St. Paul daily globe., 1893-02-27
HONORABLE Mr.. L1NDLEY A1rcHMoUTH (Qf Aitrh-
mouth Hall, De00usAirs shollIng through South 81.
Pam)-What bawsted town this is, anyhow.
HE WAS JUST RIGHT.

lous character of the conversion, saving
that no doubt it could be explained on
natural grounds, but that the I'M
portant point with us today was not the
natural or supernatural problem as it
appears to US, but the character of the
event as it appeared to him.
1t was claimed that this one fact was
the center of all his afterwork and after
Thought. Whatever he undertook to
explain was explained in the light OF
the conviction here received. Did men
have burdens? Bear them patiently;
he had seen the risen Christ and knew
that the time was short, ami that soon
a release was at hand. Did he suffer
from peril of waters, or robbers, or from
prosecutions? What difference? Why
complain? Was he not commissioned
to carry this tidingS? Was 1t not eX
pected that bonds and Affections should
wait Him? And so in all conditions
this thought came to him. Here is a
tent home. He always used the figure
of tleeting world, and sometimes spoke
of it as spectacle, a panoramic Spect3-
Gle, holding attention moment and
then passing away.
Shall we preserve this presentation in
our modern idea of Christ? With ST.
Paul it was strong conviction. He
did not philosophize after the manner
of the fourth gospel. But whatever
thought he had, whatever change, what
ever hope-be assured that the one
thing he did was to bring all things
under the light of this one conviction.
And this risen Christ was the center OF
A.. fp Of n
fluenced the world so profoundly when
the Bible was to men book perfectly
inspired. Burdened, sorIOWing women,
hopeless and discouraged men, slaves
toling in the canebrake until night fell.
soldiers i'll distant lands, standing in
''zerabas" between
PrOwIing Lions and Dangerous
Arabs
all these and many more have felt
| the inspiration of life in this word.
.For." they said. ''what difference does
It make-a few more waters to breast,
| a few more pains to endure, few more
| storms of hail and rain and then God
will take us home, for Christ was risen
| and was seen of his disciples, and he
has prepared a rest for me-" And |
would be most sorry to take this hope
! from the heart of one man or one
woman. for l think it powerful infiu-
ence to those who really feel its influ-
ence.
But YOU point out the fact that men
| have not always been moved by such
hope, and then you ask: 'ls not fear
the great lever of the church, and has
not the church used this lever much
more than the vision and the hope of
better life?" We must confess that
| aI,j jnf tayy ut %
church. We must confess that there is
no other power that will compare with
it for moment in influence. 1t has pan
licked armies. 1t will blanch the cheek
| in a moment. 1t will seize cOncOurse
| of people and fill them with frenzy.
| If has led to the most bitter and per-
| sistent prosecutions. But for all that
fear as motive will only change by be-
| ing presented from new point OF view.
There is the most awful revelation com
| ing when we shall examine the modern
Dsychology. for we shall there find that
the breaking of physiological law Is FOL
lowed by the most terrible c0nse-
uuences, and the crime of the street, the
| diseases we suffer from, the tendencies
to evil we deplore are the results OF
mans sin.
But still looking at the same phase,
NAV we not ask if the presentation of
this perfect hope, this risen Christ, this
heaven OF better things is not an appeal
to selfiShneSS and to our tendency to
luxury? All have tendency to luxury.
All want a climate at sixty the year
round. All want roses without the
work. All want the best without price.
Even in vice we seek the gilded saloon.
And is not this promise one that appeals
to selfshness? And from its appeal do
not many people join the church to
reach heaven, and to gain these things
promised, and do we not find that
hundreds feel that they have done their
full duty having reached this point?
And do not many feel that works OF
charity are valueless, as they have
gained the one pearl of great price,
having provided for themselves? l
admit all this may be true, but
Not the Whole Truth.
| To st. Paul and his representatives it
meant nothing of this kind. To such it
means to do the very best we can here
to make the most of our lives while we
are here, though living i'll tent home,
and there is noble army of the true
and the good who have made this hon.
orable and valuable as motive to bet
ter life.
But, is there anything OF wider appli-
cation that comes in here to make this
motive of risen Christ, representative
Of human life, this hope Of better