The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1892-08-25
USEFUL SUFFERING.
:. TALMAGE SPEAKS OF THE USES
OF ADVERSELY.

Cross,
LONDON, Aug. l4.-Rev. DR.. Tai
ages European preaching tour is
rawlng TO close, During the week
o has preached three or four times in
liierent cities, following out the pro-
ramme already announced, and every
1here meeting large and enthusiastic +
audiences. This week he speaks at |
leeds, Bradford, Sheffield and Derby.
Fl'.' -.Ject chosen for today is use |
III Suneriug," the text taken being
luke XXiv, &c, at beloved Christ to |
suffer-"
There have been scholars who have
;enturcd the assertion that the pains Of
our Lord were unnecessary. Indeed it
vas shocking waste OF tears and blood
and agony, unless some great end were
10 be reached. ii men can prove that
no good result comes OF it, then the
character Of God is impeached anG. tie
universe nust stand abhorrcnt and de-
nunciatory at the !act that the Father
allowed the butchery Of his only begot-
ten Sou.
We all admire the brave six hundred
men described by Tcnnyson as dashing
into the conflict where they knew they
must die, and knew at the same time
that "somc one had blundered," but VIC
are abhorrent OF the man who made the
blunder and who caused the sacrifice Of
those brave men Tor no use. But
shall show you, itthe Lord will help me,
this morning that for good reasons
Christ went through the torture. In
other words, "lt beloved Christ TO sut-
fer"
In the first place, l remark that
Christ's lacerations were necessary be-
cause mans rescue was nn impossible
lty except by The payment OF some
great sacrifice. Outraged law had thun-
dercd against inlquty. Man must die
unless substitute can intercept that
death. Let Gabriel step forth. He re-
fuses. Let Michael the archangcl step
forth. lie refuses. No Roman citizen,
no Athcniau, no Corinthian, no rolorm-
cr, no angel volunteered. Christ then
barred his heart to the pang. lie paid
Tor our redemption In tears aud blood
and wounded iCeL and scOurgcd shou.
dcrs and torn brow. "lt is lOnc.O
Heaven and earth heard The snap oi the
prison bar. Sinai ceased TO quake with
WI ath the moment that Calvary began
to rock in crucilXiOn. Christ had suf-
iered.
son." says some man, 81 don't like
that doctrine of substitution; let every
man bear his own burdens and eep his
own tears and fight his own battlcs!"
Why, my brothers, there is vicarious
suffering al over the world. Did not
your parents suffer for you? DO YOU
not suffer sometimes for your children?
Does not the patriot suffer for his coull-
try? Did not Grace Darling suffer for
the drowning sailors? Vicario Is suffer-
ing on oil sides! But how insignificant
compared with this scene of V!carlous
suffering!
Was it for crimes that had done
lie groancd upon the tree?
Amazing pity, grace unknown,
And love beyond degree.
Christ must suffer to pay the price of
our redemption.
But remark again, the sutierinSs of
Christ were necessary in order that the
worlds sympathcs might be aroused.
Men are won to the right and good
through their sympalhics. The world
must feel Alright before it can act Alright.
SO the Gloss was allowed to be lifted
that the worlds sympathies might be
aroused. Men who have been obdurat-
Cd by the cruClues they have enacted,
by the massacreS they have inflicted, by
The horrors OF which they have been
guilty have become little children in the
presence OF this dying Saviour. What
the sword could not do, what Jugncr-
nauts could not subduc, the wounded
hand OF Christ has accomplished. There
are tins moment millions Of people held
under 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 |
agC,hcs OF Savour's death throc could
rouse the worlds sympathics.
l remark again, ut beloved Christ
TO sutlcr'' that the strength and pcrsis-
tenCe OF the divine love might be demon.
strated. Was it the applause OF the
world that Induced Cmist on that cru.
sadc from heaven? Why, all the uni
verse was at his feet. Could the con-
quest OF this insignificant planet have
paid him for his career Of pain if 1t had
been mere m@ttcr Of applause? All
inc honors OF heaven surging at his feet.
Would your queen give up her throne
mat she might rule 4 miserable tribe III
Africa? Would the Lord Jesus Christ,
on The throne OF the uuivels Sc, come
down to Cur planet if il were a mere
matter OF applause and accamali0n?
Nor was 1t an expedition undertaken
Tor the accumulation OF vast wealth.
What could all the harvests and all the
diamonds OF our little world 90 for him
whose arc the glorics of inlintudc and
eternity? Nor was it an experiment.
an attempt to show what he could do
with the hard hearted race, He whs
Wnecls The stars in their courses and
holds the pillars OF the universe on the
tps OF his fingers needed to make no cx-
pertinent to lind what he could do. Oh.
l will tell you, my friends, what it was.
1t was the undlsguised, unlimited, all
conquerng. all consuming, infinite,
eternal, omnipotent love that opcned
the gate, that stared the star in the cast,
with finger Of light pointing down to
the manger; that :.rrayed the Christmas
choir above Bethlehem; that opened the
stable door where Chrst was born; that
llited him en- the cross. Love thirsty
at the we'll. Love at the sick mans