The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-28
Ny theme is-''The man who is crowned

My theme lS-Ihe man VINO IL crowned
II a man strive for masteries yet Is he not
crowned except he strive lawfully. II Tim. %.
Man is that strange, connecting link be-
tween dust and Deity. He bears the i'm
press of divinity, and wears the habili-
ments of earth. The whole story is told
in two brief statements in the book of
Genesis. God created man IN his own
image; in the image OF God, created he
him" 1.-The Lord God formed man of the
dust of the ground" It is clear, therefore,
acter is two-fold What revelation i'm
plies, our experience confirms. We are
conscious of possessing an element that
clincs to earth, while anon we feel the
God breathed spirit within us rising to
the celestial fatheriand. Man was made
for earth, but to be the master of earth,
and not its slave. He is commissioned a
master Have dominion over every liv-
ing thing that moyeth upon the earth. J"
must be more and higher than earth
Hence, he is put in communication with
the Great Master of the universe, by being
made "a living soul.
If we are created in the image and like
ness of God" we are evidently endowed
with characteristics and powers CORES
ponding with those that belong to Him.
He is the pattern; we are the copy. This
fact furnished the Great Teacher the basis
for the injunction uttered in His sermon
on the Mount: ''Be We, therefore, perfect
even as your Father who is in heaven is
perfect" He said to His listening dis
ciples as they sat before Him on the hill
side: Eye are endowed with attributes
after the divine Original Ye are divine
beings in miniature" Your divine at
tributes are limited by the element of
earth that co-exists with them. That ele-
ment has it's place and uses. But let not
it predominant. Give scope to the divine.
Your divine Father is perfect-all His
anced, character symmetrical. BE We
therefore perfect" Truly our sphere is
an exalted one. Thou madest him a
little lower than the angels; Thou
crownedst him with glory and honor,
and didst set him over the works of Thy
hands. Thou didst put all things in sub
lection under his feet"
Such is man in the purpose and intent
of his creation. But, alas! such
today. Sin has despoiled the fair image
and likeness of God. Its foul touch has
blurred and dishgured it almost beyond
recognition. Sin has wrought havoc with
his supremacy in the earth. The earth re-
fuses to crown him with honor and glory.
Earth rebels against his authority. His
dominion is broken. His rule is spurned.
He has lost his throne. He is captive
himself. A usurper reigns. The prince OF
the power of the air is the prince of this
world by right of conquest. But another
character appears on the scene. \ greater
than his satanic majesty is here. He
comes hearing in Himself ''all the fullness
of the Godhead bodily" being the bright
ness of Gods glory and the express image
of His person. "the image of the invisible
God" He comes to the rescue of the race
whose minds the god of this world hath
blinded lest the glorious gospel of Christ,
who is the image of God, should shine unto
them" His keen penetration dlscerus In
the human soul the ancient stamp of
Gods image beneath all its detilement
and ruin; and by that image He recognizes
man as the royal house of earth, notwlth-
standing its subjugation. And He says:
81 will restore that image of God by CIV
ing the soul new birth, and baptism of
fire. l will mould it anew and make
of it new creation. | will give
him new start by furnishing him with
an Immoveable basis on which to stand
while he Strives for the mastery" The
image of God that | bear shall he bear.
aud l will restore him his throne, Will
make him king unto God, and he shall
reign on the earth"
''Be We, lwho are upon earth) therefore,
perfect, even as your Father who IS III
Heaven is perfect" In other words, give
the God-like that | now put you in posses
sion of chance to become master OF your
own life; and while you strive for this
mastery let the perfect character OF your
Heavenly Parent be your ideal.
Now this eXhortation was given to the
restored man, and applies to no other. 1t
is without meaning or application to the
unregenerate; to the man who has lost
Gods image, and refuses to have it re-
stored through the mediation of Jesus
Christ In the very nature OF the case,
there can be no master, no GROWING, nc
perfect stature in the unregenerate man,
as such, let him strive for the mastery
never so hard, because there can be no
lawful striving eff a man strive for mas
teries. vet is he not crowned, except he
strive lawfully" 1t was spoken to the
disciples of Jesus for they alone have the
basis for supremacy of character; they alone
have the foundation for the building up
into a perfect man, unto the measure OF
the stature of the fullness of Christ.
They alone occupy the position
where, with unveiled face they
reflect the glory of the Lord
and thus ''are transformed into the same
image from glory to glory"
If that is your position today, my young
friends, bring you divine words of cheer
and encouragement. | beckon you to
masters seat, and point you TO the perfec-
ton of Him to whose image, and after
whose likeness you have been restored, as
the one ideal to hang before your Vision
while YOU strive for llfe's masterles.
perchauce you are not of the class TO whom
this Scripture is applicable, then a simpler
and more fundamental gospel is yours,
lust now: and that message l would pro
claim with trumpetS voice and a
Savior's accent. Il is this: CAS- many as
received Him. to them gave He the right
to become children of God, even to them
that believed on His name; which were
born not OF blood, nor OF the VIII OF Tue
flesh, nor of the will of man, but OF God.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" that
you may have the right to enter the con
test of life for a masters crown.
By life. I mean only the term of youl
natural existence in this world. l know
that its three and a half score years Is bu;
AN atom of the restored mans llfe-ouly
the yestibule to endless cycles. But IL
one sense. il is the most important part
1t is the development stage. II
s. the period Of character building.
1t is the school from whose broad anc
upon the duties of the higher life beyond
Aye, it is the busy preparation hour FOL
the great examination that Is TO tx oul
nromotion rank in eternity. More, il j:
the exciting theater OF fierce fought strug
ole whare masteries are attained, victorle:
achieved, palms and ehaplets won. A So
lime and mighty time is the life this sidt
the grave for him who comprehends IL
meaning and lawfully enters the lists foi
its mastery.
The Apostle Paul, Notwithstanding hi
race prestige--a Hebrew OF the hebrews
was not satisfied with MS superior extFac
ton. but sought that higher education
and effective action in his religion that en-
sbled him at the end to say: The time o
nv departure is at hand. am already be
ing poured out-the old earthen vessel i
upsetting and am being poured out.
have striren the good strife, have finish
ed nv course. have kept the faith. Re
mainiag. there.is laid up for me the c-owI