The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-06-25
&SNS
ALIyISG, RISING BIBLE.


Infidcllty it, elf has tears come into its
eyes when you bring it face to face with
Christ. We count criticism an enemy. l
think that is mistake. We often think Of
temptations in life rs if they were almost an
evil and came from the devil. But the Bible
says: :sBlessed is the man that endureth
temptation." think God put temptation
in life for discipline. Perchance the very
finest gifts my God-given life has bestowed
rpon meas will appear at the last great
day--have come, not out Of its happiness
and success, but out of its struggles and con-
flicts and battles-out of the blessed tempta-
tion. And dare to say this: I count it a
sign-not of dying Bible-but of a living ris-
ing Bible. that it is spoken against. I count
it proof that mems hearts are not at rest
when they cannot stick to their science and
philosophy. but must come and strike at
Christ. He is moving them and is attacking
them, and the heart Of the age is stirred.
The ages of faith, as they are called, think,
were often ages Of stagnation and death.
Where there is life and movement, and
where religion is stepping forward, there
YOU may have criticism and antagnolsm.
Whathas criticism done in these last years:
I tell you it has executed Judgment Oh itself.
will tell you what critics arc doing: Ihey
arc, step by step, as each new unbcllevlng
theory comes out, making one more pathway
of escape from Christ impossible. Where Is
the Christ of Paulus? Where is the Christ
of Strauss? Where is the Christ Of Schenkel?
Where is the Christ Of Rcnan? There is not
cultivated German or CRITIC who believes
~ one Of them. And what have these
critics done? Why, by 4 method of climl-
nation they are shutting up the heart OF
humanity and the intelligence OF the age TO
this there no other explanation of Chrst's
power than the old. oil 0ne-.-iha: He was
perfect laaa and perfect God-the worlds
Saviour, the Son OF God. This good thing
has been done for our churches and for our-
sclvcs--the attack on Christ has driven us
back on Christ. Our churches are too ap' to
live with tho Christ in their c-eedS; and the
Christ OF tic best creed, is not quite the
living, loving Son Of God whom VIC SEQ in
the Gospels. 1t IS like ,hat cl,l Grcsh story
of the gan. son Of the earth i'll his wrcStle
for life.
Every time he was ih:owu Oh his mother
earth he 7Usr again with renewed strength,
but when he'd aioft he was killed. You
will never Kill Christianity till YOU succeed
in dcluding Christian. tn. they can defend
it out Of TIC Bible .nG away from Christ.
But every time one is, III the conflict Vi
criticism, flung back on Christ, | ask him II.
indeed. he is not renewed: AMI so III these
SnOckS TIC CnuIcH IEoCS aSaH Will " II"
life, because she relies anew OF risen
Christ, who is exalted Oh high, and is going
to be the worlds Saviour and the worlds
C0nqucror. Because the Bible Society is
bringing mems hearts into contact with the
heart of the Christ of the Gospels. l bid it
tiod-speed, and ask for it all the support you
can give in money and prayer; and we will
all join together in wishing that God may
increase its resources and multiply its means
of usefulness, and hasten the time when
every human home shall find its supreme
pride and boast in the Holy Book Of God.-
1Prof Elmslic.