The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-25

II VIII INt AViA6 ffRf 'fA' " Lit
Christ, the Redeemer. and Saviour OF
men.
No fact Of history can bring more in
dubitable proof. Since the world began
IL was never heard that "A body OF men
agreed 10 tell a falechood when every
man Of the company knew that the
fslsehood would deprive them Of all that
men hold dear. and bring them to a
shameful death. The apostles were men
Influenced by human motives. In the
hour Of His arrest. smitten by terror.
they all forsook Him and hed-the brave
man who dared fight a mob alone took
an oath he rad never seen Jesus Christ.
Every tne OF these men encountered
every species OF cruel persecution gladly
and died agonizing deaths in attestation
Of the fact that their Master did rise
from the dead. II is not possible to ac-
count for their hopeful, joyous utterances,
the change from deepest depression and
sorrow TO the brightest JOY. except by the
fact that they had seen their Risen Lord.
II was not In another city but in Jerusa-
lem. where PLATE is the governor, while
the soldiers who guarded the grave are
camped in the city; these men who fled
so cowardly, openly declared to the priests
and people, This Jesus whom you cruel
fled Is risen from the dead" So over
whelming was the proof 1900 OF the muir
derers bowed their heads and hearts. and
became the disciples Of Jesus Christ. The
gospel record Is unimpeachable. No man
| doubts that the works which bear the
name OF Aristotle were written by that
philosopher, and yet for over two hun
drcd years there was not a manuscript
known which bore his name. When the
work was discovered. his teachings had
been incorporated into so many other
writings. so oft repeated by other teach
ers. that they were received at once as
genuine and authentic, and never have
been doubted In less than two hundred
years after the crucifxion, there was not
a place where the name o: Jesus had
come which did not accept these gospels
as the authentic and genuine works Of
the men whose names they bear.
Never have men had as much at stake
as the Chief Priests. If on the fourth
day they could have said, "Come 10 the
garden OF Joseph and we Will show you
the body Of Jesus" then the crucihed
would have forever borne the name or
an imposter. They had all things in their
favor. The grave was solitary and alone,
easily guarded. II was sealed with the
seal Of Rome. a great rock covered it. the
veterans Of Roman soldiers guarded 1t,
for none but the flower Of the army were
sent TO care for the turbulent Jews. IL
had an eastern sun TO shine on II I'm
the day time and a full, paschal moon al
night. The third day the grave Is empty;
what did they say? Did they arrest SOL
diers? No: they said that while their
grief was heaviest and hearts breaking
from agony. the Virgin Mother and the
disciples who loved Jesus had a secret
meeting and agreed TO take the body OF
their loved one out Of a noblemans TOMB
and carry II TO some nameless potter 5
field. Inhdels have never dared repeat a
story which is indelibly stamped Win
falsehood.
There is one witness whose character
men have never dared gssail. st. Pau
wrote Says Straus and Renan) within
forty years after the crucihxion. 81. PAU
writes an open letter, to be read openly
i'm the church. He says there are over
250 men alive who have seen Jesus since
He rose from the dead. Wherever HIS
GOSPEL has been preached among differing
tribes and nations. the resurrection oil
Jesus Christ las been its cornerstone.
II that Is taken away il is an impossi-
bi.ity 10 account for the progress OF the
Kingdom OF Christ, or His influence IN
the regeneration of humanity. The king
doms Of Caesar and Napoleon perlshed'
The kingdom Of Christ lives in millions
OF hearts. No less true. that wherever
YOU see a woman like Florence Nightin-
gale. a man like David Livingston. wher-
ever brave. hopeful hearts are binding
up the wounds Of humanity, you near the
voice. YOU see the heLd Of Jesus christ
| believe there never was a period in the
worlds history when so many hearts
keep with joy the feast Of Easter. Other
feasts are for happy. unclouded homes
the music Of merry children, and the
laughter OF joyous men and women. me
feast Of Easter is for those who have
r....4 ,,I lrcf for thOuHntfnl men 10
whom life IS very real. 1t tells OF a risen
Saviour. an Almighty Friend, who VIII
be for us troubled, weary folk all He was
TO those who %thronged TO Him on earth.
II IS Gods pledge and certainty or a
future life: of another home IN the man
eions of our Father, where We shall live
in all the sameness of that individual
personality which ia an OF
God. and makes each one OF us unlike
any heing who has existed. While we do
know that sameness is not necessary TO
being while even here our bodies are
atu,avs changing. we do know from Him
Who &c the Resurrection and the Lille that
those hodies of ours which are now under
the mower Of death shall be changed 10
bodies under the power or Immortal NE,
and we shall know and be known III All
the beatitude and certainty OF a lul ana
q perfect recognition. / love the mowers
with which we deck uht
they not only testify to our gladness; they
are not only offerings Of love- they tell
~ a land where flowers never Wlther'
and where sin and death have forever
nassed away. There are three precious
Easter truths. First that the love. the
con passion. the hoI e~fulness and helpiGl-
ness Of Jesus CT rist for humanity ~ the
earthly revelation of God. who Is Love
FOR He was His express image. Did lie
not saw TO our bewildered brother Philhp:
"Have | been so long time with you ana
hist thou not known Me, Phillip? lie that
ran seen Me hath seen the Father.
second. when perplexity, sorro" and
t,ouble come II is blessed to look up ana
kncw Of a truth that Jesus Christ is the
same Yesterday. to-day. and forever-and
better than all for sorrowing hearts ana
bereaved homes are His own words to
s.. John: IT am He that liveth, and was
dead and alive forevermore' ana l nave
the keys Of Death ard Hades.
l wish all bereaved ones a blessed Eas-
ter. IL. ID. LIZ
Bishop of Minnesota.