The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-12
A SIMPLE SERMON ON CHRIST.
Rev. Mr.. EIlisOn's Services Mt the
First Baptist Church.


The First Baptist Church was more than
filled last night. Extra seats were placed
in the aisles and then many people went
away because there was no more room. DR..
Ellison preached a simple sermon on Christ,
il being a continuation of his morning SER
mon. but its very simplicity held the at
tention of the audience to the end. In part
he said:
And sitting down they watched Him
there These words are spoken or the
Roman soldiers who crucihed Jesus Christ
impassioned way. They cruciffed this Man
as they would have butchered an OK; there
intense bitteiness and boundless hate of the
leaders of the Jews did not affect tnem
He was no enemy of theirs; neither were
they in sympathy with the great furious
multitude, who came together to witness
the striking elements IN great tragedy.
seers; an order had been given them signed
by the Roman governor commanding them
to cruelty three men and they had done II,
that was all. Now that it was done. bring
a jug of water and a basin and they Will
wash the blood from their hands. AS Tor
their elothes-iet it dry and wear ON was
over as il impelled by some marvellous
power they sat down in front of the cross
from which to view the Nan writhing in
the throes of fearful death struggle;
strange time in which to form an estimate
the crucial hours Of human experience men
show out their innermost souls. and If they
be noble souls they snow 1orth NOTORIOUS
power and beauty. After all the Roman
from which TO view that strange life: Is it
not a fact that much is determined by our
point of view? I rode into the vale of
Glamour over the Tete Noir pass. The
way led over q greatly rocky shoulder OF the
Alps. Grand as the sight IS there SIS, Is sort sort
not seem regal. 1t seems 10 be one among
other mountains. but not a king OF all.
The place to see Mount Blanc is the little
French town OF Sallanches, then when you
look back you behold sight which you
will never forget. Before you CLEANS the
mighty mountain range. white ana Deautl-
full as the walls of heaven. and towering
mountains and seeming mt TO be the great
white throne OF God That is the right
point of view. We sing Ii sometimes:
There is a green hill far away without a
city wall, where the dear Lord was cruel
fed. who died to save us all. put we nttie
dream that that mn nd hn fe become the center
LET us initiate the example or soldiers
as we sit in this beautiful house toanigh i
how He carried himself in that supreme
hour that excludes all human help The
piercing thorn. the wrench OF nails. the
thrust of the spear-these were there but
no help drew near. There were people in
that great multitude who would have helped
if they could. The mother heart OF Mary
own life if THAI could have saved Jesus
Christ from the suffering he was about to
undergo. but these Roman soldiers formed
an iron barrier about the cross through
which 1t was impossible for her 10 pass.
There were also in that multitude many of
His disciples but they. too were helpless.
Jesus Christ must die alone.
How little the actors in this great
tragedy understood all that was passing be-
fore their eyes. The soldiers when they first
began To watch Him were ignorant of the
extent and meaning of their own act. But
they seemed 10 feel the presence of a grand
purpose and they began 10 realize in dim
way that this act would open out in the
ages to come in a strange and surprising
way No wonder. then that they watched
Him. No wonder when He died their cap
tain. man who had doubtless ordered a
hundred crucifcions cried: Surely this
was the Son of God Everything spoke
this forth The mysterious and terror deal
ing darkness. the mighty earthquake chat
plowed the grounds into pillows beneath
their feet as hurricanes make pillows when
the sea is wild: the rending rocks. the
opened graves, the dead coming forth-aIl
these things and others led him TO believe
that this surely the Son OF God He
had seen men die. but had never seen the
universe transformed into a sympathetic.