The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-08-31

"Christ in the Temple" TintoreIs agony
in the Garden" Angeles ''Crucifxion," !"
and it has called out Handers Messiah" and
rung sweetest chimes in Youug's Might
Thoughts" and filed the psalmody of the
world with the penitential notes Of sorrow
and the hosannas Of Christian triumph.
Show me any other king who has 80
many subjects. What is the most potent
name to-day in the United States, in France,
in England, in Scotland, in Ireland? Jesus.
Other kings have had many subjects, but
where is the king who has so many admir-
ing subjects as Christ? Show me regi.
ment of thousand men in their army and
l will show you battalion Of ten thousan1
men in Christ's army.
Show me in history where one man has
given us properly ana MS life Tor any one
else, aud l will show you in history hun
dreds and thousands OF men who have cheer
fully died that Christ might reign. Aye,
there are hundred men in this house who,
If need were, would step out and die for
Jesus Their faith may now seem to be
faint and sometimes they may be lnconsls-
tent, but let the fires Of martyrdom be kim
died, throw them into the pit, cover them
with poisonous serpents, pound them, Hall
them, crush them, and / will tell you what
their last cry would be, "Come, Lord Jesus,
come quicklyW
Oh, yes! the Lord Jesus has won the atfec-
tions Of many Of US. There are some Oh US
light and my song; my hope for time. my
expectation for eternity" Altogether lovely
Thou art. My soul is ravished with the
vision. Thou art mine. Come let me clasp
Thea Como life, come death, come scorn
and pain, come whirlwiud and darkness
Lord Jesus. cannot give Thee up. I hav'
heard Thy voice. l have seen Thy bleeding
side. Lord Jesus il I had some garlan,
pluckei from heavenly gardens I woult
wreath it for Thy brow. If had somt
gem worthy of the place I would set it il
Thy crown. If I had seraphic harp Iwoult
strike it in Thy praise. But come lost ant
ruined and undone to throw myself at Th,
feet.
No price bring:
Simply TO Thy cross cling.
Thou knowast all things. Thou kuowes'
But remark again, 'It beloved Christ to
suffer-" that the world might learn how to
suffer. Sometimes people suffer because
they cannot help themselves, but Christ hac
in His hands all the weapons to punish His
enemies, and vet in quiescencs He endured
all outrage. He might have hurled the
rocks of Golgotha uoon His pursusrs: H.
might have cleft thu earth until He swal-
lowed I'D His assailants; He might have
called in reinforcement or taken any thun-
derbolt from the armory Of God Omnipotent
and hurled 1t seething and fiery among His
foes. but He answered. not again.
Oh, my hearers! has there ever been in
the history o. the world such an example Of
enduring patience as we find in the cross?
Some OF you suffer physical distresses, some
of you have lifelong ailments and they make
YOU tretful. Sometimes you think that God
has given YOU cup too deep and too brlm
ming. Sometimes you see the world laugh
ing and romping on the highways OF life.
and you look out Of the window while seated
In invalid's chair.
want to show you this morning one who
hal worse pains in the head tnan you have
ever had, whose back was scourgsd, who
was wounded in the hands and wounded in
the feet, and suffered all over: and want
that example to make you mora enduring in
your suffering, and to make you say.
IsFatner, not Ny will but Thine be DONE"
You never have had any bodily pain, and
you will never have any bodily pain that
eousled Chrst's torture. 1T beloved Christ
to suffer-" that He might show you how
physically to suffer.
Some Of you are prosecuted. There are
those who hate you. They criticse you:
They would be glad to see you stumble and
fall. They have done unaccountable mean
angry. You feel ss if you would like to re-
tort. Stop! Look at the closed lips, look at
the still hand, look at the beautiful demeanor
OF YOUR Lord. Struck, not striking back
again. Oh, if you could only appreciate
what He endured n the way OF persecution
YOU never would complain Of persecution.
The words OF Christ would be your words,
'tFather, if it he possible, let this cup pass
from Me; but if not, Thy, will be done' 1T
behoved Christ to suffer- persecution, that
He might show you how to endure persecu-
ton.
Some Of you are bereft. 1t is no random
remark. because there is hardly family
here that has not passed under the shadow.
You have been beraft. Your house Is a
different place from what it used to be. The
same furniture, the same books, the same
pictures, but there has been voice hushed
there. The face that used to light up the
whole dwelling has vanished. The patter-
iny of the other feet does not break up
the loneliness The wave has gone over your
soul, and you have sometimes thouy yht wha5
Won would tell him when he comes bacs;
but then the thought has flashed upon you,
he will never come back.
Alb! my brother, my sister, Christ has
sounded all that depth, Jesus or the bereIt
soul is here today. Behold Him! DE
knows what it is to weep at the tomb. IL
seems to me as II all the storms OF the worlds
sorrow were compressed into one sob, and
that sob were uttered in two words, Jesus
wept." ,,.
"Blessiug and glory and honor AMI pow or bs
unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, ana
unto the Lamb. forever. Amen ana aLnenF