The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-12-18
SPIRITUAL CHARACTERS.
over, Justice and Mercy Are Of Cod
Qualifications and Sphere Of the
Young CONGRATULATED Christ
Is Rich, and Man May Be.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

"#E
PRESBYTERIAN HURcH
Text: 1.-THE Unsearchable Riches of
Christ" (Eph. 3:S)
Richest What a word that isl Tohow
many objects it is applied, earthly and
heavenly, visible and invisiblei Well
filed sacks Of bright, ripe wheat, nuggets
OF gold dug from the earth, bags Of coin
ON bank counters, certificates OF stock,
titles to real estate, fast horses, splendid
equipages, plate, i~ewels-these are some
Of the things which me mention when
asked the meaning OF the word 'Riches."
But Jesus definition OF riches is sum
med up in that significant utterance OF
his: "The life ia more than meat" Matt.
6:25.) Character is better than posses
sions. What we are,rather than what
we have, 10 the more important con-
sideration in His view.
Inspected and judged as we all are
by the Omniscient eye we are poor in
deed in that which constitutes true riches,
but, alas, we do not know it. Listen
to His words: Because thou sayest, I
am rich, and increased with goods, and
have need Of nothing; and knowest not
that thou art wretched and miserable
and poor blind and naked: I counsel
thee to buy Of me gold tried in the fire
that thou mayest be rich" REV. 3:17. 18)
A ruined character, q wrecked man
hood, possessions squande-ed and in
heritan ce forfeited, in such plight Jesus
Christ finds Ms when he comes into the
world. His mission ID to rebuild that
character, TO restore that manhood, to
renew u title to these possessions and
that inheritance.
Bishop Simpson has said with great
truth: 1.-THE whole history of the church
shows that where depravity has been
doubted efforts for human salvation have
been relaxed" The riches OF Christ inn
plies the spiritual poverty OF man. The
free offer OF Salvation argues the in
ability OF man to save himself. Hence
the need OF "the unsearchable riches of
Christ" In what do these consist?
Jesus is rich, first, in His personality
and, secondly in His work.
/. His human nature. Jesus is ours
in his human sympathies and colnpaion-
ship. He is friend that stiketh closer
than a brother" .Bereaved, lonely one,
you need not 60 through the world CON-
panionless! Here is one who understands
You, and is in full sympathy with all
your needs.
2. His divine nature. Here we find
holiness, justice, power, love all in inf
mite degrees, unsearchable riches.
3. The union OF the trio natures in one
divine human person. This is the
mystery OF the incarnation, making O
character rich, unsearchably, intellectually
rich, in al the elements needed to minis
ter to ruined and helpless man. But,
secondly, see how this rich character has
been put at the services Of mankind.
1. b. paying for us our debt to God.
Wetalk of getting square with the
world" paying our old debts. Our obi
cations to God have accumulated to such
an extent that only the rich blood OF
Gods only and we'll beloved Son could
meet them. "And he 10 the precipitation
for II SINS q Jno. 4:1O.l The CON.
seriousness Of forgiveness through Christ
will put new moral nerve into our weak
Wills.
2. We have a rich reserve, an abund-
ant surplus Of strength and grace to
draw upon in our conflicts with evil, in
our struggles with adversely. my grace
shall be sufficient FOR thee.D He is table
to keep as from falling"
8. The "nnsearchable riches Of the
future life which 'seye has not seen nor
ear heard"
Finally, shall We not, acknowledging
our moral poverty, accept a title to the
illlimitable wealth OF "divine love, .the
u~nsearchable riches OF Christ" You,
reader, are n Of the heirs to this estate.
M. II. CHURCH.
Morning subject, "After the Revival
Text, "Have ye received the Holy Ghost
since We believed?" Acts XIX 2.
No blessings without responsibilities.
where much is given, much is re-
quired." requirement creates demand,
and demand ID, in spiritual things pre-
eminently, the pledge Of supply. ASK
and ye shall receive" Because or q re.
vival with some fruits, we do not need
less, but than before. When q
child is born unto a home, it increases
the child needs, and the home needs. I
know OF no 10 thing that better ex-
presses our needs than that implied in
the text, the Holy Ghost. The question
Paul here asks the Ephesians has a
double application
1. To the converts. Viewing these
twelve men as young converts-spiritual