Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-06-26
Christ is better than Nose. or Aaron or the

Chris, is better than Moses or Aaron or the
Angels.
Hear, then, the word of Christ and fol-
low him as Lord How foolish TO substi-
tute for this allegience to any leader among
mem PatriArehs, prophets. Apostles. Con-
fueins, Buddha, Zoroaster, Mahomet. these
save right and authority as teachers and
transmitters. but Christ is lord of them n
he is lord of all men. Added to this is the
Office of Christ as the giver of life.
He is regarded by John as the posses
sor and source OF life in its normal eI-
pansion whatever its manifestation. physi-
cal, intellectual, spiritual. In him was
life and the life was the light of men.
am the life, he himself says. There is NJ
mist2king this.
Every man is already behohen to Christ
for physical and intellectual gifts.
Spiritual life is drawn only from
the same source. Absence from
Christ is spiritual death. What wonder
could simply say, Lord, to whom shall we
gos Thou hast the words of eternal life.
-'ou. of the Nature and will of Christ as
Mediator, Lord and Life-giver come the
elements of the Christian motive. With
only one way to God man is very likely to
pray in the spirit Of the publican. A sense
of dependence is inevitable. With Christ
az Lord, obedience is necessary. A desire
for obedience is sure to follow right con-
cep,Ion Of authority.
I'm the source of life spiritual fellow
ship is involved. The universe is no
machine or inert mass. 1t is the product
of Divine wisdom and is alive with divine
thought. In the spiritual phase of its ex-
perience this is unmistakably the case.
The New Testament takes pains 10 en-
phasize this.
THE parable of the vine and its branches,
the pictures of friendly intercourse. such
expression of lin Christ" are very sugges-
tive. the joy of life is the approval of
Christ. The inspiration of life is the spirit
of Christ The end of life is triumph with
Christ. Thus the believer is constantly
under pressure of the thought that he must
live worthy of the name of Christ.
The motive is sufficient. There is in it
the potency of ideas. With all our bondage
to materialism it is the spiritual that rules
US. Dream life, hope, faith. aspiration,
ideas, these are the influences that shape
our lives. The greatest thoughts man can
think, the largest influences to which he
can respond, make the dominion of this
motive absolute when once it rightly
grasped. Giving definiteness to this is the
power of personality to move life.
"ln all inspiration the really vital ele-
ment is contact with a personality able TO
impart its own life and power. The Bible
teaches the incarnation, not of a principle,
but of person. This is all important. 1t
means for man the constant uplift of Il
strong personal power under the influence
of which life is transformed.
ITO know how effective this is one has
only to read Christian history, nay the his
tory of the world. The best in the worlds
life has been done under the conviction
that God willed it. Illustrations multiply
with every passing year. Better formula
for guidance we cannot find than that given
US by the apostle.
THE best in our year and century has
been wrought because men heard voice
saying Whatsoever ye do. in word or in
deed, do all in the name of the Lord