Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-09-17
sEWdnK.


7
ScrInGn by President CALDWELL ol
Delaware College. tn sbe M. ~.
Church.
Snrclnl Correspondence ~ Every Evening.
NEWARK, Sept. 14.-When il WINS known
that President Caldwell of Delaware Col
lege, was to preach at the M. b. Church
yesterday morning, large number ut
tended divine service with pardonable
curiosity to hear him ON his initial public
appearance in town. His text was John,
I, ID: 1.-The Word was made flesh aud
dwelt among us" HetoolS for his theme
the manhood of Christ, and treated it so rs
to develop from His earthly history, and
ineffaceable impressions made by II. sug-
gestions of higher and divine nature.
While modern skeptics have eliminated
from the four gospels all miraculous and
supernatural features, they have left u
large historic remainder on which the
preacher proposes TO build his discourse.
On all hands il is now admitted that
Jesus was real man that the facts re-
corded by the evangelists concerning him
are substantially true; that he was II
good and great man man of beauti-
full soul sublime morality, pure and
spiritual impulses, and that his teachings
were benediction to mankind. Looking
through the gospel narratives as the per-
spective, what do we see 2
First, Il man who produced upon his
nge most profound impression l, upon
his disciples 2, upon the common peo-
pie; 3, upon the cultured and ruling
classes, such mel as Nicodemus, Joseph of
Aramathea. the young ruler ,Jairus, the GEN.
turian, bisandpriests,P PLATE and Herod.
How can we account for this universal
impression Considering the earthly cir
cumstances of our Lord, poor, friend
less Galileean, without formal education
social prestige or political influence, we
cannot account for it on any natural prin-
ciples known to the human mind. The
difficulty of so accounting for it is magni-
fed by the fact that the impression was
made during public ministry of only
three years. The facts strongly suggest
n higher divine nature in our Lord
Secondly, A man who, through oil the
ages has made, and is still making,
constantly growing impression upon the
whole world. This fact is as obvious as
the first. Its true significance will appear
when we compare Christianity with other
ancient religions. Brahminism. Buddhism,
4 ulbttlSli 1nt1
were local, Christianity universal
they are effete and dying; Christi
anity is living and growing; they
were missionary and Christianity
by command of Its founder, is 10 h
propagated to the ends of the earth the
founders of the others failed to impress
their personality upon their sSh,, ms
Christianity is instinct with the nnlc ana
personality of Jesus, which appear every
where through its theology, its creed, its
ritual, its sermons, prayers and hymn
ology. How can we account for this
impression, unless we admit the divine
origin of the system'p Strauss boasted
that he would ''root parsons out Of the
church by roofing miracles out of re-
ligion." One miracle, however, he failed
to root out, that is Christianity itself,
with the name of Jesus incorporated in ii
as its life and expanding energy. This is
the greatest miracle of all the ages.
Thirdly, A teacher the most unique,
simple and original that ever appeared on
earth. Among ancient sages, prophets
and poets, among modern sayants and
scientists no teacher ever appeared that
can be compared to Jesus. Must
we not, then, yield to the ire
presslble suggestion that he is in.
deed our God and Saviour? Think
of his vast knowledge, his majestic
authority, his terrible but Just severity in
denouncing all manner of wickedness;
and yet we find them all tempered by His
condescending pity and tenderness
These qualities exalt Him above all the
teachers of this world and prove that he
was more than man.