New-York tribune., 1881-11-21
WORDS THAT CANNOT BE TRANSLATED.
The CIdrk at he church u the Messiah
(THHIrtIA)

WORDS THAT CANNOT BE TRANSLATED.
The EeU JameS Freeman Cdrkc at ne church of the Mesah
(JHttlriIHJ
The Rev. James Freeman Clarke preached
at the Church Of the Messiah yesterday. upon I'm
transatabe Words" He took his text from II. Cor.
inthians xii. "He heard unspeakablc words which
it is not lawful for TO utter" The preacher said
chat he about to speak not much Of muterIble
words Of funtruuslatable words II ia hard he said
to find exact equivalent for words with much mean
ing in them The difficulty Is increased when par
ticular charm is attached to them. This very quality
disappears when the words translated. Hence the
difficulty Of ransating poetry whose charm lies IN the
subtle meaning attached to each word Shakespeare has
lett the "Et IN BWte" uutIanslded bccause prob
ably, he saw in the words something which even he
could translate There certain words in the New
Testament full Of tender meaning that they remain
untranslatcd Snch the words OF Jesus to Jaruss
daughter, "TalitLa-cumi." given Maid. arise" by
Luke and Matthew but which mean, "My lamb. arise"
There power in these two words which could not
he translated. Verbal inspiration Is that which
embodic- the exact spirit There Is eloquence when
the whole power Of the human soul 10 rush into
the voice II emhodcs at times this subcty OF mean
ing So It in the of the great Lord Chatham
whose words carried power could resist. But
in the voice Of Jeans how much more No wonder Peter
could forget the words that entered his heart So
in the words the cross, Elo Elo lama, Sahbach-
thauL" What pathOs and tenderness are embodied q,
children Of sorrow, what are our woes : Has not TINT
mighty heart soundcd sorrow far beyond what our
natures reach In human suffering We are aware
that Jesus has gone deep have gone and that He
has returned IIis Father So may do II needs
scholastic theory about Gods wrath II was I'm purely
human. natural sense that Christ bore our sorrows.
Another unt -atabc expression ia that oi Mary Mag
dal"uc when she first recognized Christ after the rcsur
rcction-" Rahhoni, my master" Why s it not trans
PrcIu-r IL CAprrssed her thoughts s nothing
elise could. The word as told by her remained IN
the memory ot those who heard H. The very inspiration
of truth fingers IN the details ~ the story. The uurOu
scuus and often uuremeuhcred portions constitute the
lie Of IT, one man with vast lrarning makrs the story
of Christ supernatural legend Christ sto us brother
the hest FREUD ever had In this world what do
fr question: uf ua'urdl or SupEfuatutd rruEnu
We go 20 Christ and utter the simple words of Mary,
Rabboni ms master" The word used by Jesus In thc
garden Abba father is the Syrian form first uttcrcI
hv children. God thus ever present father to
hrst aud His disciple dd not forget the word How
pie our relation 10 God after af 'IIs a. Christ
said. that Of the itte chh toward rs faihrr Instead
OF God above all and through all. tine scholar 10 h-
study sees only blind forces lustoad o the immortal
nj ud- only combinations a. carbon and hydrogen
How lone $ hc i-l Nothing there ~ We
To die than Nr! To that sad conclusion o' the
finest minds Of tt- time have come who uok Ia analysis
ius'ea of looking 90 Cod iu their own souls
They who believe lH God speak oi cause beyond an
other causes They believe Christ, not because of
learned books evidence but nccd-c they in HIM
heir book He teaches them. one thing know, that
pare human love. Therefore We follow Hun We are
stronger better happier for t That Is reason enough
character 10 influence men lor good, we must hc good
uur-tlNcs Though speak with the tuugur ~ angels
aud have not love in We are h- sounding drums Thai
g the ucauIuE uf tIi-c uutr4u-Ittallt words. Toe
whole soul uf the speaker went forth tuciu They
thcusclyr- not uu the rrr"- "i INpi but oh hr
human hc art Que neglect them. hut the next
.urc. They forever repeat the wurd, Come me,
come TO me, ard viii give you rest