The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-12-19

The really divine qualities that
we're in him have been buried under
titles of honor he would have rejected
when on earth. After Savonarola
had died martyrs death in the
great public square of Florence, it
was not long before the story OBJ
tanned that his heart had not been
burned, but had been thrown up
from the depths of the Arno, and was
picked up undestroyed by his follow
ers. Whatever the legend of Savon-
arola may have been, it is true that
the heart of Jesus was not destroyed
by his crucifxion, but lives with his
followers to day.
81 Jesus is still with us by the
power of his example.
The inspiring qualities that were in
him invariably act in one direction,
that of moving men towards the
higher ideals of life.
He taught them that they had a
higher business than their earthly
business, that it was their duty, first
of all, to seek the kingdom and right
eousness of God. Above every aim
of life, there is higher aim, beyond
every goal there is a farther goal.
Jesus taught men that whatever they
might be engaged in, whatever
worldly affairs might engross them,
every one had still higher calling,
the calling of his character. This
truth he illustrated in his own per
son.
There is one structure today that
towers over the spires of our grand
est cathedrals, that is more substan
tial than the huge piles of granite
and marble that line our streets and
avenues, that is more magnificent
than any of mans material achieve
ments,-it is the character of Christ;
it is the ideal he has set, fair and tri
umphant, before the eyes of human
ity. That ideal is with us,-what-
ever comes or goes. 1t is here, "Tho'
the earth be removed and the noun
tains be carried into the midst of the
sea-"
Thus has Jesus joined the choir in
visible
"Of those immortal dead who live again
In minds made better by their presence
live
| In pulses stirred to generosity,
| In deeds of daring 1ectitude, in scoln
For miserable aims that end with self,
In thoughts sublime that pierce the night
| like stars,
And with their mild persistence urge
mans search
To vaster issues
To this life of his we must con-
stantly turn from the bewilderments
and strifes of the present, and like
a clear star shining through clouds,
its light will not lead us astray. How
shall l resist temptation9 Let him
who asks this question, turn his eyes
backward and look upon the majes-
tic figure of him who, in the wilder
ness of Judea, repealed every assault
of the Tempter. How shall | bear
trials and burdens7 Look at him
who, in Gethsemane, bowed under
load that forced, in agony, blood
through the pores of his brow, yet
looked up with an unfaltering trust
and exclaimed, Father, thy will, not
mine, be done!" What shall be my
spirit under insult and wrong? Dark
against the skies Of Palestine hangs
crucified the supremest man of our
planet, but no word of censure falls
from his lips. In the last hour of
his martyrdom, he breathes his bene-
dletion upon the ones who have
nailed him there. and the Paradise
which is about to receive his spirit
has no nobler strain of nusic than,
Father, forgive them; they know
not what they do" The help that
comes from Jesus is not miraculous
infusion of strength from without,
but that which comes from an exam
pie of victory that rouses to action the
forces of our own souls.
In this and ten thousand ways is
the ancient promise fulfilled, = in
better and ampler ways than those
who heard it first could have
dreamed. Their old hopes faded,
their old expectations died. The
outward kingdom did not come. The
literal presence was withheld. But
the ages have wrought for Jesus the
marvels they have wrought for the
other exalted spirits of the race
they have immortalized his influence
and multiplied his power. In times
of doubt and struggle, in days of ad-
versity and affection, in moments of
triumph, or on the brink of the open
grave, the spirit of him is with us,
~~1 -