The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-26
THE SUNDAY SERVICES.
BfSHoP PENfCh PREACHES TO
LARGE CONGREGATIONS.
Rev. DIR. Kerr on Scenes In Jerusalem In
the Life of 81. Paul Series OF Lectures
Other Interesting Sermons.
p,s,on . q Penick preached to large

IL
And when they had fulfilled the days.
ms they returned the child Jesus tarried
behind in Jerusalem. and Joseph ana
his mother knew hot OF At.
But they supposing him to have been
IN the company. went days journey.
and they sought him among their kins-
folk and acquaintance.
And when they found him not, they
turned back again 10 Jerusalem seeking
him.
And IL oamo 10 pass that after three
days they found him in the temple, sit
ting in the midst OF the doctors, bot1
hearing them and asking them qUes-
tions." Luke ii:iS-i6:
In the course of his eloquent discourse.
the Doctor said.
We come again TO mediate on lesson
arising out OF Gods plan Of passing the
life OF His son yearly owed the life Of the
world. THIS lesson is taught us in the
twelve-yeaTs-old boy. Christ is laid rs
little babe on Mary's bosom in Bethe-
lchems mangcr-a sacred paramount
trust from Heaven to earth God 10 hu-
mainly Tho trust IS kept. through all
the peril OF the massacre Of the inno-
cents all the loneliness of Egypt. all
the trials OF their humble home In des-
pissed Nazareth. for twelve long and try
ing years. and then. the child Is lost.
The son OF God slips through the arms
OF humanity and leaves the aching heart
des0latc.
Where was he lost? In the temple.
Lost on the way home from worship.
Alas. How prone IS humanity to lose
God in worship? Tho darkest ages OF
time. the blacklist gloom and degradation
Of human nature have risen about its
degenerated worship. its religions that
have lost their God. Like lsraels idola-
trous golden calves at the foot Of lIcrodS
mount. God enthroned above but closed
wrapped to those below. How easy II
Is within the Church's shadow TO let
o>~thly things and thoughts hide the
Christ. the true Christ from our hearts.
How did they lose him? BY think
ing others would take care Of him for
them. Oh. no man can keep my Jesus
for me. lie says: Il stand at the door
and knock. IT any man will open / and
tho Father will come In and make our
abode with him. meaning. with the man
who is his own hearts door-keeper and
opens himself TO Christ. Again by the
very confidence they had in Christ.
THE SESSION.
A tremendous fash OF light on the boy
life Of Jesus this and shows US the whole
workings of the human forces that raised
him and his own responding TO them.
Parents with vast confidence in and trust
ing of their child and child whose great
life accepted their confidence and lived
10 its verge. This very confidence grew
into carelessncss. Faith into faithless-
ness. Leading Jesus to do all and We go
ing on the way of our own sweet wills.
nothing doubling but at tho right time
and place Jesus will turn up and all viii
be well. Now the Christ chose his own
parents 10 give humanity an object les
son against faithless faith. The KIND
of faith he honors and saves the souls IS
"A faith that makes us faithful and draws
us nearer. never sends us off and away
from him. We lose him when we fail
TO watch and wait on him. There Is
another great truth here | must teach.
At twelve years old he is lost At this
time the man in the boy begins to assert
itself. the time when the best and deep
est nature in us hears God and life call
ing us on TO join the battle. The twelve
vear-old boy is so eager 10 ride horses,
swim rivers. and enter the many other
conflicts. DO not forget that Gods life
will call your boy and that he will, he
must. II he is true as Christ. answer and
press towards his own place in lifes
GREAT battle line. The Christ boy has
"A place I'm the world. and If you and l
can't hear God call him and go with him
I'm his boy work. we too, VIII lose him.
lose a part OF him, We VIII never get
back.
Mary and Joseph never got back those
three days of his life he was away from
them. Live close to all the sympathies
OF Christ as well to those that beat IN
his boy breast. as those that broke that
heart in Golgotha.
Is A FAILURE.
worship that loses Jesus is failure
Millions may attend. as at Jerusalem :
splendid temples. even with hoary asSo-
Citations and time-honored and rich rit-
uals. All that antiquity. history, art
ingenuity, wealth, and enthusiasm, or
even fanaticism can do, may be In It,
but the worshipper that does not get and
keep the Christ In his or her life is a
failure. What did II brook Marys life
that the Babe had laid those years In
her arms. and lived from her breasts!
Now. lie was gone-what else could MI
the place? one must win through all
acts OF worship closer 10 and lay iirmer
hold on the Christ. This is love act.
The cry OF the Law was ever the babe
Moses: take this child and raise him
for me There Is no such cry as the
babe Christ is laid in Mary's arms. q
silent love trust: but deeper and truer
cry OF maternity, crying: "Oh. my child!
/ will love thee" IL is the silent. pow
erful call of love that earth must never
be allowed to weaken. We should wor-
shin 10 get more OF Jesus with stronger
faith. brighter hope. and deeper love, and
carry these home with us-our jewels OF
life. The 10Y and glory Of Christ u.s..
lie will go with you and help YOU IN
your every need. lie did 50 love 10
leave the Temple at eventde and steal
AWAY TO Bethany's home. The Church s
aim should DO ever more and more to
make Jesus-living nearer. warmer, and
loyelier to humanity. Where did they
md the lost Jesus? Just where God 5
truth was being applied to human need.
The Bible to man. Here the Great Phy-
stefan loves to stand and apply God $
words as ointment TO humanity's bleeding
heart. When people are studying the
Bible honestly. earnestly, and eagerly,
YOU will find Jesus close by-rather than
al the altar where mass is offered.
WHEN WE FIND JESUS.
What did they find him doing? APP
plying old truths 10 present need TAX
ing diagnoses and giving remedies. We
will ever find Jesus where humanity
waits to be served with God. love, and
truth. Our trust OF life is Jesus; our
glory. the fulfilling of this trust. Eigh-
teen years he dwelt in "a poor mans
home. subject TO "them'-not 10 her
but TO both-and he awaits now TO serve
every true-hearted man in the duties Of
home. Marys conduct at Canas we'd
ding shows something Of His worth and
place IA her home.
n we are about our Fathers bust
ness" lie IS with us. when we lind