The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-05-28

Extract from Sermon by Rev. John Han,
d. D.. Pastor of tho Fifth Avenue Presby-
terlan Church, New York;

TExtract from a Sermon by Rev. John Han,
ID. d., Pastor OF the Fifth Avenue Presby-
terian. Church, New York;
Amid the character groupings in tho
New Testament Jesus Christ is the grand
central figure. The biographical record
shows Him now as the God, now as the
Son Of Man; at ono time as the bold re-
former driving the money-changers out OF
the temple and administering most scath-
ing rebukes to the Pharisees, and at anoth-
or time as suffering human agonies and
appealing for human sympathy, and again
as healing the sick and making the deaf to
hear and the lame 60 walk, and in every
phase of His life doing His Masters work.
There was great variety Of character in
His disciples, from the gentle-hearted
John to the deceitful Judas. There were
other groups about Jesus less well-defined,
as the woman Of Samaria, Zacharias and
others. Amid tho later groupings no one
stood out in stronger light than Nicode-
mus. Although he is mentioned only three
times in the biographical records Of Christ,
enough is given to show his to have been
the career Of remarkable man. He was
q man of superior education and well
versed in the Scriptures. He held high
position among his people. Ho had heard
Of the teachings and the works performed
by Jesus Of Nazareth, and he wished to
know something about Him personally
and why 1t was He had such following.
Like many people In high positions he was
afraid to bring on himself ridicule and
provoke criticism, and SO he went to Jesus
by night. Christ did not turn-upon him
with scornful indignation because he came
TO Him under the cover of darkness, but
told him no must be born again; born moi
Of the flesh but the spirit-a new creation
through the creative energy Of the Holy
Ghost. At that time Christian baptism
had not been instituted. IL would have
been better for the churches IL they had
clung to the plain teachings Of Christ 10
Nicodemus on the subject Of regeneration.
No one could be the chosen of-God without
being born anew. This as plain as
anything possibly could be.
The next occasion on which Nicodemus
was referred to was when officers were
sent to arrest, Christ. Itwas thelast day
Of the great Jewishfeast. The officers re-
turned without having executed the war
rant of arrest, and gave as their excuse
that "never man spake as this man,"
This excuse met with.the severest denunci-
alton, and then Nicodemus, who was a
member fthe Council, protested that II
was against the fundamental principles OF
law to condemn q man without hearing.
The last time in which reference was made
to Nicodemus was in the words Of the text.
But these words spoke volumes for the
Jewish magnate. Christ had been tried
and cruciaed. No wonder the heart OF
Nicodemus was moved Ho had heard
Christ's teachings from His own lips. In
the moment of His supremest peril His dis
cples had deserted Him, and one Of their
number had basely betrayed Him for
few pieces Of silver. Nicodemus did all he
could under tho circumstances. Hs
brought spices and sought to honor the di
vine remains of the great Teacher. Why
did he not come sooner5 Why did ho moi
stand up boldly for Christ in tho judgment
hallY He did not; but In seeking as ho die
30 make amends for his remissness ther'
was an underlying lesson Of great and good
significance IL rightly pondered ant
acted upon.