The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1895-03-27
Outline of Sermon Preached by Rev
w. G. Schoppe, Sunday Morning,
March "a, 1895.

Outline of Sermon Preached by Rev.
w. G. SChOppe, Sunday Morning,
March "a, 1895.
SUBJECT" Jesus Chris'-His Supernatural
Wisdom
TExT-Matt. IA: 81. Whence hath this
man his wisdom?"
Man is supposed to be product of circum-
stances; but the age in which he lived could |
not have produced JESUS CHRIST. He rises
into the realm of mystery Some things were
favorable to his development. Among the |
helps were:
1st. The Scriptures He studied them with |
care; he memorzed texts. and used th-m in
defence against evil He studied the lives oi
ancient heroes of faith saw them II tneir con-
di,ions. and held communion with them He
rose TO still higher ground. took in the great
lines OF Scripture saw the Divine plan. and read
The mystery of his own life IN it. May not any
man read thus IN the Scriptures the things con
cernlng himset2
and. CHRIST STUDIED NATURE. This was
the SECOND help TO his wisdom She scene OF
his boyhood was lonely mountain village
From the mountain back OF his home he couio
HIM the mountains OF his native land and .he
sparkling waters of the Mediterranean Sea
FArrar says, the scene was rich and lovely, and
1t receives greater charm from ur belief that
here with his feet among the mountain flowers
the soft breeze lifting the hair from his e.nples,
the boy Jesus often watched the lovely scenes
and saw the eagle poised in the cloudless blue
to u
How he drank it In. and gathered the images
+ beauty which he poured out in his parallels
and addresses
The THIRD help was the STUDY OF MAN.
In the great city men see panorama passing
| before them. Tney know little of individuals
| But country village is more favorable for the
study OF human nature. Mystery is left abou
No ones life. individuals and nelghbors are
known thoroughly. You can walk ROUND a
man. and see HIM from every side. 10 know a
man is TO know man.
Jesus was also brought in contact with hu
| man nature by his trade. Out of all possible
positions he chose the lot of a working man,
and stamped toll with everlasting honor. 1t
made him acquainted with the feelings of the
|
what was in man "He needed not that any
should teach Him
| Another help was the INFLUENCE OF HIS
| MOTHER. She was crowned with the supreme
nonor of womanhood. The songs she poured
forth show her to have been thoroughly rell-
gious, poetical and patriotic. She was no mi
| raculous queen of Heaven. but a woman high
4 ,lal
and fondly returned it.
On the other side, there were currents that
set strongly against him. 1t was an age when
| 1t was nearly impossible for an humble peasant
to rise. HIS lack of social position and his
poverty were serious obstacles in the way o.
his advancement. His want of education in
The schools was against Him. HIS early death
at the age of thirty three. was a time when 9th
er wise men have hardly laid in tn cir experience
the foundation of a balanced judgment.
Further-HE WAS A JEW. trained in all the
Journalism and bigotry of that exclusive people
Prof Swing says: The world goes for wisdom
to an obscure hamlet. noted only for its rice te
carpenters bench-to young man not thirty
years of age-born OF humble paIents-brough
| pONSEty-dSSOCldlSu
A young man who had no contact with the cul
uvated-no access to books-no time tor study
no education but the commonest-no advan
rages beyond those in humble station Thes,
are the conditions from which he rose to hi
future position-the acknowledged fountain Q
the worlds wisdom -
He came forth TO DO HIS FATHERS WILL
sion seemed thoroughly out of harmony witt
his humble position. The Jews expecte tenn
poral king for their Messiah. His idea hac
nothing in common with theirs. His purel
| spiritual. He saw as none other that thei
place of worship was only temporal. and tha
the time would come when they would worsh
| the Father anywhere. in spirit aLd in truth H
Taught a universal religion. aud wonderful,
adapted His teaching 10 universal sway H
was alone in his country. his age and the worlc
His great soul was above religious prejudice
and errors, and above all national, educAtiona
and social influences. He stood forth. not :
) JEW. but MAN, to fulfill high and spir, tus
mission. embracing not Judea only, but til
world-not nation. but humanity.
We MUST ASK ANY WISE MANS THOUGH
ABOUT GoD His idea OF God controls the lif,
Webster said his greatest thought was God, an
his personal responsibility to Him. CHRIST
, thought of God was spiritual and his vision
. God clear as The sunlight. Remember. He liv
ed in superstitous age Tiberius wore charm
10 keep off lightning. Nero got tired of h
God, and worshIpped only an amulet.
, Christ taught (Ist) THE FATHERHooD O
GOD. The tenderness of the earthly falherhoo
r had its origin in God.
! He taught \2nily) THE SPECIAL CARE o
2 GOD. PlIny SAID: If there were Suprem
} Being he would not concern himself about tn
] affairs of men But Christ taught -" Th
e very hairs of your head are all numbered"
He taught (3rdlv) The LIFE OF GoD IS
l SUPREME SACRIFICE TO HIS CHILDREN.
What was HIS thought about man? 1t gre,
, out of his idea of God. Man Is in the image {
/ God. and capable of supreme affection for tn
! Infinite: SO grand is his nature, he is taught
I emulate God in character. Be ye holy, sine
God is holy
Storrs says: "The single sun ray slantin
S through crevice, is as perfect in its intrinsi
splendor as measureless floods of the solar e
fulgence."
/, Christ taught as no other, and in an age
: doubt and darkness. the measureless life beyon
the present. Growing out of his idea of tn
: condescending life OF God and mans infinit
capacity God-ward, it is fitting that the DivIn
and human meet in the Incarnation. "Th
! word was made flesh, and dwet among US
This is the crowning glory of our humanity.
Because of the grandeur of human nature
>in is dreadful in power and effect. Hea,henisr
knew only sin in the refusal of certain rites {
religion. Christ locates 1t in the want OF affec
ton toward God, and failure to realize the tru
IDEAL. Think OF the honor put on human la
iure as such, IN the choice of thes. humble fish
rmen to carry out His Divine Mission. Th
description Of their little societies was NOR
lofty than any orator would dare to picture {
Senate or city, in the Imperial day of Rome