The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-01-15
RELIGIOUS READING.
TIE POWER OF A GREAT LIFE.

In the economy of Divine Providence
great lives serve the most various and i'm
portant purposes. Great men are the seers
and guides Of humanity. In peculiar sense
they are inspired men. They have been
lifted above their generation; they have open
vision; they survey the world as from lofty
eminence and are thus able to understand
many matters which remain obscure to their
fellows. They usually understand not only
what to do, but how to do it, practical sense
being joined to deep insight and extended
fore esight In some instances a single man
seems to embody the wisdom OF generation
or nation. Confucius means China, and
Mahomet stamped his own image on q hun
dred generations. Imperial Rome flsst be-
came incarnate in the man Julius Caesar, who
knew his time and forecast all time.
The English race lived in Alfred the Great,
Us did modern republicanism In George
Washington. But great men are limited by
both time and space: their fame and power
decrease with the square Of the distance. It
Is with the utmost difficulty that men are
able to do anything after their burial. The
commonalty disappear under the next ad-
vancipg wave. Fortunate is the man able
to build a monument high enough and strong
enough to outlast the flood. Whatever most
men do they must do while living and within
q limited circle. Caesars genius made Rome,
but was unknown in the Orient. Confucius
was the man Of race; he compacted China,
though mere name and shadow beyond.
Mahomet fell down like thunderbolt on the
earth, but his power has been narrowing
and diminishing with every advancing CEN
tury, and the day is not far distant when the
civilization he created will have no place
among the nations. The elements OF weak
ness and decay were In the works OF all
these men.
But, unlike them, one great life has ap-
peared in human history, subject to none of
these limitations. 1t is that OF World
Man, whose power is confined to no latitude
or race The light of His truth shines into
the far East as into the far West, and His
message has been borne from the Arctic to
the Antarctic regions over all the Intervening
lines. And what is most singular OF all, the
exertion OF His power among men has been
exclusively posthumous. He organized no
institution to take His name down to poster
ity; he provided for the erection OF no mon
ument Of brass or stone, no pillar or
pyramid, to commemorate His deeds and
virtues. His monument was Cross,
His resting-place b borrowed tomb.
His disciples were few and despised, un-
aided by position. wealth or learning. How
unlikely that such men could aid their cru
Gifted Master But the must stupendous
miracle of history Is found in this great life.
Though dead, Jesus Christ still lives and
works miracles in every part OF the earth,
feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and
bringing healing to the sick. Men may well
celebrate His advent; for since the world
was created has there been found no other
such centre OF influence and benefcence as
that great life. His fame fills the world.
He has transcended the lives of His own
race, religion, age and latitude; He has be-
come the universal Benefaetor. No part Of
the world is untouched by His gracious in
fuence. He breathes on tribes, nations,
races, and they live again. ~.
II you would see what Christ is to the
world, take down the map and observe that
the green spots are those touched by the In
fuences Of the Cross His word Is thick and
powerful, touching both individuals and ma
tions to higher issues and nobler endeavors.
At His coming superstitions vanish, old fables
are discredited, idols are cast away. and "the
knowledge of God covers the earth rs the
waters cover the great deep" Christ has
brought to the nations the most important
matters-a correct knowledge OF the charac-
ter, attributes and work OF God !;
true view of man in his ORR
origin, history and destination; and reve-
lation Of the great Intervention OF God for
the rescue OF man from his fallen condition.
The Gospel has the promise of the LIE that
now is as we'll as OF that to come. The
by the teachings OF Christ. Enterprise, in
yention, mastery Of material resources, com
merce, and substantial political power follow
the Cross. The Christian nations at this
very moment, as never before, control the
destinies of the world. Cbristendom speaks,
and the world obeys. Mohammedanism once
dictated terms and threatened to cap
ture both east and west; today Its one
ruler sits trembling upon his throne on
the Bosphorus, waiting the word OF the
Christian Powers to give him little longer
lease of life. Christ holds the key to the
situation; He sets up and pulls down. bis
word must be the ultimate law. The nation
that will not obey Him shall be dashed to
pieces like a potters vessel-broken into
fragments never to be re-joined and fit only
for the dust heap. 1t is enough. There Is
but one Name: It Is the Name above every
name, dt which every knee shall bow and
every tongue, however reluctantly, shall in
the end confess Him Lord OF all.