The Saint Paul globe., 1896-12-14
REV. j. If. ST0UTes KEY TO The
TREASaREs OF THE KING
DOM
INDIVIDUAL SOUGHT TO
SAVE.
At st. Luike's Church In Behalf of
the Sisters Of the Good shep-
herd.

Rev. j. F. Stout preached yesterday
morning at First M. e. church on the
text: Nevertheless tell you the truth.
1t is expedient for you that / go away
Tor II so not away the Comforter will
not come unto you; but, if ] depart, ]
wall send him unto you" John xvi, z.
In part he said; There are five i'm
portant things which Jesus did that de-
nand our attention because of their
| prominence. First. He revealed God
with remarkable clearness to the intel
| llgence or a world that had utterly
| FAILED to know him previously. Second.
He declared essential truths that have
to do with life and destiny, and SO gave
TO the world a sound foundation for its
belief. Third. He inaugurated a move
ment having the spirit OF self-sacrifice
as its basis, that shall save the world
by delivering it from a false rule of
life out of harmony with the real ma
ture or humanity and bring it under
the control of a motive adapted to
human nature by God himself. Fourth.
He laid the foundation for all ages of
the salvation through which it Is pos
Slble for men to escape a life Of sin
and live a life of righteousness through
the importation of the Divine life.
Fifth. He gave us an example of per-
fect righteousness as a pattern to all.
were wrought ONCE Tor
all. The special mission of Jesus in the
flesh is done. The Comforter, who is
as much real presence, is a living
Christ, that an inner conviction may be
produced in the heart itself, which so
fortffies the argument from truth, that
the soul may come to have what to him
is knowledge of a life hid with Christ
in God. If we are to lose from the
world our Christ In the flesh, then by
all means let us have the fulfillment of
the promise of an abiding Comforter,
who is revealed to each and every
opened heart.
The Comforter shall be a sufficient
guide in all things relRting to the truth.
This promise meets a felt need of Our
nature. The world is maze, and we
have not the clew. It Is full of temp
ters and temptations, and we are by
mature neither wise nor strong. We
must have leader who is able to help
us to do all things in his name. Jesus
kept His disciples by His personal in
f1uence. After they came to know and
love Him they followed wherever He
led. The Comforter lis in the place Of
Jesus as leader.
''The Camforters final mission is to
glorify Jesus Christ The Holy Spirit
starts no new movement, but builds on
the foundation already laid by Jesus.
During all the life OF the Man of Naza-
was, since they looked at Him and His
mission through their warped, preeon-
| 'eeived opinions concerning Him. 1t is
impossible to really see the glory of
this humble Messiah against the back
ground of material expectations, which
| influenced every friend Of Jesus and
turned many into bitter enemies. The
highest conception of the Messiah him
self, living in material glory and in the
fulness of power, is trivial beside our
vision Of the Man Of Sorrows Hitting by
the might of His love a world UP to
iGed. This glorification has been the
work Of the Spirit in his relation to
the world, while in relation to the =indi-
xidual he gives such an inward vision
of Jesus that he is contented to enter
Ills kingdom, follow His footsteps. be
ruled by His spirit and enter into both
His humiliation and His glory. In the
interest Of the individual Jesus comes,
ascends, sends the Comforter, and the
highest success of that individual de
pends on his perfect obedience to the
Divine will. Only in this way can he
:be made conscious of the inner hfe.'