The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1896-07-10

l
you to notice that there is wide uni
verse between childlikeness and child
ishness. They are at the opposite poles
of thought Everything great and true
is in its last analysis simplicity itself.
One OF the marks of great intellectual
power is the ability to make that which
is seemingly complex appear simple. as
witness the power of Gladstone. Mark
also this mans answer to that question
about a woman who had been the wife
of seven men, This question was the
stock in trade of the willy theologians
of the Saddueees: "Ye do err, not know
ing the scriptures nor the power of
God. For in the resurrection they nei-
ther marry nor are given in marriage,
but are as the angels of God in Hea-
ven." And those men grown gray in
the study of their scriptures were made
to feel that they were babes in the
hands of this Galilean peasant
would remind you that If 'the man
Christ Jesus" be not the Son of God,
the Savior of the world" then he was
nothing but anilliterate, untaught. poor
carpenter from miserable little village
in Galilee. "A river rises no higher
than its source" and "out of nothing
nothing comes, are trite savings very
applicable here. For the greatest diff
ficulty is by no means on the side of
Christianity. In vain will you seek 20
account for the life, words and ever in
ereasing influence of Christ Jesus ex-
cept in the one way, that he was what
he claimed for himself, the Son of God.
Il and my Father are one" You can
not patronize Jesus Christ. And Chris
tianity rejects with seorn the statement
that he was only good man He
claimed TO be God. His disciples and
Immediate followers boldly asserted the
same. If he were not God. then l un-
'hesitatingly say he was the vilest of
men, the greatest impostor that ever
drew breath. BY their fruits We shall
know them" was Christ's own test of
all things, and we glory and rejoice in
having the man Christ Jesus" judged
by his fruits" l shall apply two more
tests and then conclude. l do so be-
cause they are of nature that will ex-
pose any weakness in his answers. /
say to this "Redeemer, God with us: -
L am sinner; | am conscious of the
presence within of this dreadful mala-
dy, sin; in vain struggle to get rid OF
It; | am conscious that il is killing ME. Z"
What will he say? Will he. like the
Quack theologians of earth, tell me, go
and hide yourself in a cave and con-
Cover over your corruption
with nice moral veneering. or DO as
the poor materialist does, wiring your
hands in anguish and bemoan your sad
fate? Had he given me any such an
swer l would have no doubt about his
claim" "Impostor" would have beeH
written all over ii. Listen, sin cursed,
Iife-Yeary man, to the incompatible an
swer: "Ye must be born again New
life, new vitality, new being, born
from above, born of God" But whose
the life, oh Christ? Mine whose
ever shall confess that Jesus Is the Son
Of God. God dwelleth in him, and he is
Goo" If We abide in me and my words
abide in you" Instinetively l know this
IS the only way-the right answeF-for
in myself l find constant failure. Who
shall lift me above my meaner nsture
but some power greater than myself?
What is the principle of this new life.
thou Master of men? What the eneT-
gizing source of this new vitality? And
the sublime answer is, "Loye''-Goi-
born, heayen-nurtured love, the purest.
noblest flower of earth Before the
man Christ Jesus" l am prepared 10
bow. and with all my life's homage say:
My Lord and nay God" II love be not
as the touch of his garment, what will
life be when ''of his fullness have we all
received and grace for grace?" l come
TO him and say: Master, pardon me,
and l Will ask but this once more Thou
hast told us that 1t is expedient for
you that l go away and am weak and
fearful lest in the darkness of earth I
lose my new found life" l listen and
there comes TO my heart that blessed
'Lo 1 am with you alway,
even unto the end of the world" Il
will pray the father and he shall give
you another comforter, that he may
abide with you forever" say to him:
Those are grand promises, oh Christ.
5ut have they ever been tested and
tried since thou didst send the Holy
Spirit, the Comforter What is the
history Of my Church? How readest
-hou?" And / look back and 1 see
-Eelye ignorant fishermen, clothed with
this power of the spirit Of "the man
Jesus Christ" going forth undaunted to
win the world for their Master. Hav-
ng as their standard a shameful cross.
as their God erucifed Nazarine. as
their weapons the simple story of his
his life. death and resurrec-
ton, and find in the golden age Of
Greek culture and art, in an age when
Roman military despotism and IN
licentiousness held almost IN
limited sway, these men marching for
ward 70 assured victory. What If they
gave their lives as martyrs, they held
not life dear that they might preach
Christ crucfied. the power Of God unto
salvation" By their side. as one Of the
arst fruits Of martyTdom, worked a
man with mind and soul OF gigantic
mold, spirit that famed with fire m
1uenchable. look at him after a long
life OF service mark the form bent
and twisted and his face SCARED bv
-he dendish ingenuity Of his enemies.
and / say TO him, Paul. what Of
thisz" With his eountenanee aname
18th