The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1892-09-02
Useful SuherinS.

III. 1dlUdSc
ing tour is drawing to close. During
the week he has preached three or four
times in different cities, following out
the program already announced, and
everywhere meeting large and enthus-
iastic audiences This week he speaks
at Leeds, Bradford. Sheffield, and Derby.
The subject chosen for this sermon is
useful SUFFERING" the text taken being
Luke xiv, 46 1T beloved Christ TO
suffer-"
There have been scholars who have
ventured the assertion that the pains Of
our Lord were unnecessary. Indeed it
was shocking waste Of tears and blood
and agony, unless some great end were
to be reached. II men can prove that
no good result comes OF it, then the
character of God is impeached and the
universe must stand abhorrent and de-
mandatory at the fact that the Father
allowed the butchery Of His only begot-
ten Son.
r We ali admire the brave 600 men de-
scribed by Tennyson as dashing into the
conflict where they knew they must die,
and knew at the same time that ''some
one had Numbered" but we are abhor-
rent Of the man who made the blunder
and who caused the sacrifice Of those
brave men for no use. But shall show
you. if the Lord will help me, this morn
ing that for good reasons Christ went
through the torture. In other words,
1T beloved Christ to suffer-"
In the first place. remark that Christ's
decorations were necessary because mans
rescue was an impossibilty except by the
payment Of some great sacrifice. Out
pa1 To-, bol 81 t,;,
Man must die unless substitute can
intercept that death. Let Gabriel step
forth. He refuses. Let Michael the
archangel step forth. He refuses. No
Roman citizen, no Athenian, no Corinth-
ian, 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. 1T 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 battles"
Why, my brothers, there is vicarious
dli over tuc "OElu. OlU UOt
your parents suffer for you? Do you
not suffer sometimes for your children?
Does not the patriot suffer for his coun-
try? Did not Grace Darling suffer for
the drowning sailors? Vicarious suffer-
compared with this scene OF vicarious
suffering!
Was it for crimes tina: 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.
But l remark again. the sufferings 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
that the worlds Sympathies might be
aroused. Men who have been obdurated
by the cruelties they have enacted, by
the massacreS they have inflicted, by the
horrors of which they have been guilty
have become little children in the pres
ence OF this dying Saviour. What the
sword could not do, what JuggernautS
could not Subdue. the wounded hand Of
Christ has accomplished. There are
this moment millions Of people held I'M
der the spell of that one sacrifice. The
hammers that struck the spikes into the
cross have broken the rocky heart Of the
world. Nothing but the aGonies Of a
Saviour's death throe could rouse the
worlds sympathieS.
l remark again. at beloved 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 in
significant planet have paid Him for His
career Of pain If it had been mere mat
ter of applause All the honors of
Heaven surging at His feet Would
your queen give up her throne that she
might rule miserable tribe in Africa?
Would the Lord Jesus Christ on the
throne of the universe. come down to
our planet if it were mere matter Of
applause and reclamation?
Nor was it IN expedition undertaken
for the accumulation Of vast wealth.
What could all the harvests and all the
diamonds Of our little world do for Him
whose are the glories Of infinitude and
oternlty! nor vas lt an eApetlment-an
attempt to show what He could do with
the hard hearted race. He who wheels
the stars In their courses and holds the
pillars of the universe on the tips OF His
fingers needed 10 make NO experiment to
find what He could do. Oh, l will tell
you. my friends, what il was. 1t was
the undissuised, unlimited, all conquer
ing, all consuming, infinite, eternal,
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 ChriStmast
choir above Bethlehem: that opened the
stable door where Christ was born: that
lifted Him on the cross Love thirsty
at the we'll Love at the sick mans
conch. Love at the cripple's 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 II. The deafesr ear must
hear it Parable and miracle, wayside
talk and seaside Interview. all the suf-
ferings Of His death, proving beyond
controversy that for our migrate earth