The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-14

Far back In the past. among the OLD
Greeks. II is reported as a current saying,
profoundly felt by all their best men;
that the best thing Of all was not to be
ssnrp, and the next best to die. And there
are many I'm ~ur day who hesitate
to thank Heaven for their creation and
preservation. TO find ourselves in viii
derness and not know the way out of II;
10 find ourselves at sea in a leaky craft
without a compass or rudder; to find
ourselves one Of crazy, clamoring
starving crowd without a friend; TO he
lost tcwildered. full of fears and mis-
cries does not lock like a thing 10 be
thankful for. Simple G, istcncc in a vale
Of darkness and misery does not awaken
thankfulness. The Pickering light under
such circumstances. is almost disposed 10
resent its creation and welcome It's ex-
tinguishmcnt.
Man was made for the oompanionship
Without the knowledge of Deity. dis
claiming his divineness he is all at sea-
his eye is evil and he is fun of dark
ness; he is a captive exile. Fastening that
ne may be loosed that he may not die
IN the pit. and that his bread may not
fail. His heaven is iron. his earth brass;
and what can he do but hate life?
The resurrection of Jesus Christ from
tho dead the most authentic and thor
Ouchly-demonstrated fact Of all history,
q 4
was: Let God arise, and let His enc
mics be scattered. The world. sitting I'm
darkness, saw a great Light and
throughout the earth the wonders OF
thu resurrection morn still are repeated
in he hearts of men. Those that sit
IN darkness witness the wonderful reali-
ty-thc dawn Of day and the rising of
the day star Ina their hearts. Births and
deaths. Il. daily life. are not more familiar
and Acknowledged facts than the changes
Of heart. the absolute conversions that
are being accomplished by the Spirit OF
Christ n individuals. IN communities.
throughout the world
The resurrection Of Christ from the
dead broush; life and immortality TO
light. IL Was. IN the person OF the Son
OF Man. ,he resurrection OF humanity to
it's divine and original level; the bring-
ing IN Of everlasting righteousness; tn,
rshering In Of the Christian Era; Tho
new birth OF Creation. IL was Tho
seal and guarantee of the character
the divine attributes of Him who
made the world and all things ii
II. without the resumed life OF the sol
OF Man, the Wisdom OF God would not
have been justified. Man, the cons0m-
nation the crowning work and glory of
creation. was terrible. tragic. hopeless
failure.
Christianity Is Resurrection and iden-
titled. they make the most Irresistible.
necessary and overwhelming fact Of all
human history and present life.
The marvellous thing Is that man re-
SCENTS and ridicules the charge OF
being respectable. most honorable, d.
vine. He claims TO be material and
brute, dust and devil. and sows TO the
flesh for a harvest OF modification and
corruption. lie inebriates. he drugs. he
erazes. he besots. he de files himself body
brain. heart. and mind. that he may east
out and keep out the pure spirit that
within. pleads for his life and honor
and daily crucifxion is going on in
the soul OF every man who chooses the
low. the ugly. the sensual. the dirty, tbs
vicious. and deliberately refuses the good
and true and beautiful. lie echoes the
cry of the ignoble crowd: Not this man
but Barabbas.
Humanity redeemed. restored. ye-es,ab'
ished. anu enlightened. forever assured