
exploded ideas. II may modestly judge from an
imperfect study Of the exposition Of such views,
the proof that Christ was raised from the dead is
at least as luminous TO an average intelligence ms
the proof that everything comes out Of some
thing else, and the first something else out Of
nothing, In such way rs TO rigidy exclude the
idea Of any controlling superior intelligence. But
II 1t is true that Christ has risen from the dead
then II is true that In Mt least one instance a
supreme intelligence and supreme power did
manifest itself in the affairs Of men in way quite
above explanation by a self-evolvement Of me.
chanical forces. And II 1t manifested itself once
then it exists, and carries in that fact the assur
ance that II can and does exercise its supervision
through the secondary causes to which on occa
sion II shows itself superior. It would seem then
that there Is something to be seen by the natura
| eye which Is not 10 be denied by the revelation
| OF the microscope. And the Christian who ha,
| satisfied himself that God has raised up Jesu,
Christ from the dead may, without any just i'm
parchment Of his intelligence or Of his enlighten
ment find all ground for faith, for consolation
and for prayer in the assurance that there is nj
Almighty Father and Friend who worlseth in all
and through all, and above ALL controlling thu
events Of the universe which he has made.
Above and beyond these general consequences
OF the resurrection, attention was called to thu
special truth that the Christ who was delivered
for our offenses was raised again for our justifca
ton. But the funess Of this truth is only realized
as our faith takes hold OF him. the justifying one
who proved himself by his resurrection to have thu
keys Of death and OF hell. 1t were dreadful, wer,
1t not to have our participation in Holy Weel
end with the Crucifixion and the burial; to hav,
Good Friday and not Easter the queen of on
days, the star of our hope the fainter reflection
that day which is to Gomez
Yet so II is, unless from the grave Of Christ WI
| rise with him into the newness ofife, in that con
quest over the penalty and the power Of sin which
he attained by his perfect obedience. We mus
judge, with the apostle, that II one died for all
then ,oere al dead and that he died for ALL thd
they which Hue should hencetorM live not mt
| themselves, bit unto him iohO died for them an
rose again. Living unto him then indeed is h
raised for our justification, and we live with hin
In his glorious life. o, II this is our hope, as
is the proper hope and the legitimate association
of this day, well may this earthly Easter be to II
a day OF joy and gladnessl For it is the sur
pledge Of the heavenly day, and Of an arisin
hereafter when our gorifed bodies shall be eve
AS our risen Lords. In it we may find the sur
warrant of our hope that ours shall be