Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-04-29
Now note the wide difference between the

Now note the wide difference between the
answer of the world and the chosen disoiple-
ship, tho elect apostolate, the men to whom
had bcen disclosed tho most private, the most
secret the most unguarded manifestations of
His character and His life!
This question is tho most profoundly anxious
ono that could possibly have agitated the
spirit Of the Son Of Man; upon tho answer to
that quiet question, propounded by jesus of
Nazareth, was hinging tho history Of tho
world and the destiny of tho human race.
We thank God devoutly to night that
Peter, tho most prominent of oil the disciples,
the quickest, the boldest and the most practi.
cal, had received tho grace to give SO prompt,
SO full, 80 divine an answer, "Thou art tho
Christ, the Son of tho living God"
had been bcheaded, notwithstanding that
many of his disciples had turned bnck from
following Him. Notwithstanding that the
jewish leaders, tho recognized and honorcd
national authorities were openly and with
tho ferccst determination opposing him,
rejected by Nazareth, rejected by ca
pornaum, rejected by Galilce and
tho prosecution growing moro watchful,
more malignant and moro bitter in Jerusa-
lem. now in this crisis, in this emergency,
when tho tide Of His popularity was cbbing
so surely and 80 certainly. now before the
transfguration, Lefore the resurrection, before
the splendid inauguration of tho Messinnic
period by the brilliant display Of fiery, cloven
tongues and tho miraculous, pcntacostnl
u,tcrnnccs, in this period of gloom, and
despondcncy, Peter had received tho wisdom
mud the grace to answer, Thou art the Christ,
the Son ofthc living God"
At that moment. there in The rocky region
Of Ccsarea Philip?i, Christianity and Chris,
tendon had their birth. For yhu will notice
that tho word church is now used for the
frs! time in the New Testament development.
This must have been moment of supreme
joyfulncssto our barassed Lord.
The declaration Of St. Peter is the fulfill
mcnt pC the historical. rrophctical past, it is
thu condensed nttcrancc all Of the multiplied
voices of the old di>pcnsaton; it is tho rcim-
hodmcnt Of the >ririt nf Moses and Elijah.
The most fruitful and prosperous periods
Of the church have bccn ,hosc periods in
which tho strenuous, absorbing effort of the
church has been to show forth and impress
upon the consciousness Of mankind the orig.
nal. cardinal, fundamental truth "Thou urt
the Christ, the Son Of tho living Cod"
Witness the apostolic period; witness the
pcriod Of the Reformation Of Luther, and
Calvin, and their CO. -laborcrs; witness the
revival Of primitive apostolic Christianity
under Wesley and Whi,cGeld; witness tho
signal, divine power attending the ministry
of tho Society of Friends.
The imperative need OF these times, which
are developing on the one side such subtitle,
skcptical materalistic, unspiritual,cndcncies,
and on tho other creating such deep and
universal longings for something fuller and
moro refreshing than the old. barren secular.
ism is the rcbnptism Of the church with the
Spirit and power of the great doctrine Of the
Christ and q rcinthusing Of the Christian
ministry with The mighty message "Bchold
the Lamb of God, that takelh away the sin
Of the world"
Men arc becoming surfeitcd with scientific
and phiosothic presentations Of the Lord
Jesus; they want the simple, humble, gcnu-
inc, spiritual presentation of the Saviour, tho
divine man, forsiving, cnightcnins, strength
ening them in the conflicts of life and consols
ing them in its sorrows and uplifting them
above its despair.