The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-05-21
Beecher on: Revelations.

Ills theme was inspired by the first
chapter of Revelations: 81 am Alpha
and Omega, the beginning and the
ending, saith the Lord; the first and
the last. l am He that Hveth, and
was dead and have the keys Of hell
and of DEATH"
1.-THE Book of Revelations" said Mr..
Beecher, els an impossible book to
understand literally. 1t you attempt
to treat it logically it becomes phan-
tasm. 1t imagery appeals to the Or
mental imagination, and only here
and there white man understands
it. But it is book greatly to be used
and desired in spots and as we use
poetry. 1t expresses one thought that
the world needs, that in the great con-
hict from the beginning between light
and dark, between good and evil, right
in the end shall be triumphant. I am
the beginning and the ending That
is the sum Of everything, beginning
at the lowest stage and reaching to the
highest civilization. The text Illus
trates the many-sidedneS5 of Christ
First, the historical Christ. 1t is
surprise to me that He of whom it is
said If His words and deeds were re-
corded the world could not contain the
| UOOhO ouOulu lOG HdfO 1C1O OA0 WOIu
as it was originally uttered. The fra
gile memory of those who consorted
with Him is the only source from
agree in the substantial elements of
the truth. Bauer and the others of
the German school OF destructive crit
les, in throwing out John and other
portions of the Gospel, do not touch
hriS of n
may eradicate every miracle and you
don't materially destroy the life of the
Gospel. For the Gospel is not simply
chain eff events; it is life with a
purpose, the experience on earth of a
pure nature, who undertook to- show
men how to elevate their nature.
What if miracle was not miracle =?
1t makes a difference in your theory
of inspiration, but what does it make
in the grandeur of the real truth? In
the first days of the Church Christians
looked for Christ's immediate reap |
pearance. Afterwards mems minds
began to work upon the nature of the |
God-head- Christ's place in the Trim
ity, the divinity of Christ. How can |
We tell the qualities of divinity? We
don't know enough about God and the |
question of Christ's divinity is not |
half SO important, though believe
lovingly in it; that is, he Is such a
presentation of divine nature that l
may pray to and put my sou's conf
dence in it, and that is God enough for
me-that is what l want of God.
But when you come to theologiZe then
there must be more-certain defni-
lions, and in arguing that question
what a world of grace has been lost.
GAS to the Trinity, find no difficult
ty in it. l accept the doctrine, il you
don't oblige me to define it. But when
you appoint the judicial circuits and
say: The Father has this function, the
Son that and the Holy Spirit that,
decline to enter into any such views
The fact is, our ideas all are derived
from some experience OF others, or our
own, and we cannot understand Gods
nature, because there is a thousand
times more of it than we have any en- !
blems of in our experience. But as to
His disposition, we can understand !
ruth, love, gentleness, justice-the :
llvine qualities-for in the house
hold we have Gods commentary of '
what He is and His purpose in this q
world.
The soul naturally leans on Christ !,
but theology says: What k
s the nature fof the Atonement 2
This is philosophy. don't say it is
but do not confOund it E
With that view Christ which has pro- 8
Iuct in (which works in us and tt
fits us to His sphere. The Christ of .
heology may ASln- some men, but l
AVE an impra - il has hin