The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1892-10-08
USEFUL SUFFERING.
The Price Paid by Christ for the
Redemption Of Mankind.

Il
Redemption Of Mankind
II Was IN object Lesson that I'm All the
Centuries that Have Elapsed has
Not Lost Its Potency ~ .
Test Of Divine Love.
The following discourse, selected by |
Rev. T. Dewitt Talmage from those de-
livered during his European tour, is
given for per1sal this week by his Amer
tc6n readers. The TEXTS:
II behccved Christ TO suffsr.-Luke xiv. 10. |
There have been scholars who have
ventured the assertion than the pains
of our Lord were unnecessary. Indeed,
Il was shocking waste of tears and
blood and agony, unless some great
end were to be reached. If men can
prove that no good result comes OF 1t,
then the character of God Is i'm
peached, and the universe must stand
abhorrent and denunciatory ut the
fact that the Father allowed the
butchery of His only begotten Son. We
all admire the brave six
hundred described by Ten
nyson as dashing into the conflict
when they knew they must die, and
knew at the same time that s'somenons
had blunder'd;" but we are abhorrent
of the man who made the blunder and
who caused the sacrifice of these brave
men for no use But shall show you,
if the Lord will help me this morning,
that for good reasons Christ went
through the torture. In other words,
ut behooved Christ to suffer"
1. In the first place remark, that
Christ's decorations were necessary, be
cause mans rescue was an impossi-
bility except by the payment Of some
great sacrifice. Outraged law had
Numbered against iniquity. Man must
die unless substitute can intercept
that death. Let Gabriel step forth.
He refuses. Let Michael, the arch
angel, step forth. He refuses No
Roman citizen, no Athenian, no Cor
inthian, no reformer, no angel volun-
teercd. 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. ut 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 crucifction.
Christ had suffered. "Ohr' says some
man, 81 don't like that doctrine of sub
stitution; let every man bear his own
burdens, and weep his own tears, and
fight his own battles" Why, my
brother, there is vicarious suffering all
over the world. Did not your parents
suffer for you? Do you not suffer
sometimes for your children? Does moi
the patriot suffer for his country Did
not Grace Darling suffer for the drown
ing sailors? vicarious suffering on al
sides! But how insignificant compared
with this scene of vicarious suffering!
Was II for crimes that hsd done
He eroaned upon the trees
Amazing pity, grace unknown.
And love beyond degree
Christ must suffer to pay the price o
our redemption.
But remark again: The suffering
Of Christ were necessary in order tina
the worlds sympathies might b
aroused. Men are won to the RICH
and good through their sympathies
The world must feel Alright before
can act Alright So the cross was Al
lowed to be lifted that the worlds sym
pathies might be aroused. Men VIII
have been obdurated by the crueltie
they have enacted, by the massacre
they have inflicted, by the horrors o
which thew have been guilty. have b,
come little children in the presence {
this dying Saviour. What the swor
could not do, what Juggernauts coul
not subdue, the wounded hand {
Christ has accomplished. There Al
this moment millions Of people hel
under the spell of that one sacrihc'
The hammers that struck the spike
into the cross have broken the rock
heart of the world. Nothing but tn
aronies of Saviour's death throe coul
rouse the worlds sympathies
remark again: ut behooved Chris
to sd fer" that the strength and pc
sistence of the Divine love might b
demonstrated. Was 1t the applause q
the world that induced Christ on thu
crusade from Heaven? Why, and Il
universe at His feet. Could the cor
quest of this insignificant planet ha'
paid Him for His career Of pain, It
SfNd been mere matter of applaus
Nall the honors of Heaven sur
ing 1T His feet Would yo1
queen give ur- her throne that 81
might rule srnaiserable tribe in Afric'
Would the Lord Jesus Christ, on u
Throne of the universe, come down
our planet II it were q mere matter
applause and reclamation? Nor w
1t an expedition undertaken for II
accumulation Of vast wealth VIII
could all the harvests and the diamon'
of our little world do for Him who
are the glories of the infinitude ~
eternity? Nor was it IN experiment
an attempt to show what He could
with hard-hearted race. He wi
wheels the stars In their courses ~
holds the pillars Of the universe ON {
tins Of His fingers needed
make no experiment to hnd WI
He could do Oh! will tell you, 2
friends, what it was It was und
ruised, unlimited. all-conquerinR, :
consuming, infinite, eternal omni!
49, love that ouenAd the rate: q