The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-08
AS A SOCIAL FACTOR.
The Sayior's Influence Upon
the Lives of Men.
THE MISSION OF CHRIST.
He Came to Save the worId-vfsit of
IN Aberdeen Preacher-Church
News Notes.

Rev. Alfred 1nwood, at the Battery
street NJ. E. church. yesterday morning
preached an eloquent and instructive SER
mon upon the subject of Christ's first
miracle He took his text from John
H:2-"This beginning of miracles did
Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested
forth His glory: and His disciples be-
lieved on Him, and said in substance:
Jesus he said, began His ministry with a
miracle. But what was a miracle? No. mere
prodigy OF power, but a sign, a manifestation,
sn unfolding, revealing OF power not a yio-
istlon OF nature. but a higher revelation Of
higher and natural forces All nature was
miracle. All its processes were constantly re.
curing miracles. They were processes that
always and everywhere went beyond human
power.
In dealing with miracles, he continued, these
things must be kept in sight, John declares
this miracle to be sign, the frat OF a number
Of marvellous signs during Christ's ministry:
and our duty is, therefore, to search and search
until we find what 1t signifies. and not until we
have found its Specification must we rest salts
6cd. Let me speak OF two of its Specifications
what 1t signifies concerning US and what con-
earning Christ.
And, first, concerning US. Notice then that
Christ began His ministry not as a preacher but
uaman of society That is not aceiden tai
christs work is transformation. And His hope
OF saving society was through, largely trans.
forming tho bases OF society. Christ Himself
was never 10 be married-that impossible to
Him; but He will honor, sanction aud sanctify
the marriage relation. However Ii appear in
the eye OF the law, in Gods sight that is not
mere civil contract, but divine institution. In
His thought it is the most sacred of earthly rela
tons-intended TO be the symbol of the indis-
soluble union OF the soul and God-to be the
basis for the diyinest act OF human life-to be
the creator and guarantee OF the family and
home life-the basis of society And by His
presence at the marriage ceremony He not only
sanetiied II, but opened the way for His clear
aiter-teaching concerning the law OF marriage
And how lar from His teaching we have gone,
and into what evil has this departure brought
u.s. No graver social evil of our time exists
than our loose marriage laws and customs.
From the one extreme OF a narrow interpreta-
ton OF Bible teaching we have swung to the
opposite extreme and have practically broken
down the barriers around the marriage bond
One hopeful feature remalns-Chrst at the
marriage feast is still felt; infidelity to the
marriage vow is regarded helnous offense
The truest safeguard Is this, a marriage in
which Christ Is the most prominent figure. He
must be at the marriage feast and in the we'd
ding hearts, else true union is impossible.
And In His miracle lies the prophecy of what
He will do for womanhood. He here consti-
tutes woman regnant in the home, its central
figure, the controlling spirit in its varied minis
trafions, the presiding genius of its festal life
She 1t is who calls for the Christ power. 1t is,
sitter all, done at her bidding, though not at her
time. Home is made her supreme place of
power; do not say the only place, but the
supreme one There other thrones OF
power this the most exalted.
And In crowning her He has transformed her
fact nf4o al ~
Christian lands; while in transforming her He
has tranformed the home and the family.
In MS entrance thus into society He came to
meet the social needs of men. He recognizes
social NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. that are to be met,
directed and sanctifed. You say lie came to
save. Yes, but what is that? Spiritual recrea-
uonY Is that all2 That meets only one part of
human life, though the most important Life
ha unit To save lie must therefore save all
It's elements; and to Christ salvation is the
rectiication of all life. One great view today IL
this: Christ's entrance into and sanctification
Of the social life. Much of il is today devilish-
Christ Is ostracised-banished. What IL the
remedy? Christ Ia to be hidden to enter it. A
groat deal of church effort is an endeavor to
empty life OF its social features That is absurd,
and not Christ's way. His way is transforming
by his presence. He would dispel its dark
ness and frivolity and impurity by His personal
contact. Complete reform is never by
the prohibitory way: but by the displacement
Of the bad by the good, by putting into the
social life something better than man himself
can produce. This applies to every feature OF
that LIE, and in thus entering lie constitutes
Himself the true source of true JOY of life-its
creator and preserver Here is a lesson for the
visible Christine church; it Is to be the great
source of true, joyous life
Notice again that though He did not begin
His ministry a preacher, this miracle pro-
ne praa truf ha 10 tn oh viz
the sseredness OF all natural life; the failure of
Gil purely earthly things to meet human need,
ana Gods abundant supply for that need. At
best earthly things can satisfy but for a short
tme Then, finally, comes an aching want in
The soul these do not meet. They fail ever to
meet the inner social needs, much more the
spiritual. They have absolutely nothing pro-
motive of the higher soul-liie. Here it is the
gospel meets Us. As in Christ's miracle,
% here Gods supply is vastly more
tnan abundant for our need, now In
niss festivities, then in LIES decline,
and then at the close OF life His supply has
reached its richest quality. speak not, though,
somuch of the fullness of the supply-that is
known TO ALL speak of Christ's method. 1t is
now as then, even when nature is exhausted,
when the ordinary help fails, and He does il by
introducing new element into the common
Things oil daily life, completely Transforming
and coloring ali life for US.
ihaYe no time this morning 10 speak OF the
sgniheance Of this miracle concerning Christ,
and must conclude with this thought: Christ
began His ministry at wedding feast: lie will
close In one. lie not only transforms this life,
managing its social features, making life feast,
nang IL with luxury and tenderness and love,
out he will crown it with wedding ceremony.
Al that day Christ. the bridegroom, shall claim
ths church His bride, and shall consummate an
eternal nupiial. and you and l who have taken
HIN into our life shall set down az the marriage
supper OF the Lamb and the feast shall be al