, 1888-05-10

upon the truth Of Christs resurrection,
II Christ rose from the dead. as re-
lated in the new testament scriptures,
then all doubt is at an end. If Christ
did not rise from the dead as therein
related, then, in the language OF st.
Paul, 1--WE are of all men most miser-
able"
Laying aside the claim to inspira--
ton, the truth of the new testament
story is sustained by the strength OF
the intellect OF the world. Believers
in all ages have been greater in num-
ber than infdels, greater, too, as logic
ians and reasoners. Religion has been
sustained by men of splendid capacity
in all the ranks OF life the world over,
and in America this has been true in n
marked degree. Nor is there anything
in the story OF the resurrection, more
inconsistent with logic, than there is
in three-fourths of the propositions
upon which the actual business of
everyday life is based. A man.
for instance, will invest every
dollar he has in the world on
the proposition that n message was
sent three thousand miles under the
ocean in sixty minutes; or he will risk
battle on the proposition that u
landscape ten miles in extent is paint
ed on the retina of the eye, which is
no larger than the point of pin; or
he will risk the entire support OF him.
self and family on the proposition that
bushel of wheat grains scattered
over the earth in the spring will six
months thereafter be turned into
good flour and plenty of it to feed
his household. If any one of these
propositions is based upon the cold
logic of the mind, we are unable to per-
ceive it. The story of CHRIsTs
resurrection is susceptible OF
much stronger logical argument
than either of them or than
all of them. 1t has come lown with
the ages, growing in strength with
each passing year, until to day it fills
the whole civilized world, and to.mor-
row it will civilize the whole world.
The best proof, next to that OF eye
witnesses, OF its truth is found in the
fact, that when all else fails man,
when those he loves die around him.
when the father who patted his boyish
head is gone, when the old mother
who led him by the hand over daisy
decked fields to the village Sabbath
school is gone. when disease
strikes him down, when the
light of the world goes out
for him--then big, strong, and self re-
liant animal though he be, there
but one refuge for him
the consolation that is offered by the
religion of Christ, and the comfort
which that religion alone can give.
Paul was great man, a great lawyer,
great logician, and great
orator. He investigated to the
bottom the story of the resur
ection. He established it's truth and
suffered martyrdom in establishing it.
The faith of such man so obtained as
uttered in the words: "Behold l show
you a mystery;> we shall not all sleep,
but we SHALL all be changed, in II mo-
ment, in the twin king of an eye, at
the last trump and the dead shall be
raised," is worth more to the world
than all the brilliant sayings OF Vol
taine, all the ridicule of Paine, all the
of Hume In the face of
this testimony from the heart and in
tellect of this intreped martyr, what is
Col. INGERsoLL with his "mistakes of
Moses" and his witty datribes, but
public peace disturber going around
speaking misery and doubt and dis.
trust, supplanting hope with fear and
light with darkness, pulling. down
where he cannot build up, and ending
at last where he began, in the black
ness of night and the gloom of despair.
Nn