Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1891-04-04

ed dead, revived. ~ HAD risen trans
figured with the risen and transHg-
ured with Christ. 1t is the change in
the disciples themselves more than
their testimony that demonstrates
the reality Of the Saviour's resurrec.
ton. 1t might be said that He had
filled their minds with such magnif-
cent imperial dreams that they could
not return to their nets or, that
they had only fondly fancied what
they tell us of the risen one. But the
strange, unheard of thing is, that they
no longer pursue worldly but spirit
ual ends. 1t is not imperial thrones
they expect, but persecution and
death. Yet, in the face of it all they
toll on with an intelligence, devotion
and faith in results they had never
evinced before.
The resurrection is not only asserted
in the scriptures, but declared to be
the pivotal fact in the Christian sys-
tenn. Christ himself foresaW that it
would be attended with transcendent
interest. When sceptical Jews came
asking Him for some marvellous sign
of His Messiahship, lie did not direct
their attention to His oracular wis
dom, the peerless purity ofhis beneh-
cent life, the fulfilment of prophe-
cy in his person and work, or to the
splendid miracles which followed his
simple word, but pointed them to his
resurrection. There should no sign be
given them but that Of Jonas. His
resurrection was the crucial test by
which he would have his claims test
ed. He perilled his Deity on his
rising from the tomb of Joseph, and
appealed to it to enforce the authority
Of his instructions and the efficacy Of
his death. In like manner did his
inspired apostles hold up the fact Of a
risen saviour as the central lac' OF Ihe
CHRISTIAN system OF docIihe' Like
our stellar system in which the plan,
e'S IeFOiFe IouHa inc e5iluaI aU'r"1u
"eI'Fe lShl ana neat 'heiei'olA' so
nom inc cchlid1 sun Oh 'Ne risen 'oi-
Fl7uI run Oh arteries ana VEINS o' me
10 All 'l!e uoc'ii"e9 Oh grace some
"ouIU peIsUaue Us 10 o5i'eNe 'Ii"I we
can dispense win l"e CHRISTIAN
miracles Iha' OF the resurrection III
cluueu, ana oe no loser lhereDy' bul
TINS Is a de'uSioh' omit the la5'
chapter OF the gospels, ana holhlhS
remains worth the keeping IL mat
tiers not now lar the machine De from
the engine IL mere De a rou connect
ing the one with the o'her. But II
there be no such connection the ma
chlnery remains at rest, despite the
power OF the engine. 80, II there be
no risen saviour, there Is no BOND Oh
connection between the present and
the lar OIL past OF Jesus DAY, ana his
death can no more move me than can
that OF Socrates. Ii Jesus rose not
he IS not alive now; and, II not now
alive, he can be no more Saviour &c
me than Plato can. If Jesus rose not
no guilty man can be pardoned. For
if there be any such, 1t is because Je
sus was delivered for our offences
and raised again for our Justification
If any morally dead soul has beer
quickened,it is as "quickened togeth
er with Christ" If the resurrection
of Christ be a fiction, then we have
no hope Of heaven. For, if it is writ
ten, GAY dead men shall live" it j
added, together with my dead bod!
shall they come" If we have an!
, hope of an incorruptible inheritance
it is because we have been "begOttel
again to it by the resurrection Of Jesu
Ohrist'' ii Ohrlst De not risen, I'M