The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1886-09-16
Thoughts for the Thoughtful.
RELIGIOUS SELECTIONS.

4.
The inspiration of the Bible is
large subject. I hold it to be inspir-
ed, not dictated, says Robertson.
That which is most deeply working
in modern life and thought is the
mind of Christ. His name has pass
ed over our institutions, and much
more has his spirit penetrated into
our social and domestic. existence.
just as if the temperature of this
northern temperature were raised
suddenly. and mighty tropical river
were to pour its fertilizing inunda-
ton over the country, the result
would be the importation of a vigor-
GUS and gigantic growth to the vege-
tation already in existence, and at the
same time the development of life in
seeds and germs which had long lain
latent in the soil, incapable of vege-
tation in the unkindly climate of their
birth. Exactly in the same way the
food OF divine life poured suddenly
into the souls of men, enlarged and
ennobled qualities which had been
used already, and at the same time
developed powers which never could
have become apparent in the cold,
low temperature of natural life.
And that which is the essential pc.
culiarity of this Christianity lies in
these two thugs. First of all, that
the morality which it teaches is dis
interested goodness-goodne not
for the sake of the blessing that fol
lows it, but for its own sake, and be-
cause it is right. "Love your ene-
miles," is the gospel precept. Why
Because if you love than you shall
be blessed; and if you do not cursed?
No; but Glove your enemies, bless
them that curse you, do good to them
that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you and prosecute
you, that We may be the children of +"
that is, may be like-s.your Father
which is in heaven" The second
essential popularity Of Christianity is
that it teaches and enforces the law of
self-sacriGce. eff the right eye effend
thee, pluck it out; if thy right hand
offend thee, cut it off. This is the
law of self-sacrifce-the very law and
spirit of the blessed cross of Christ.
There was in Christ the woman
heart as well as the manly brain-all
that was most manly, and all that
was most womanly. Remember what
He was in life; recollect His stern,
iron hardness in the temptation of the
desert: recollect the calmness that
never quailed in all the uproars Of the
people, the truth that never faltered,
the strict. severe, integrity which
characterized the Witness of the
Truth: recollect the justice that never
gave way to weak feeling-which let
the rich young ruler go his way to
perish if he would-w which paid the
tribute-money-which held the bal
ance fair between the prosecuted wo-
man and her accuser, but did not
suffer itself to be betrayed by SYM
pathy into any feeble tenderness
the justice that rebuked Peter with
indignation, and pronounced the
doom of Jerusalem unswervingly.-.
Here is one side or pole of human
character-surely not the feminine
side. Now look at the other. Recol-
lect the twice-recorded tears, which
man would have been ashamed to
show, and which are never beautiful
in man except when joined with
strength like His: and recollect the
sympathy craved and yearned for as
well as given-the shrinking from
solitude in prayer-the trembling of
a sorrow unto death-the considerate
care which provided bread for the
multitude, and said to the tired dis
ciples, as with a sisters rather than a
brothers thoughtfulness, 'sCome We
apart into the desert and rest awhile.
This is the other side or pole of hu-
man character surely not the mas
culine. 49, 81 ~ f 49,, 81
The Redeemer not only was, but is,
man. He was tempted in all points
like us. He is high priest which
can be touched. Our conceptions on
this subject, from being vague, are
often very erroneous. It is fancied
that in the history Of Jesus existence,
once, for a limited period and for
definite purposes, He took part in
frail humanity; but that when that
purpose was accomplished, the Man
forever persisted, and the Spirit reas-
cended, to unite again with pure un-
mixed Diety. But Scripture has taken
peculiar pains to give assurance of the
continuance of His humanity. It has
carefully recorded His resurrection.
After that He passed through space
from spot to spot; when He was in
one place He was not in another
His body was sustained by the ordi-
nary aliments-broiled fish and
honeycomb. The prints of suffering