The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-11-10

still. But it shocked all existing prejudices
scholastic prctension and no graduation
from a learned institution to set himself up
for teacher. 1t was all against Him.
So also the brevity of His life was against
Him. He had not come to what we call
midlife. But very few men do any thing
before thirty-three years Of age, and yet
that was the point at which Christ's life
terminated. The first fifteen you take in
nursery and school, Then it will take you
at least six years to get into your occupa-
ton or profession. That will bring you to
twenty one years. Then it will take you
ten years, at least, to get established in
your life work, correcting the mistakes
you have made. II any man, at thirty
three years Of age, gets established in his
life work he is the exception. Yet that is
the point at which Christ's life terminated.
Men in military life have done their most
wonderful deeds before thirty-three years
of age. There may be exceptions to it, but the
most wonderful exploits in military PROV
ess have occurred before thirty-three years
of age. But as legislator-no man be-
come legislator until he has had long
years Of experience. And yet the gray
bearded scribes were expected to bow
down in silence before this young legisla-
tor, who arraigned sanhedrims and accused
governments.
Aristotle was old; Lycurgus was old;
Seneca was old. The great legislators OF
the world have been old Christ was
young All this was against Him. II a
child, twelve years of age, should get up in
your presence to discuss great questions OF
metaphysics, or ethics, or politics, or gov
eminent, you would not be more con-
temptuous than these gray bearded scribes
in the presence of this young Christ.
Popular opinion declared in those days:
Blessed is the merchant who has castle
down on the banks of Lake Tiberias." This
young man said: "Blessed are the poor"
Popular opinion said in those days: BLESSED
are those who live amid statuary, and fount-
all kinds Of festivity." This young man re-
sponded: BLESSED are they that mourn"
Public opinion in those days said: blessed
is the Roman eagle, the flap Of whose wings
startles nations, and the plunge of whose
iron beak inficts cruelty upon its enemies. "
This young man responded: "Blessed are
the merciful." Popular opinion said: IAN
eye for an eye, a tooth for q tooth" In
other words, ii a man knocks your eye out,
knock his out. II man breaks your tooth,
break his. RetOrt for retort: sarcasm for
sarcasm; irony for irony; persecution for
persecution; wound for wound. Christ
said: "Pray for them that despitefully use
you"
They looked at His eye, IL was like any
other mans eye, except perhaps more
speaking. They felt His hand, made Of
bone and muscle and nerves and flesh, just
like any other hand. Yet what bold treat
ment Of subjects, what supernatural de-
mands, what strange doctrine They felt
the solid earth under them, and yet Christ
said: ~ bear up the pillars Of this world"
They looked at the moon, He said: 81 will
turn it into blood" They looked at the
sea, He said: II will hush it," They looked
at the stars, He said: II will shake them
down like untimely figs" Did ever one SO
young say things 80 boldi 1t was oil
against Him.
After the battle Of Antietam, when q
General rode along the lines, although the
soldiers were lying down exhausted, they
rose with great enthusiasm and huzzaed.
As Napoleon returned from his captivity,
his first step on the wharf shook oil king
doms, and two hundred and fifty thousand
men f1ocked TO his standard. II took three
thousand troops to watch him In his exile.
So there have been men Of wonderful mag
netism of person. But hear me when
tell you Of q poor young man who came ny
from Nazareth to produce thrill which
has never been excited by any other
Napoleon had around him the memories Of
Marengo, and Austerlitz, and Jena; but
here was man who had fought no battles
who wore no epaulets, who brandished NJ
sword. He had, probably, never seen I
prince, or shaken hands with n0bleman
Imagine Christ one day standing in the
streets Of Jerusalem. A man descended
from high lineage is standing beside Hin
and says: my father was merchan
prince, he had castle on the beach in Gal
lice. Who was your father9" Christ an
swers: "Joseph, the carpenter" A maj
from Athens Ia standing there unfolding
his parchment Of graduation and says 4
Christ: "Where did you go TO schoolN
Christ answers: ~ never graduated.
Ahal the idea of such sn unheralded young
man attempting to command the attention
of the world. As we'll some little fishing
village on Long Island shore attempt b
arraign New York. Yet no sooner doe
He set His foot in the towns or cities o
Judea than every thing is in cOmmotiOn
| The people go out on picnic, taking
only food enough for o day, yet are O.
fascinated with Christ that, at the risk o
starving, they follow Him into the wilder
ness. A nobleman falls down fiat befor
Him and says: my daughter is dead.
A beggar tries to rub the dimness from hi
eyes, and says: "Lord, that my eyes ma
DO opened" A poor, sick, painting won
On presses through the crowd and says
~ must touch the hem of his garment.
Children who love their mother bette
than any one else struggle ~ get int
His arms, to kiss His cheek, and to ru
their fingers through His hair, and 70
all time putting Jesus so in love with tn
little ones that there is hardly nursery i
Christendom from which He does not tax
one, saying: 81 must have them, wi
fill Heaven with these; for every ceda
that plant in Heaven will have fft
white lilies. In the hour when was
poor man in Judea they were not ashame
Of Me, and now have come to . thrOn
I do not despise them. Hold 1t not bacl
o weeping mother. Lay it on My war;
heart. OF such is the Kingdom Of Heaven.
Again, remark, there was no organic,
ton in His behalf, and that was agains
Him. When men propose any great wor
they band together, they write letters {
agreement they take oaths Of fealty; an
the more and complete the organization II
more and complete the success. Here VIZ
one who went forth without any organic
ton and alone. II men had mind to joi
in His company, all right; If they had
mind not to join in His company, all wei
II they came they were greeted with I
loud salutation; If they went away the
were sent with no bitter anathema. Pet
dep8rted, and Christ turned and looked