Omaha daily bee., 1883-03-13

sum of the hopes Of humanity or q
great bat uuinspired teacher.
1t is very important for us to put
the right estimate upon Christ and
His work. Let us look into the mat
ter tonight as a lawyer would examine
evidence OF our antiquary weigh his.
t~orical probability. At some time or
other we are all required to pass judg
ment upon Christ just as Plate did.
Let us examine our minds and hearts
to see beforehand what that judgment
will be. Ons of you may say.
Ii WILL DENY HIS EXISTENCE.
You hold the opinion that Christ
was q mere myth. I do not suppose
there is q single person here who
would take such an unreasonable posi-
tion, but 1t Ia barely possible. At
least It may not be known to you that
we have the fullest and most reliable
testimony as to Christ's real life on
the earth. Writers Of every century
from the time of Christ have testified
to his existence, goodness and wonder.
full wisdom. I need but refer to
Tsoitus, Suetonius and L~ucianius, to
Porphyry and CELSIUS, to Josephus, the
Jewish Mischna, and the celebrated
letter from Pliny to Trajan. We
leave also the testimony Of the Chris
tian fathers of the first two centuries
and the records Of the monuments In
the Roman catscemb, In Africa and
In Pampeii. The writings of men who
saw the apostles are preserved to Us,
the oldest Of the Sibylline books adds
It's testimony and eve . medal of
Rome Is In existence bearing the
SAviors' profile. Here are friends and
foes, Greeks and barbarians, sacred
and profane historians, bearing the
same testimony Oh to the real life,
wondrous teachings and perfect NOR
atty Of the carpenters son, OF Nazar-
eth.
Some n else may say:
IL WILL DENY HIS DIVINITY
All, but you will find youself in SCR.
ious difficulty. A man sins, but
Jesus L. sinless. A nan Is passionate,
unmeroiful, unloving-but Jesus was
meek, holy. Opposition could not
tempt him to hatred, neither could the
half hearted service and cruel deaer.
tion Of his disciples induce him to use
severity of speech. He was too good
to be an impostor. But you say the
records OF the New Testament may
have been tempered with. Perhaps
Christ did not claim to be divine.
An argument fully decisive on one
side Of the case Is this: The Jews put
Christ to death simply because Ee
claimed to be equal with God, which,
In their criminal code, was blasphsmy
and worthy7of death. Bat some one
else says:
LII Il WILL z HIM ENTIRELY ALONE.
All! but We cannot do that. IT we
slight him, we re ject him. If we
wash our hands as PLATE did, we bat
give him into the hands of his enc.
miles. Be not deceived on this point.
II we neglect to take up our Christmas
gift, we virtually spurn It and cannot
enjoy 1t. Neglecting Christ Is con.
domination, "How shall we escape"
God says, IF We neglect so great sal
vation!"
Some will say:
W. WILL SAVE MYSELF.
But this is virtually a denial of
Christ also. The Word of God says
we are to be saved by accepting of the
atonement prepared by the Savior and
| by living the life that He commanded.
If VI say We can w ourselves with.
ont any aid from Him, we are making
God q liar and throwing disdain upon
Hts Son. Others say:
VI WILL POSTPONE DECISION.
All! but you may die. The young,
the middle aged, 81 well as the old,
die. And your death may come sud.
denly. Who have died In Omaha this
winter2 Have not the young, the
hopeful, the oonfdent7 The present
Is the only time you are sure of. Oh,
I hope some Of you will say:
WI WILL ACCEPT OF CHRIST As A
SUBSTITUTE.
Men have stood In the place of 9TH
ers In battle. And these men have
died for those whom they represented.
SO 1t was with Christ. He took our
sins upon himself. We must have
died If He did not. All He wants of
US Is to accept of the substitute and
to show our acceptance by o noble
Christian life. No matter what your
sins are you may be saved In Christ II
you repent, believe and love.