The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-30

''Other foundation can no man lay than Is
laid. which is Jesus Christ" Christ, then,
according TO the Scripture. Is the only
sure and permanent foundation on
which a man can build his piritual and
eternal interests.
! notice. first. that Christ Is the founda-
ton on which We are 20 build because He.
IN the divine and human elements of His
character, Is needed by men everywhere.
Ii cannot be denied THAI the moral and
as spect of the cOuntenance of the differ
ent races of men vary, but the face
of the soul everywhere. Sins to be up
rooted and burdens to be borne. and,
common TO all. sorrows to be gcd.
ana blessedness to be obtained are COM
mon to all. These things are universal
they are the felt need OF every human
soul, and since Christ came into the world
ment for sin, t. remove the burden that
oppresses the heart, to sustain the soul
under sorrow, to comfort and NIL IL with
ble>ssdnesS, and TO crown II with the as
surance II endless felicity AMI glory,
when the weary years of life shall have
He'd away.
WHAT HE CAME TO DO.
Since He came to do all of this. and to
do II freely and abundantly and as no
one else Or anything else in the wide
universe can do 1t. lie should be joyfuliy
accepted. and implicitly trusted as the
foundation and coronation of our spiritual
life and hopes. over against our sins
hl1st stands In the etfulgence and power
of His divine. human nature, and says.
Though your sins be as scarlet. they
may be white as snow; though they be red
as crimson, they may be aS wool. Ana
over against our burdens ana sorrows. He
stands In grea, tenderness and sympathy.
saying, Come unto me all ye that labor
and are heavy laden and | will give you
rest" oh. If We could only interpret our
feelings Alright this is what We all want:
pardon for our sins, rest Tor our Duf-
dens, ana the strong and enrapturing hope
of heaven for the dlSappoin;ments of life.
The first crusaders said that there WAS
Il parcel of ground in the Garden ot
Gethsemane upon which, IL you dropped
a tear. there would spring up u flower of
the rarest beauty. the aroma of which
would ease any heart pain. or supply thN
need of any soul. So the repcntant tear
and humble faith In the presence of Him
who is the rose of Sharon and the lily of
the valley and the fairest among ten
thousand and the one altogether lovely
will ease the distress of any human soul
and open all heaven TO the longing and
hunger of any disappointed spirit.
And then Christ Is the foundatio be-
cause He alone has special adaptation to
every human heart. There are some points
of affinity between all men AS men, II We
could only discover them, but the forces
of repulSiOn whether they come from
mental peculiarities or moral antipithies
keep the masses of men separated as by
great CULTS. You are almost UNCONSCIOUS
ly and irresis,ibly drawn toward one
person as friend and companion and he
Seems to ill the whole hemisphere of yoir
being, while without being able to tell
why, you repel from another equally
worthy in moral and social and intellec-
tual qualities.
NO MAN CAN DO TT.
In the varied and vital relationship of
life person Is wonderfully adapted to per-
son, but only within limited circle. and
with "a limited power. hence 1t Is mat no
man has yet lived who could adjust HIM
self 10 the individual wants and expert
onces of every human soul, but in the case
of our Lord Jesus Christ as he STANDS
related to the whole human family, We
iind that Notwithstanding the disparity or
intellect and emotional susceptibility the
disparity of social position, ana all the
manifold diSparities OF races ana classes
and conditions of men He Is equally adapt
ed and equally understood and equally
trusted. Christ in His character and in
the ministry of His matchless love and
power sweeps the whole dial of our hu-
manity and touches every heart ana m
tellect alike. The child and the sage, the
invalid and the hero. the sad and the JOY
Gus, the rich and the poor are alike SHARED
in the golden meshtsi web OF this love
and sympathy. and made the recipients OF
JOY and ever-insnirihs hope ana eN-
losses and burdens. 1t seems like III"
threshold of heaven.
And then Chris. should be our fOundd-
ton because Of the ceaseleSSness ana IN
yariableness Of His help. His divine
word says thar 'lir is without variable
ness or sha low OF turning The same
yesterday today and forever. The az
fectuns %! men are chanseable an ar"
apt to vary for the slightest causes. Wher.
We have one friend who will stand stead
lily by us ard plead for ms ami cling 10
us when the way Is dark ana win'ry, ani
everything seems to De against us, Il
thousand, il We have SO many, VIII Tor
sake us and leave us TO perish alone. u
YOU are able 10 keep your money ana
your place in society ana live in the sun
shine of prosperity and abound in bene'
factions. friends will gather about You,
twist garlands of applause for your brc"
and ill all of the atmosphere OF you"
dwelling place with fragrance and song,
but II you lose your footing, come To pow
crty or grief or defamation OF character,
as thousands uf the best and trurst people
sometimes do your troop or friends VIII
chari when the blossomins time Is over.
But Christ stands over against the soul
in these lonely. trying hours. saying II
will never leave nor forsake thee. Mneh
thou passcst through the waters ! VIII be
with thou" and The Hoods shall nor
overflow thee. and Ms one Whoih ms
mother comfortcth so will ! comfort you
oh, We who, for whatever cause, nave
been bereft of friends, whose eyes are
blinded with tears. and VINO. win weary
foot steps are stumbling in dark ana lone
iy places, build. oh. build on Christ. ana
you will find an unfailing support ana
friend. OH such Il friend. I'm whose pres
ence there Is fullness of JOY and at whose
right hand there are pleasures forever
mOr'.