The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-07-22
ANALYSIS Of SYMPATHY
Rev. James Dicks0n's Discourse In
FIRST Presbyterian Church.
CONES or ONES OWN COMFORT
Sermon Was More Scholarly Thnn
Arsumentive aud Invited COnsidera'
tiOn-TcnLer Reference Made 10
tho Death OF Mrs. $. L. Logan.

A large CONGREGATION, considering the
hot and sultry weather, listened 10 th'
helpful sermon delivered in the First
Presbyterian church yesterday morning
by Rev. James Stuart Dickson. OF Phii-
adelphia. 1t had been announced tha'
he would also preach in the evening,
but the evening service was postponed
until Wednesday,
In his prayer Mr.. Dickson probably
incited new and profound sympathy for
Rev. DIR. $. c. Logan. the former ana
veteran pastor OF the church. by the
tender reference to the death or Mrs.
Logan, which occurred early last week.
MIR. Dickson tenderly invoked divine
consolance and remarked upon the spe-
ial opportunity for the congregation 70
reveal it's sympathies and prayers Tor
the bereaved preacher, who had for so
many years been a comforter ana a
medium In pleading for the people OF
his flock under reversed circumstances.
The sermon was based upon Hebrews
iv: Is, For we have not a high priest
which cannot be touched with the feel
points tempted like as we are. yet with
out sim" From this text was evolved
dissertation upon sympathy. It's true
and false kind. and refutation Of the
unbliever's argument that the Christ
was not tempted because he was di-
vine and thus could not sin. The dis
course was more scholarly than argu-
incentive. more forceful than eloquent.
except in Its teachings. and invited the
attention and apparent consideration
of the listeners. He said:
Balance Of Human aud Div inc Nature.
Was not Paul endeavoring to show
the difference betwe IN the Divine and
human nature when he wrote that "the
high priest cannot be touched with the
feeling of our in;irmities." and yet.
was in all points tempted like as We
are?" The narrowminded might con-
strue the verse a statement and its own
denial. while, in fact, it reveals the pc
'culiar balance of Christ who ian away
from his enemies, but raised Lazarus;
who was spat upon, hooted and stoned.
but who had the strength to forgive
and die to save sin. The apostles evil
dent purpose is 10 preserve that bal
ance.
This balance was a revelation Of the
sympathy of Jesus Christ for sinful peo-
pie. The same characteristic is pos
sessed by all good persons, although in
many cases it is hidden; 1t may be in
the heart and behind obstacles which
prevent revelation. Nor Is 1t correct
that sympathy depends upon recol-
lection of ones own sorrow. SYM
10 nh IN
itself into the sufferers position.
Bishop Simpson tells story of a
phisiologist who disputed that absolute
idiocy was incurable. This professor,
in response to his own request, had
brought to him a child five years old,
who was incapable of any physical ac-
ton and was apparently deaf, dumb
and mindless-really. nothing more
than an involuntary lump OF life. For
days. weeks and months the professor
labored in vain to gain from the pecu-
liar subject even movement of a
muscle or spark of recognition. His
scientific interest finally became real
love and pity, and for an hour each
day he accustomed himself to lie down
beside the inanate thing and read aloud
from books of his profession One day
after pausiEg a moment in his reading
he felt a finger placed upon his lips;
the thing had become human; it had
realized that sound came from the mov-
ing lips.
Instance Of a Mightier sympathy.
It was the professors eventual love
and pity. his sympathy which found
the life and mind of the child. Was
there ever an instance Of one STOPPING
SO low and waiting SO long? Yes, the
Lord has waited much longer for us to
respond to his love and sympathy by
placing our finger upon his lips that
he may speak anew.
sympathy does not depend always
upon ones past experience, quite the
contrary, the sense OF the full enjoy
ment of blessings may enable us to
enter the loss of such gladness In
others. With Christ, his sympathy will
enter all things, for does he not know
the humility revlement and the COM
fort of blessings?
No sorrow Is so great but that Christ
has had one greater and his sympathy
Is ripened by an experience In the whole
round OF human ills. Once after hear
ing Christine Nillson sing, waited a
year before another opportunity.
That was after a year Of widowhood
"a year Of grieving and tears-but she
sang as she never sang before and as
few will ever sing. She knew the diff
ference of Joy and sorrow, and the in
fection spread within her until her
voice was affected for even better effort
In its new sympathy and tenderness.
Someone asks How could there be
temptations to Christ, If he were Di-
vine and could not sin?" That is one Of
the greatest questions in philosophy.
Christ was tempted in all things and
knew temptations power and resisted.
Then how can he sympathise with
sinners?" you ask. say, thank God, It
Is not necessary that sympathy have
the companionship Of sin. Christs
sympathy Is broadened by his kn0Hl-
edge of the pain that sin gives; He suf-
fered the one to reveal the other. He
sympathlses because of his own inf
mite holiness.
Let us have no weaker idea Of this
sympathy than that which the text
gives US. the sympathy OF a believer
who conquered against temptations.
You can resent his pity but you cannot
go without the comfort OF 1t and learn
how helpless you are. Say, Lord,
am weak and sinful, be my strength
and grace
MR.. PARTRIDGE CALLED.