The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-11-20
TWO SERMONS.
The Physical and Psyohical Sides Of the
Orucifxion-The Negative and Posi-
tive Sides of Ohristianity-Think
and Act On Them.
NJ. E. CHURCH.

iou, anu CTuciueEs. 1eAb, 1Sdidns oo,o'
Isaiah spans seven centuries with the
ield-glass OF prophesy, and brings the
tragedies of Gethsemane and Calvary
back to his own time, and even treats
them as in the past tense. This theme
is worthy of our consideration. Christ
not only died for, but Of, our sins, ac-
cording to our text.
L. The crucifixion. We too frequent
ly fail to discern it's double character.
(a) Physical: Crucifixion, q Roman pun
ishment, observed only by traitors and
slaves" Ignominious, barbarous, cruel
slow and painful. Jesus was weary with
loss Of sleep, and mental strain, and
weight of burden. The sentence, 'thou
shall be crucified,"had been pronounced,
and the cruel scourging which always
followed, had been inflicted. He bears
his W cross until, sinking beneath il,
another is ordered to help him. The
heralds go before bearing the tablet Of
his accusation. The thorny crown 10
pressed rudely upon his brow. He is
nailed to the cross. Says Jeremy Tay
lor, 1.-THE weight of his body depended on
four great wounds" But this, severe as
it was, was not the real crucifixion.
There was a severer, more painful one
(b) Psychical: Those nails not only en-
tered his body but his righteous soul.
This crucitixion began in Gethsemane,
and would have been contaminated
there but for the sustaining angels
touch. My soul ls exceeding sorrowful,
even unto DEATH" 1t was remarkable
that in six hours the soldiers found
Jesus dead. They were surprised.
Thrusting the spear into his side, there
came forth water and blood. Evidences
that his heart had burst. Literally, a
broken heart. He died of grief; of ex-
c~essive burden. He was wounded,
bruised, chastised. Many have been
cru CITED in body, but none could be in
soul as was Christ. God forsaken and
alone, he died.
2. The cruciflers. Who were they?
The Jews? Yes, in intent, at least.
Peter, Paul, Stephen and all the apostles
charged it upon them. Whom ye slew
and hanged upon a tree" Plate and
the Roman government licensed it. Ju-
das betrayed him. Satan entered in"
to Judas aud prompted him. Adam,
the racial representative is responsible
for giving satan the right of way in the
human heart. Thus his physical cruci-
fixion 10 chargeable to us all. But look
at the real crucifixion. "The Lord hath
laid on him the iniquities OF us all"
It was this ~preponderous burden that
crushed out his life, And we continue
to cruelty him afresh by refusing to
serve him. ''Thls is the condemnation,
that light has come into the world, and
men love darkness rather than light"
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Theme: "The Successful Christian"
Text, Phil. II, 1916: "That We may be
| blameless and harmless, the sons of God
without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked
and perverse nation among whom We
shine as lights in the world; Holding
forth the word of hfe."
Everybody worships success. What
will not men do to achieve it? The sue
cessful man is the popular man always.
The text expresses ST. Paul's conception
of successful Christian living. Two
thoughts are prominent:
l. The negative side of the Christian
life, shameless and harmless, unrebuke-
able" To live above reproach and criti-
cism, 'unspotted from the world" that
is the great thing needed to-day, cou-
s~istent, victorious witnessing for the
truths of the Christian religion. Want
ed to-day men and women instinct with
the power OF the gospel, whose words
and actions scintillate with sparks OF al
vine fire, whose life pulsates with the
life Of the everything God.
ss..Tis life OF which our nerves are scant,
"Tislife, not death, for which we pant,
More life, diviner, that we want"
2. The positive side of a successful
Christian life is expressed by the apostle
in the words, "Holding forth the word of
life." Picture to yourself the statue
standing in New York harbor OF Liberty
enlightening the world" The goddess
holds aloft a torch Of light to all the ma
tions whose people come to our shores.
Likewise the Christian and the church
are to iliumine the world with the bright
rays Of gospel light and life, the world OF
his " family, community, the world Of
mankind. How necessary that he should
be In constant communion with the
source of light, the sun OF righteousness
Zachariah's lamps we're connected by a
pipe with growing olive trees standing
and rooted by their side and from them
inexhaustible supplies OF oil kept the
lights burning with uninterrupted bril-
liancy. In the electric light plant at
the south end Of Egan avenue, the bat
teries are so charged with stored up