The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-05-02
" HE rs RISEN. "

HE Is RISEN.
Discourse i'm Trinity Church Easter
Sunday by Rev. f. McCradey.
Text: But now Is Christ risen from the
dead and become the first fruits of them tha
slept."-l Cor. XIV. 20.
There are many ways, my dear brethren, In
which We might consider the marvellous
event Of history which our Church through
out the world commentaries today. AS re
CARDS lts Importance we may affirm that 1t is
one OF the three most wonderful manifesto
tions Of the Divine favor to man. Christmas
Good Friday, and Easter; the Incarnation
the Crucitixion, and the Resurrection, mark
the three all-imporIant facts Of Christianity
Not, that we can afford 70 regard the many
other incidents and occurances OF Our Lords
life as unessentail or unimportant by the
side Of these. The whole series OF .evenIs are
knit. together In wonderful order. and tc
take away aught from among them would be
to detract from the unity and harmony OF the
whole. Nevertheless, as We look down the
whole scheme Of human salvation, these
three events seem to stand ont cOnspicuously
from among the rest, not as In any sense sep
arate or disconnected but rather as summing
up within themselves the entire meaning % e o
Life. And 1t is because of this 'many-sided
ness" if we may SO express 1t, that we find
1t so Difficult. TO treat any one or the three
Win any degree Oh LnOrOuBuueSs.
The Idea OF the Resurrection is interviewer
so lninutely with the whole design Of mans
redempl that 1t Is Impossible TO speak OF II
In its entireness with any degree OF satisfac
tion without following II throughout this vast
seek TO consider 1t In these manifold aspect.
which IL presents. but we may endeavor this
morning 10 hint at its general bearing and
significance to us AS individuals.
The Resurrection of our Lord Is not an iso
lated fact pertaining merely TO his own per
son and lite, but, In some real and actual way
II involves each and all OF lib in our severa
destinies. In some real and pertinent way
mine. AS have lntmated before, the 1ncar
nation Is not merely fact OF history, II Is 8
living reality of the presnt. Our Lord ii
daily and hourly becoming Incarnate IN The
lives Of each and all OF us who hahitually
feed upon Him in our hearts by faith with
thanksgiving. II, His life, therefore. Is to be
come real In our lives, SO also must His res
or product of His life. He who lives In the
life OF Christ must inevitably rise III His res
direction, for the one produces the other. In
fact the process OF the resurrection Is contain
great fact / would especially direct youl
thoughts this morning. l say the life O.
Christ is q resurrection In ITSELF
Once only let Us endeavor TO grasp the true
meaning Of what 1t is to live in Christ! d
what we really are TO understand by faith
and prayer, and this daily, hourly feeding
with our hearts upon our Saviour life anC
and character! Oh my brethren, 1t means
SOM mething far deeper than q mere feeling o.
ecstacy and delight, something far more sig
mica Mt TO our souls than the mere tempora
Joy we feel in the exercise OF our spiritual de
votions.
Why should this happiness be experienc
ed at all. What causes this Joy unspeak
able TO spring within the breast, ever point
Ing TO visions still more glorious beyond? Dc
YOU think that II signifies nothing? Does II
ly IN nj nothing
still more beautiful and sublime than the
mere happiness you may experience In this
present life7 Oh, my bret elhren, 1t means
more than this When the ruddy glow comes
upon the face OF youth. when the muscles har
den and expand, craving constant exercise,
we know from the sense OF comfort and well
being that physical health and life are strong
within, 80 too when we mediate alone upon
before our spiritual gaZe-feasting our bea rts
upon the lovelness we view on every hand
what means these sudden feelings OF unearth.
ly joys, these hopes for something stjll be-
yond the present sphere OF worldly happi.
ness and knowledge this constant craving oil
our souls for something still beyond, beyond
which God and the Infinite al,ne car; satisfy ?
What means 1t all. ask, but that the life ol
God is already strong within the soul, that
faith and pray er on our part have opened VI
the flood gates TO the Eternal Spirit, which
now demands our Infinite endeavor.
It Is the Spirit OF God, my dear brethren,
which is strong within us. pleading with our
hearts, purifying our lives, Transforming our
character, ever urging us onward 10 the vast
forever Which, If our faith could only last,
would never leave us from this moment on
ward but would dwell within US, strenghih-
ening our souls, lifting our lives above this
world ever more anu more. 1t is the spirit
of the resurrection. The same spirit, which
raised your Lord from death, and now prom.
ises You the gift of eternal life. on. nv
brethren, think what II all means to You. With
such an opportunity now within your grasp
with the spirit OF life and morality now
open to the arms Of faith think what eternal
consequences hang upon the use you make of
this God-given faculty. Think what II means
to pray. Think what 1t means to mediate
with ialth upon the Heavenly vision NV
brethren, 1t mean the actual reception of lne
Holy Spirit into your hearts aud life. II
means Gods life. The life OF immortality in
you. Think Of IL! What will you do about
II? VIII you starve your son? Will you
knowingly neglect the exercise Of faith, and
prayer and meditation thus resolutey shut.
Ting off your heart from every spiritual intiu.
enGe your soul from the spiritual sustenauce
1t Graves, or will you live In such exercises
will you daily and hourly, through all the
years OF your earthly pilgrimage, feed upon
your Lorn by faith with thanksgiving and
thus grow ever more and more In eternal
health and happiness? 1t rests with you tn
decide your course, my brethren, and your de.
cision has 10 do with Infinite and eternal cOl,.
sequences.
My brethren. believe that the more We
know OF Christ In our daily lives the more we
iee the power OF the Holy Spirit in our
hearts, the more natural will all these things
become TO us. We shall see that AFTER all
these things are not "reverses OF nature" hui
the carrying out OF it. So will 1t be with
every problem Of religion, 50 will 1t be with
the problem Of the resurrection as applied IL
ourselves. repeat IL, man today can test
the power of the incarnation in his own in
dividual experience, and If the power of the
Incarnation, them the power OF ihe resurrec.
tion. There Is such thing as q Spiritual
Power here In this world, and IL is the power
of God un TO salvation. All men may know
It. all men may test It's ability TO deliver
from sin, satan and death all men may salts
fy themselves whether IL be of God, or
whether it be Of men You an know we'll
what the power OF ideals has been IN lifting
uIan above the world. But, my brethren,
TO lift means To change, to lift him above the
world means 10 make him unlike the world.
TO lift mun above This world, to inspire
him with the vigi0n Of Il lofty hope, an In.
finite ideal, so that he will willingly, gladly
throw away bis ldols. drown every evil in
clinDtion of his nature. give up each and
everything for God. | say TO do all this, tn
LIT Inan thus above the world means 10
change him, and chnnge him completely 10
new and u perfect man In Christ. This Is the
change of The resurrection. Il begins here
but 1t ends there. II begins Ia mind but Ii
does not end there; IL takes body with It. II
| Is not merely spiritual elevation, but 1t IL q
spiritual, mental and physical change in the
man.
| It begins within; ay. deep down in the In
| nermost recesses OF the heart; 1t beg ins
| TN ere, but IL grows steadily outward and I'D