The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-05
RESURRECTION MORN.
Az RxsroRICAL FACT. a REPELA-
rlOy AND A CONS UsMMATfON.
Net = MYTH or a Beautiful Illusion, Bnt =
Fact as Reasonably D~mons'ra'e"
M Any other in History.

fTh,s article Is dedicated by the author
IN The rrworth League. the Il. Y. +. T..
the Society OF Christian EndeaVor' anu
the brotherhood of st. Andrew
Death and resurrection are evident laws
(or. perhaps / should say. a law)' OF Ma
turc. Beautiful summar encounters 'he
shadows OF faii: the flowers shed their
bloom: the green flores is soon pecoi"o
transformed into pan oram'c scene Oh
~o,aen-,intcd foliage-''the sore ana yer
,.v, ,eaf,. the branches OF the trees are
then stripped OF their livery ana S''''N
49,, a. sncc,rcs as the chill shroud OF
hoary winter proclaims temporary W."
10 the vegetable kingdom. Bu' picsVn'
~ the genial breath o. sprung cNokes .uc
tender bud and sleeping Hover inc .ip,o
mia, has become toughcneo by "i'l'o'
hlosts awakes TO renewed life ana NlSot'
the skslson forests are reclothed IN
,,eaut.fni apparel. while every sunny
Landscape and laughing stTNarnlet seems
IN vic with each other IN prOclairllhE
~ glorious resurrection. which is ushereu liz
n, the chantings OF myriad sweet song
binds in resurrected natures Nernal trees
Ijf~ to-day. death and decay fohoWiis
quickly, and then quickcninS' ana INC
again. ,o1
Human life is a chequcred and varied
oxner,ence-a succession OF lights anu
shadows of hopes and fears-aye' OF
deaths and resurrections. To-day we
are on the mountain-top OF peace ana
ioy with pcrchance no cloud appearing
from horizon to horizon. To-morro"
the storm clouds begin 10 lower ana 'he
sun of contentment hides its face before
the bowling storms OF painful experience
l.. IaF
PEELED. and out OF the tempest OF suNr-
ing. faith and hope come forth Tesur-
rcctcd and purified and newborn JOYS
flood the soul What, indeed, are rear
and despair hut the shroud and tomb OF
peace? And what are hope and trust
but peace resurrected in the purified ha-
biiments OF IA more lofty faith?
How Instructive the promptings OF tho
mind and heart of man. the highest Great
ed being in Gods beautiful world. en-
dowed with reason, capacity. will-to
seek an answer TO that most natural OF
questions, IF a man die. shall he live
again." To contemplate the grace and
the good OF human existence Is repulsiVe.
and hence we find ia all ages OF the
worlds history evidences of mans hope
OF immortality and longings after the
resurrection OF the INDEPENDENTLY dim
and vague. at times. but gradually be-
coming better developed and only I'M
folding into the effulgent rays OF hopes
perfect day at The grand revelation OF.
God In the resurrection of the incarnate
Lord-the event at once the grand central
fact OF The universe, and tho culmina-
ton OF the divine scheme OF human re-
demption from the thraldom OF death. To-
day marks an anniversary of that grandly
sublime and glorious event. and we'll may
flowers and evergreens be entwined, and
garlands wreathed and the glad anthems
swell through the courts OF praise, while
pure incense from grateful hearts ascend
on high.
HISTORICAL FACT.
Let us reyerenty consider the doctrine
OF the resurrection OF Christ as an his
torical fact. and then its consequences
and far-reachlng effects. for IT was a
great revelation and a grand consumma-
ton.
This doctrine is not a myth-not
pleasing sentiment-not beautiful lllu-
sion. but a fact as reasonably demon
otxable as any other in history. me MS
torical facts relative 10 christ iie'
= teachings. and death are 1ully agreed
upon by all people, except wherein lhe
fncompreheEsiDie OF ineApiaiiapie III 'ie
supernatural, appears. Ana yet IL 10
true that the evidences in support OF the
fact that the miraculous demonstrations
in connection with His life and mission
are as strong as are the proofs oil ule
universally accepted facts NO man VIII
stake his reputation as ieasoi'er o'
thinker on the proposition that what -
incomprehensible or ineNplandble IN the
operations cannot exist, Tor We I'VE ana
move In a world of causes ana elects
which causes in large measure we cannot
and do not pretend TO understand anu
vet which effects We both see ana leei.
How false TO good reasoning TO accept,
l,ncballenged All historical statements
wherein the supernatural does not enter
and 10 ignore or disbeiieNe statements
from the same source relative 10 'he ii'
raculous, The Apostles themselves laiieu
10 grasp the grand truth OF the Iesul
rection, however, until the ilsen iIo'u
.onered TIER understanding that they
might understand the Scripture anu
then they believe it. gloried III H.
yielded up their lives in defence ot IL,
and have left us an inyincible record oi
ruth until to-day the understanding
of the world is opened under the pow
or Of God and the grand doctrine Is De-
l,eved bv teeming millions, The great
German thelogian, DE Wette, VINO dleu
in 1873 and who was called the uhlN0I-
sal doubter." admitted In his last "o'h
that 1.-THE fact of the fesuirec''o"' az
,houeh a darkness that cannot De as
"'sa ros,s on the way and manner OF
..canno, itself be called into uoupt'
.~rh. darkness" resting on us way an"
.a,ne, tx ..dissipated" by the trusting
CHRISTIANS conscious soul responuins ~
a.. revelation. and being led ty the HP"
a, Of God ND 10 that sublime Aeisht VI
s,nn,,c,, confidencc-eVen 10 a reaii%"'.o"
- shs ,,,,,h OF the declaration mat WIN
-, Gods Spirit no man can hho"
-. christ is the Lord. And there II
,.rLness TO such soul, because theie
a. mystery or something the hni'c man
s.anno, grasp. for 1t would be cdrhNcss'
trdsad n we could imagine theie were
a. ha,pbts and depths between the ihl'c
"a ,nfinity. Mr.. Joseph Cook the re-
nowned author of the boston "V'u"'
Iectures," and iar-ianed D'oios'S'
puts II this way; ,-... ,,,.o,.,
.The intuitions OF conscience prove
the moral excellence OF the biblical sSs-
fem. - ,.u,,
The moral excellence OF the hibh-
cai system proves that II Is not lh'oh-
sse.ent with the attributes OF an inhihtc-
ly perfect being to give TO that System
supernatnral attestation.
IT, an historical attestation OF ms
hind has been given TO the biblical sys-
xnr, The existence or that attcstation
may be proved by the established scien-
,l0r rules OF historical criticism.
The established scientific rules OF
historical criticism. severely applied. DC
monstrate the fact Of the resurrection.
s. The fact OF the resurrection proves
not the Deity. but the Divine authority