The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-08-30


Of the ages. except tie single aeknowi-
edgrnant that He was q lofty character.
q pure soul a spiritual refOruler, q per-
feet man. z hsroic martyr 20 Ills conFsc-
f.onx. For fHe sake OF argument. 4 &C
ee2t the challenge thrown down against
tbs logical conclusion drawn from tae
premise Of miracles. 7 @dmIt that there
may he faults IN that reasoning that pos
abby certain assertions which We have
heretofore accepted As historical may turn
cut TO be TRADITIONAL that memory ana
fancy have been indlscEiu4tnateiy woven
into the Gospel story. 50 that fact ana Ne
ton may sometimes look strongly alike,
ard az times our Judgment may. In coEse-
a1enee. became horelezely confused. W nat
tnen7 IL there no other proof OF cnrist's
divinity are we 20 give up our hope for
the race because one avenue leading Up 70
the goal OF our salvation II barred OF py
come high board fence o. realism BY no
means. / stiII take my stand upon the d.
vlnity OF my Lord. / stu am moved oy
fha power OF Hss resurrection. Why2 Be-
cause OF His complere sinlessness. Once
admit His tmperfection. His inheritance
OF tire faint OF sin. Ills human
ify alone with AL that attends
IL IN this world, and the res
direction OF such a bsing. by His own pow
er. becomes an utter absurdity. say that
II WAS absolutely necessary that Christ
a siniesa life. before He could assert His
authority over death and the grave And
here not I'm this argument, but In the SIM
pie statement OF His blameiessness. stand
on broad platform, where all the world
may Ht1nd-Hls friends. His enemies, HIS
disciples. His reJecters. those who pro-
nounce Him divine. and those who admire
hat cannot adore. Who viii east q stone
at Jesus character foday2 There He
stands in history. on the confession OF His
enemies, innocent. fauitless. sinless, per
feet. In tina sight OF ali time and all eter-
nifty.
This Argument.
Now take this weii-authenticated state
rnent, this common ruling in the court OF
universal testimony, and ] make IL the
foundation OF my argument for His di-
vinify. ] say that Jesus could not have
been what the whole world. including all
schools OF theological and Biblical inter-
probation admit Him TO have been-per-
fect--unless He was also divine. Search
the record from Adam TO the last infant
that opened It's eyes moment ago 10 the
light. and where will you find another such
life? The grandest patriarchs of the He
brew race failed 10 stand the test. Pa
tient Job had a great deal OF self-right-
eousness about him. thai had 20 be purged
out OF him by severe discipline. Noah.
who walked with God. got drunk. Abra-
ham. the father of the faithful. was guilty
OF deceit. David. n man after Gods own
heart, was liceutious and revengeful at
times The slime Of sin overtrailed the
entire race. That is one proof Of the au-
thentieity OF the Scriptures. Nothing in
any life Is covered up. The spots of I'M
cleannesa on even the most sanity char
aeters are faithfully brought to light. But
when we come to Jesus, there He stands,
blameless. No finger pointed at Him, ex-
cept that of the vile mob which periured
Itself for the purpose. Show me another
perfect life. Where, In ancient or modern
times. Is there another person for whom
universal and reputable evidence has
claimed freedom from SIM / take my
ground firmly here. lie who occupied
position. as distinct IN its aioneness as 10
was elevated TN It's grandeur. could not
have been created out OF ordinary mate
rial. Linked with the human that gave
the iineaments to His countenance, and
the real maniness 10 Ills soul, there must
have been some mysterious, divine. In
dwelling power. which Paul. In his letter
To the colossians, calls The fiIlness of
tho Godhesd bodily" ! do not try 10 ex-
plain the mystery OF this incomprehensi-
bic union. but / do say IL must have been
there. Temptation tried It's best to over
throw Him. yet lie was steadfast until
the end. Hungry. lie would not turn the
stones into bread Thirsty, lie would not
drink the drugged wine. \ king I'm real
ity. He would not, for the sake OF display.
become a king in appearance. When
pressed into a position where He was ex-
pected TO shew forth His divine power to
please the curiosity OF the crowd. He
vanished and left His prosecutors gaping
in establishment. When iegions of angels
waited His call AZ His crucifxion He left
them unsummoned. rather than ruin the
worlds hope Of salvation. When. with de-
moniacai flerveness. the harpies OF perdi-
ton asSaiied Him on the cross and tried
20 hecloud His fathers face. He Quavered
but for an instant. thus conscious 10 the
last OF His human nature. and then tri-
umphantly exclaimed: 1T is finished.
Father. into Thy hands | commend my
spirit" No yielding 10 temptation. No
eompsnlonship with sin. Paul says: 'He
knew no sim Peter says that he was
guiieless John says that He could for
give sin because ne had none himself. The
ages. with united voice. cry; Behold the
only sinlcss one the world has ever scent"
And I say. because siniess. therefore dl-
vine
The great tragedy OF Calvary is always
dweit upon as the central thought I'm the
atouement. So IL is the central thought.
vaiueieSs. however. unless preceded by
Christ's perfect keeping or the moral law
and followed by His resurrection. The
Lamb orferea for the sins OF the world
must be without hlemish. and His holy
one must not see corruption The active
obedience Of the pure life. the passive ODE
dsence Of the cross. and the resumption Of
what lie WAS before the world had an ex-
ssfnnce. are all necessary 70 establish His
right 70 rule. and our citizenship IN His
kingdom. Therefore that which made
His sacrifice acceptable TO the Father and
eaiescjous for man was His siniessuess.
therefore His divinity.
Asss - az a - y n
way IS the power 81 Iris divine life 81 our
aisyosatr IS the spirit 81 victory over sin
fn -. sspt&eh ssfc<l unto rs because we
aweM IN hifa. We may know datv the
power OF ffts divinity IN our lives. We are
res LEFT alone "a plan the campaign The
heavenly teacher Is with Us. We 80 not.
gnt, battle single handed and alone. There
Ga another at our side Re Will grasp the
sword Win AIS lie vii pot His arm WITH
ours IN the strap 81 the shield. We shall
giorlouSly overcome. and yet the victory
shall not - ours. but HIS Just rs Cod
wEs iu Efirn 80 shall IL % united with
us. HIS righteousness shah cover our sin.
aI3s power over tne opposing influences %
tne resa SHal become manifest IN as
10. I an WITH yeu AWAY" TRSt IS shs
promise. Christ formed fn our hearts che
here ~ e3ory. Taat IS the experimental
fact i taru 80 yea Who fed not the In
snirsttoa ~ thiV power What n{scTa BE
failures. tn she Hshf ~ eternity, yoar Ewes
are EoiuE - De- Nbat satisfaction can
there oe ia troadiag ofer aud ever again
the c5TruguscEtbed path % y0ur own hui
man lnfperfectinns, Nheu rse righteous
ness - fasth-~yhe gtEhtarss toward Gof
"a well rs Esan-r1sy - TnGr@ and the
fss}furSs ~ ff3e sarge. free nfu through the
son NAV Invite year entrance AMI posses
sgrne WNen once ysnu become CHRIST 3
you NIL understand how he san uphola
vau ns,ckcn vaa On 20 eraDder accom-