Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-08-25
SERMON.
The Eloquent American Divine Con-
tinues to Entertain the Euro
pears.
His Subject Was "Useful Suffering"
Taken From the Text ut Behoov.
ed Christ to Suffer-.

is drawing to a close. During th'
week he has preached three or foul
times in different cities, following out
the program already announced anc
everywhere meeting large and enthusl
astic audiences. This week he speaks
at Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield and
Derby. The subject chosen for today
is, useful suffering" the text being
Luke 24:46, at behooved Christ to
suffer-"
There have been scholars who have
ventured the assertion that the pains
of our Lord was unnecessary. In
deed, it was a shocking waste OF tears
blood and agony, unless some great
end were to be reached.
In the first place l remark, that
Christ's decorations were necessary,
because man. rescue was an impossi-
bility except by the payment OF some
great sacrifice. Outraged law had
Numbered against iniquity. Man
must die unless a substitute aninter-
cept that death. Let Gabriel step
forth. He refuses. Let Michael, the
archangel, step forth. He refuses.
No Roman citizen, no Athenian, no
Corinthian, no reformer, no angel
volunteered. Christ then barred his
heart to the pang. He paid for our
redemption in tears aud blood, and
wounded feet, and scourged shoulders,
and torn brow. Christ must suffer
to pay the price OF our redemp tlon.
But Iremark again: The suffering
OF Christ were necessary in order
that
THE WORLDS sYMPATHIEs
might be aroused. Men are won to
the right and good through their
sympathies. The world must feel
Alright before it can act Alright. So
the cross was allowed to be lifted so
that the worlds sympathies might be
aroused. Men who have been obdur-
ated by the cruelties they have en-
acted, by the massacres they have in
hicted, by the horrors OF which they
have been guilty, have become little
children in the presence OF this dying
Savior. What the sword could not
do, what Juggernauts could not sub
due, the wounded hand OF Christ has
accomplished.
l remark again: "It behooved
Christ to suffer-" that the strength
and persistence OF the divine love
might be demonstrated. Was it the
applause OF the world that induced
Christ on that Crusade from heaven?
Why, all the universe was at his feet.
Could the conquest OF this insignif-
cant planet have paid him for his
career OF pain, if it had been mere
matter OF applause.
Oh! tell you, my friends, what twas.
1t was undi$guised, unlimited, all-con-
quering, all-consuming, infinite, eter-
nal, omnipotent love that opened the
gate, that started the star in the
East, with finger OF light pointing
down to the manager; that arrayed
the Christmas choir above Bethlehem,
that opened the stable door where
Christ was born, that lifted him on
the cross. Love at the sick mans
couch. Love at the cripples crutch.
Love sweating IN the garden. Love
dying on the cross. Love wrapped
in the grave. You cannot mistake it.
The blindest eye must see it. The
hardest heart must feel it. The deaf
est ear must hear it.
But remark again: at behooyed
Christ to suffer" that.
THE NATURE OF HUMAN GUILT
might be demonstrated. There is not
a common sense man in the house TO.
day that will not admit that the
machinery OF society is out of gear.
that the human heart are disorpaniz.
ed. that SOMETHING ought to be done
and done right away ior it's repair
ana REIMBURSEMENT. But the height,
and depth, and length and breadth,
ard hate, and recklessness, and infer.
nal energy of the human heart for sin
would not have been demonstrated if
against the holy and innocent One
OF the Cross it had not been hurled in
one bolt OF fire. Oh list was not the
hrst man that had been put to death
There had been many before him nut
to death; but they had their whims
their follies, their sins, their inconsist,
encies. But when the mob outside If
Jerusalem howled at the Son of God
It was hate against goodness, it was
blassphemy againt virtue, it was earth
against heaven. When sin murdered
Christ on the cross, it showed what it
would do with the Lord God Almighty
II 1t could get at him. The nronhet
had declared-I think it was Jerem;a h
had declared centuries before the
truth, but not until sin shot ont its
torked tongue at the crucifixion and
tossed its stingi into the soul O: a mar.
tyred Jesus was it illustrated that
1.-The heart is deceitful above ali
things, and desperately wicked !" '
Again: at behooyed Christ IN s,,t
fer" that our affections might he I er
cited Christward. Why, sirs, the be.
havior of our Lord "
HAS STIRRED THE AFFE TON.
OF all those who have ever heard of Il
thas hung the art galleries OF the world