The record-union., 1892-10-06
i FEELING AFTER G0D."
Failure Of Human Attempts to Make
the Atonement.
Discourse Delivered Last Evening at
the First Christian Church by
Evangelist j. F. Ghormley.

At last evenings revival services at the
Christian Church on Eighth street, Evan
gelist Ghormley took for his text: "Ought
not Christ to have suffered these things,
and to enter into his glory ?"-Luke,
XIV, 26.
If we shall seek an answer to this ques-
ton from the prophets, said the speaker,
they will all answer it in the Affirmative.
The burden of their inspired songs was
the sufferings Of the Just One. Isaiah
asked: "Who is this that cometh from
Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah?
this that is glorious in his apparel, trav-
cling in the greatness of his strength ?''
The answer is returned: II that speak
in righteousness, mighty to save" This
does not satisfy the prophet, and he presses
further his question: Wherefore art
thou red in thine apparel, and thy gar
ments like him that treadeth in the wine
vat?" The answer: 81 have trodden in
the wine-press alone, and of the people
therewas none with ne.'' lisa. xiii, i-2.)
This prophet beheld him led as a lamb
to the slaughter. David exclaimed, con-
cerning him: My hands have they
pierced ~ The sutferings of the Christ
for ages were read in type and shadow.
II the answer Of this question should be
made by the Savior of men, he would re-
ply: "Thus it is written and thus it be-
hooved the Christ to suffer and TO die, and
tnat repentance and remission of sins
should be preached in his name"
We must question human experience,
and receive the answer. History is but
the record OF human experience. AS we
look into its records, we find that the race
has been constantly feeling after God"
This is universal. It feels its dependence.
and wants the Independent One The
coming Of someone out from God was the
dream of Socrates. The idolatry Of every
nation is but the expression of the need
| OF the atonement.
But there is no God in the idol. It does
| not live and move and breathe and have
| a being. Every attempt humans have
made to make the atonement has failed.
! Man must love perfect likeness OF him
! self as God made him. He must know
! the sintulness of sin; he must know the
| righteousness Of God. The world watches
! the gathering clouds; sees the sun robed
! in garments Of darkness; they hear the
awful qualling of ancient hills and
| mountains when the Son ofIGod dies and
! they say, This is what sin doesv' 1t
would dethrOne God; it would turn light
| into darkness and order into chaos. 1t
would fill the fountain of love with
! streams of hatred.
| Human hearts desire a strong arm to
stay the awful crimson tide of sin and
woe. Not only do we die 10 sin in His
death, but in His life we reign with Him
in His glory. It was needful that He
should ascend to the Father The race
needed the assurance that we are related
to other worlds. The answer to the stu
pendous question is: Return, risen One!
| Enter into Thy glory! Receive the crown
worthy Thy thorn-pierced brow, and
reign King Of Kings forever moreu
We are kindred to the sll;es-God is
our father and Jesus Christ our elder
brother. He is the way, the truth, the
lite.
| The evangelist's theme this evening
will be: 1.-The Death of the Christ as
Viewed From the Divine Standpoint