The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-04-09
THE RISEN LORD.
Sermon by Rev. W. II. HanckeI.
Easter Sunday. April 9Th. 1890, in
Trinity Church. AbbeYiIlc.

1st Thessnlonians iv, 18th and 18th verses
"But wonld not have you TO be ignorant
Brethren. concerning them which are asleep
that We sorrow not even as Others which have
no hope. For If we believe that Jesus died
and rose again even so them also which sleep
in .Issns will God bring with Him.
"This day, Is peculiarly day Of JOY anu
triumph. 1t is impossible for the Church tC
emphasize 1t too strongly-emphasiZe tho
truths Of EaStnr-tide aS much as we may bt
able. SIN not the half will be told; II is be-
yond all measure the greatest dry In the his
tory of the Church and the world. Christmas
and Good Friday are nl but steps that lead
up 10 the unsealcd tomb. The Incarnation
and CruciiictOn are rinGicated In the rCSur.
rrclion. The day of birth and the day OF
death come to all men alike. The day oI
rising again from the dead has come but tn
one man, among all men. Or If it has come
to Lazarus, or to the son Of the willow ol
Nain IL has come because the resurrection oi
this one man among men was MS, inevilam'S |"
follow they rose because Christ has risen.
Now life for the first time unfoldi Its true
significance when death has done IFS worst,
and does not prevail. IN The light Of the
rIven tomb Of Christ life appears different;
under its Influence motives chrngc; in its
strength faith is firm; under its guidance hope
becomes certainty; life and immortal are
brnu.ht To light. " new reading is put upon
the problems of humanity. But OF Us siruS.
gles, It's sorrows, It's seeming defrat, its very
death, cmargcs not merely the faint hope OF 8.
future gain. hut the assured pledge OF eternal
victory. I'VE believe that Jesus died and
rose again, even so We believe that they
which sleep In Jesus will God bring with
Him." when The trumpet shall sound and the
dead lie raised. II Is but the natural, the IN
evitnbic instinct of the Church therefore 10
surround the giving OF this glorious pledge
with all her resources Of color, OF song and
of Ioy, She gives no room this day for spec
ulGlions on immortality. however curious.
She even admits no plea for possible hopes.
She proclaims with every power of speech
Il tnit 1, ~ hnnn heroine
"Jcsus Christ has risen to day. She offers
her truth and begins her message 10 man
kind, precisely as st. Paul declared It eigll-
teen centuries since. Her answer to our Sor-
rows. to onr doubts, to our Ignorance Of truth
and life, is the one mighty fact. Now Is
Christ risen from the dead. "ll wo believe
lirvc that Jesus was made tlrsh,'' became
man in firm and fashion as ourselves. We
believe that the life which He took when lie
was horn man. expired upon the cross. me
soldier whose business it, was to satisfy him.
self ON this point, came near and "picrceu
his side" proved that death had taken place,
and hr that saw il bare record that afterwards
there might br no room for the prctcnce mat
he ,id not really die. i'It we hrilcFr iar'mcr,
that The life which left the body did alter
wards return To the body, that Jesus rose, con-
vrrscd with Ills tliciplrS, WAS seen OF many.
and convinced them by proof which Conlu
not he disputed that IT, WAS He himself. We
believe this because il iSa historical fact. the
Resurrection Of Christ, considered us fact to
be proved by evidence, Is as PLAN ana as
suscrptihle of proof us any fact Of history:
Examined upon those rules of evidence and
thosr principles of reasoning, that govern
courts OF justice in important cases in which
they are called to decide, and It's truth stands
No alleged ordinary historic
facts Of importance were ever supported by
part Of the evidence that supports
The truth Of The Resurrection of onr Lord.
We believe Then This central truth OF thriS.
iianiiy because il Is not Il mere speculation
but an aitestcd fact. II is Il recorded train
dependent on pivn" power, and with God
all things are possible" Here wit, SnrhiSiry
jr supp;,sition have no place. The lnhnra-
orv the anaiomiSi'S bench, The chrmlsts
ret orl. raIl hut trace the channels OF lif: hr.
ausc life flies before lis methods. We cam
not study world Of dying men and get The
ruth. We arc but In u maze ana pu%Z!r Ol