The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-20
CHRIST'S CHARACTER
His Cross and Crown Elder Bar
naby's Subject.
ALLlTERATlVE
Makes the Basis for an Eloquent
Discourse Last Evening A
Large Audience Heard 1t at
the Christian Church.

fty, as IL was announced his topic would
be c. c. c. c.. and some people thought
he had got roped in on an advertising
dodge for an eastern railroad or an
institution nearer home. But the popu-
lar pastor proved to those who attended
the Church of Christ that four C's can
stand for many things, and preached
an interesting sermon from the follow
ing: "Christ's Character. Cross and
Crown"
The name Christian is from God, and
is the highest that can be conferred
upon man. Seven hundred years b. c.
the prophet, Isaiah, said: For lions
sake will / not hold my peace, and for
Jerusalems sake / will not rest until
the righteousness thereof go forth as
brightness, and the salvation thereof
as lamp that burneth. And the Cen
tiles shall see Thy righteousness and
all kings Thy glory; and thou shalt be
called by new name, which the mouth
of the Lord shall name" God named
His people Christians first at Antioch,
thus fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah
as quoted above. Christians are fol-
lowers of Christ.
There are many christs, as many as
are the opinions of men, so many
christs are there. The Christ of his
tory is the Christ of God, of whom
Moses In the law and prophets did
write. OF whom the apostles also did
write, surrendering their lives for the
truth. What has been written of Him
is true. Our mind, our spirit, all that
is within us, commands our acceptance
OF these facts made known concerning
Him
The prophet had said long before the
angel chorus at Bethlehem. "A virgin
shall conceive and bear a son and His
name shall be Emmanuel God with
us. Deceit was not found in His
mouth, nothing worthy of death. No
one could witness anything wrong
against Him. and He suffered death for
claiming to be and being the Imman-
uel, God with US" He was sinless.
Even Judas who betrayed Him testi-
ned to His innocence While in the
flesh and form of man he was more
than man-God the Spirit, Gabriel.
John the Baptist, John the Apostle,
Paul, the disciples. Nathaniel, Martha,
the Eunuch. the Centurion; unclean
spirits and the legion all testify to His
Sonship, divine Sonship.
He said: II am the light of the
world" There is a double meaning in
these words. The Spirit of Christ in
the world, directly and indirectly. is
indeed the light of the world. Chris
tian civilization, the potent factor of
this age, Is manifesting the enlighten-
ing influence of the mind by the utili- |
cation of the forces in nature, proving
the truth of Christ's words-"I am the |
light of the world, he that followeth Me |
shall not walk In darkness" The prog |
ress OF beneficial inventions of this day |
and generation are glory to God and !
an honor to mankind.
The character of this blessed Christ |
is our next thought, and is worthy of |
consideration and emulation. Sin had
fixed great gulf between God and |
man; hence separation. God yearned
a Of g~
sinful condition forbade our near APP
proach to God. But God so loved the
world that He gave His only begotten
Son that whosoever believeth in Him
shall not perish but have everlasting
nfe. God came to man i'm the person
or Jesus Chrst-God manifest in the
flesh. We stand in awe before the
power of God, manifest from the pesti-
lential banks of the Nile to the tri-
umph of Israel In the fall of Jericho.
But the presence of Christ fills our
souls with joy, and through Him we
draw near to God. In Him we behold
all the fullness of the God head bodily.
By natural birth the son of man, by.
spiritual birth, from the grave the Son
of God with power. /
This thought brings US to the con-
sideration of His death on the cross.
Paul informs us that He died for our
sins and rose for our Justification
Under the Roman government the cross
was the punishment of the vilest slave.
and regarded as the most ignominious
death. This punishment our Savior
understood. The Transforming influ-
ence of Christ's character effected even
the cross as an emblem. Up to this
time 1t had been and was an emblem
OF shame; henceforth it would be an
fguratively speaking. of life
and liberty from sin and shame
DO Won desire N he fka . | z
then you must follow Him. If any man I
will come after Me- let him deny him '
self and take up his cross and follow I
Me- (Matthew 1924 Meaning that
we must become a reproach in the
sight of men, in religious sense, in s
DO this. then we have the promise of :
srown, the last and concluding thought
Of this discourse. 4
Christ triumphed over all tempta- \
lions and was crowned King of Kings z
md Lord of Lords Listen to the
Psalmist as he pictures the entrance
nto the palace royal of God. when He <
ascended up on high: Lift up your
reads. o we gates, and be we lifted up.
re everlasting doors; and the King of &
Glory shall come in. Who is this King =
Il Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, Z
he Lord mighty in battle Life up
Tour heads. o We gates; even lift them
ip' yt everlasting doors, ana the King X
II Glory shall come in. Who is this r
King of Glory? The Lord of hosts, He
5 the King of Glory.'-Psalm 24:7-10 (
What triumphant entrance; what
glorious reception to the Conqueror y
'ver death, hell and the grave. BY man -
elected, by man ignored, and slain ,
RAISED from the tomb. seen of men,
seconded on high and crowned King of
he universe. How great the honor
20 you desire to be a follower of this y
onquering hero and wear a crown -
.lso Then seek Him while He may .
,e found call upon Him while he is