Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-08-15

THE cRuclFIMoN or CHRIST WAS
An INFINITE NECESSITY.

1f w say that Any Lesser sacrince
. would Have served, We Charge God
Win Folly Redeemins Love Is inf
nlte r.ove--The Deccitfal Heart.
LONDON. Aug. 14.--Rev. DIR. Talmagcs
Eufopean preaching tour is drawing to
c]ose. During the week he has
proached three or four times in different
cities, following out the programme
already announced, and everywhere
meeting large and enthusiastic audi
onces. This week he speaks at Leeds,
Bradford. Sheffield and Derby. The
subject chosen for today is useful
Suffering" the text taken being Luke
xiv, 40. "It beloved Christ to suffer"
There have been scholars who have
venfured the assertion that the pains Of
our Lord were unnecessary. Indeed 1t
was shocking waste of tears and blood
S and agony. unless some great end were
to be reached. II men can prove that
no good result comes of 1t, then the
character Of God is impeached, and the
universe must stand abhorrent and de-
UXIiEINtDII db Viz ittb tiitb tfit ARtt'i
allowed the butchery Of his only begot
ten Son.
We al] admire the brave six hundred
men described by TenDyson as deshing
into the conflict when they knew they
must die, and knew at the same time
\ that '.some one had blunder'd;" but we
nre abhorrent of the man who made the
blunder and who caused the sacrifice of
those brave men for no use. But shall
show you, IL the Lord will help me, this
morning that for coed reasons Christ
went through the torture. In other
words, 1T beloved Christ to suffer-"
IN the first place, ! remark that
Chlist's lacerations were necessary, be-
cause mans rescue was an impossibility
except by the payment of some great
1acrifice. Outraged law had thundered
against iniquity. Man must die unless
3 substitute can intercept that death.
B Let Gabriel step forth. He refuses. Let
Michael the archangel step forth. He
refuses. No Roman citizen, no Athe-
ninn, no Corinthian, no reformer, no
angel volunteered. Christ then barred
his heart to the pang. He paid for our
redemption in tears and blood and
wounded feet and scourged shoulders
And torn brow. "It Is done" Heaven
and earth heard the snap of the prison
bar. Sinai ceased to quake with wrath
the moment that Calvary began to rock
IN crucifxion. Christ had suffered.
''Oh," says some man, II don't like
that doctrine Of substitution; let every
man bear his own burdens, and weep
his own tears, and fight his own battlesl"
Why, my brother. there is vicarious suf-
fering all over the world. Did not your
parents suffer for you? Do you not
sometimes suffer for your childrenl
Docs not the patriot suffer for his coun-
tiyi Did not Grace Darling suffer for
the drowning sailors2 vicarious suffer-
ing ON all sidesi But how insignificant
compared with this scene of vicarious
atliferingl
Was IL for crimes that had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity, grace unknown,
And love beyond degree
Christ must suffer to pay the price Of
our redemption.
THE HEALING SYMPATHY.
I But ! remark again, the sufferings
|0f Christ were necessary In order that
the world'ssympathies might DO aroused.
Mem ara won to tho right and good
<hrough their sympathies. The world
must feel Alright before it can act Alright.
"a the cross was allowed to be lifted
|6hat the worlds sympathies might be
aroused. Men who have been obdurated
)by the cruelties they have enacted, by
tle massacres they have inflicted, by the
horrors Of which they have been guilty.
HIVE become little children in the pres
onlj8 Of this dying Saviour.
What the swords could not do, what
QGRernauts could not subdue, tho
Hounded hand Of Christ has accom-
plished. There are this moment millions
apf people held under the spell Of that
bne sacrifice. The hammers that struck
the spikes into the cross have broken the
ocky heart of the world. Nothing but
he agonies Of Saviour's death throe
ould rouse the worlds sympathies.
e 4 remark again, ut beloved Christ
~ suffer" that the strength and persist
5nce Of the divine love might be demon
trated. Was it the applause of the
154orld that induced Christ ON that cru
ade from heaven? Why, all the uni
:z~TUe was at his feet. Could the con-
UoGt OF this insignificant planet have
1cid him for his career Of pain II II had
I'm moro matter Of applansea All
d - honors Of heaven surging at his feet
q ouid your queen give up her throne
4 ~ slio might rule u miserable tribe In
&kicn? Would the Lord Jesus Christ
( = lhe throne Of the universe come down
our planet If II were mere matter Of
plauso and acclamation?
| Nor was II an expedition undertaken
I'M the accumulation Of vast wealth.
hat could all the harvests and the
okmonds Of our little world do for him
s hoee are tho glories OF infnitude and
exnity2 Nor was Ii an experiment.
/ W attempt to show what he could do
th the hard hearted race. He who
Hoels tho stars In their courses and
IA the pillars of the universe on the
W of his fingers needed to make no
1rlment to find what he could do.
viii tell you, my friends, what il
Il was undisguised, unlimited,
conquering, all consuming, inf
eternal. omnipotent love that
"a the gate. that started the
n the east, with finger OF light |
1fnR down to the manger, that ar
~ tho Christmas choir above Beth !
~, that opened the stable door where
~ Waa born, that lifted him on the
Love thirsty at the we'll Love
- Glok mans couch. Love ut the
W. crutoh, Love sweating in the
-. Love dying ON the cross. Love