Morning journal and courier., 1883-11-26
The Messiahship.
West Haven Congregational Church.
 Sermon by the Rev. N. J. squires.

In the Congregational church, West Haven, yesterday, the Rev. N. J. squires, pastor, preached from Luke, 7:20: ..'tArt thou he that should come? or look we for another?" We give brief abstract of the sermon.
 These words are among the most remarkable of holy scripture. Addressed personally to our Lord, they were doubtless intended to draw from him positive and unequivocal declaration of his Messishship. John could not have doubted the character of the man whom he had baptized, and on whom he had seen the Holy Ghost descend. If they sug- gest anything less than the utmost confidence in Christ, we must remember that John was in prison.
 The text may be understood in two ways. First, Art thou such Saviour as the necessi- ties of the world require? or, second, such as l the types and prophecies foreshadowed? Or, l the only alternative, ''Shall we look for an- other?"
 On this rock the Jewish nation split. The ! Baptist had faith, so had Peter, James and | John. So had multitudes- he \ touched and healed. But the rulers and leaders for the most part rejected him. Nit \ cred priest and phylaoteried Pharisee turned | away with proud suf6ciency from one who ''recoiveth sinners and eateth with them" No Saviour would be worth anything to us who would not receive sinners. The Jews have been waiting for their \ Messiah, and no Messiah comes To l a thoughtful mind this is one of the sad dsss pictures in all the worlds history. But the Jews are not alone in the rejection of ! Ina same Christ He who saved Peter and James and John; who gave sight to the blind, whose touch was life, and words love, can touch and heal, and save us. You have learned that life is not all joy; that happiness comes in what you are, not what you have. The soul demands Christ. Every necessity is met in him. He touched the circle of human life at every point, so it could be truly said of him: ''He was tempted in all points like I as we are." He is 8 personal saviour. He saves persons-one by one. We are in con stant danger of losing ourselves among the common mass. Men sometimes feel small, insignificant, unworthy; act as if God did not see them; ss if he would overlook them. A few in every community and church who can be seen, and heard and felt.
 
 | dividuaI magniies him, makes the most of him that can be made in this world and the I next, Christ did as much for the poorest and the lowest for the richest and the highest. Christ gives every man place, something to do, responsibility to bear- Life is never lost to the Christian. If he IS worth anything, Christ finds it out. If he can do anything he sets him at it. He makes his heart burn to do something
 But human personality finds it's counter part in Christs personality. "Art thou he that should come?" and I answer ''Yes, " be- 1 cause he came as person, brother man. to our touch man, to our faith divine. Mer- ! cy compassion, sympathy and love are all personal qualities, always inhering in some person. These are made real to us in Jesus Gabriel could not so well have told us of the love of God, nor could Michael have so well revealed the divine compassion, nor the angels made us know what Gods forgiveness is like; but when Jesus came and little child climbed upon his knee, and the blind could stop him on the road, and lepers clasp hls hands, and the sight of death fill his eyes with tears then we know what all these things are. All the immense circle of Gods relations to me and to the world I find exhibited and illus trated in the earthly life of Jesus.
 'Art thou he that should come ?" and we answer yes, because he won. There IS a vast deal in A completed work. Christ, on the cross said ''Iit finished" To most men death comes little too soon, surprised in the midst of cares, the mill the farm, the store.
 Christs completeness as Saviour, fitting in to every need of the world, answering every demand of the human heart, still further proves him to have been the Messiah.
 The test of men and of doctrines is to turn them loose upon the world. The law of tendency is as true as God. Are his teach. ings'harmful? Has any nation been injured by them Is any community worse for practising the New Testament? Does it make worse or better fathers and mothers, children and neighbors? Can we ask or expect any other Christ The Jews have waited, but in vain; let us not wait, but accept what God has given. Many are trying to find 8 substi- tute for Christ They do not succeed. You remember how the French Directory" abolished religion, and whatsthey substituted, and the passionate endeavors of Lepaux to impose it on France as 8 vast improvement over the abolished Christ. He did not suc- ceed, and went to TaIIeyrand, who told him he was not surprised, 'for it is," said he, mo easy matter to introduce 8 new religion. But will tell you. I recommend you to be crucifed and to rise again on the third day" ! It was sheer but the sheer of Talleyrand is the faith of the Christian. Around the cross the world moves. And when the ques- tion comes to us. we answer with Peter :: Lord, to whom shall we go7 Thou hast the words of eternal Hfe''