The Newtown bee., 1895-04-05
THE OPPORTUNITY OF CHOICE


 THE OPPORTUNITY OF CHOICE
 COMES BUT ONCE, AND THEN THERE IS
 THE PARTING OF wAYs.-A SERMON
 PREACHED BY REV OTIS W. BARKER.
 Text, John 6 6G, "From that time many ot His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him." !.
 Flame is a vapor," wrote Horace Greeley "populariGy an accident; riches take wings; the only earthly certainty is oblivion" What apt illustration of this truth was furnished by this day at Capernaum! In the morning of that bright spring day, when Jesus entered the church door of the city, He was the idol of the people thousands were ready to proclaim Him King. Roman Emper- or, returning in courtlY, triumphal pro- cession through the gates of the Eternal City, conquered monarchs chained to his chariot wheels, never received such hearty ovation. But, few hours more, when Jesus stepped from the church, the little group of His chosen 12, with very grave faces standing in the shade of the thick spreading trees, were all the disciples He could gather. And even they were keenly disappointed, seeing the apparent end of their hopes and work, and sadly shook their heads, doubtiDg the prudence of words that had offended so many. Could populari- l ty have been greater? Could fall be more complete?
 What was the meaning of all this ? Why so stupendous a change? The an- swer is, great crisis had come. Men could no longer conceal their real char acter. They must either be such follow CTS as Jesus would wish, those eager to catch only His words, and believe an,i trust Him or they must acknowledge | themselves mere seekers of fortune. It had been a day of supreme testing. The false had fallen away from the true, the pure grain had been sifted from the chaff.
 Jesus was ever an enigma to these people, a mystery they could not fathom. When they had most expected Him to speak plainly, He had spoken mysteries which they could not understand. They expected He would reveal to them His future plans, that He would say some thing about their share'in the awards of His Kingdom, the places of honor for which they had been working; but He held out no aIluripg bait to them, He did not seem to care much for their as- sistance. What plans could He have: Why, He spoke only of their eating His flesh and drinking His blood and of giv- ing His body for the world. No, He would not do one sing gle thing that they wanted, but spoke Of doing, not His own will, but the will of One that had sent Him.
 | HES A BASE DECEIvER,"
 cried wealthy Pharisee just come from | l. I~s n robes and white turban in the midst ot group of brown faced country folk and talked exctedly to them. Have noth- ing to do with this imposter," he con- tinued in the same high pitched strain. as he shook out the loose folds of his sleeve and beat the air in the vehemance of his gestures. Hell give you noth- ing that He had promised. His miracle yesterday on the plain of Bethsaida was only moLster trick to trap you into be. leving that He was willing to do won- derful things for you, and you see to- day what it all amounts to. The sooner you get out of His company, the better, y and the pious leader of the Jewish race, to clinch the force of his words, closed his harangue with 8 solemn adjuration of Heaven.
 The speech gained it's wished for re- suit. ''Many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him." The people began toEdisperse and go off to their homes and their villages, to their potteries and tan yards, fishing boats, sheep folds, farms and fruit gardens, and Jesus was almost alone.
 But is not that rather summary way to dismiss the case? Was it the turbu. lent speech of Pharisees that alone set tied the question? Strange that their fiery language could have overborne the gracious and tender words of Jesus No, we must sound deeper depths. What was it that turned these back! No doubt many of the number that then turned so sharply around and never again had anything to do with Jesus had been following Him through all these twelve months that He had labored in Galilee. They had hung upon His lips they had saluted Him at every opportu- nity as their Master and Lord. Was not this face about, then, fearfully sudden
 It looks as though they stumbled over a single "hard saying" the eating of His flesh, the drinking of His blood. To their gross and carnal minds it was meaningless and stupid mystery, and they opened it by letting it and the One who spoke it entirely alone.
 This, still, would be very superficial explanation. The true reason lies here : they never were true disciples of Jesus. They belonged to what we now call "half convertedo people. As long as Christ provided for their material wants, by miraculous power furnished food for them when hungry, healed them when sick, gave any hopes of satisfying their ambition for wealth and power, all went well. But their faith could as little stand shock of disappointment of their hopes as magnolia blossom can stand the rude North wind.
 There are moments in battle when the soldier line simply has to stand, stand under raking fire, stand in the ranks and be moved down without returning shot, without striking blow, stand sim ply because the leader commando, though the troops know no reason why. LIFE TEENS WITH MOMENTS that call us to be brave, to stand. If we only display our colors when in the midst of applauding friends, we are lit- tie fit for war. The battle flags of the Green Mountain Boys came back all tattered and shell torn from the war :; but the strips and shreds are far more dear than the gay new flags we carry at 1 the head of the line on fourth of July parade--the torn colors bear the marks of service.
 So Christians faith may suffer heavy blows. A little one whose baby prattle and bright eyes were the life of the whole household is taken. The merry ripple of laughter is gone. The stiffness of death creeps through every room. The little fellow had twined himself around the hearts of every one. as ten- drils twine themselves about noble tree. The mother reaches out her hand in the night to take hold her boy, for she can- not feel that he is gone. Her faith in Gods love that never before received the faintest shock may be severely tried; but, If the faith, not seeing clearly, still