The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-07-10
JESUS IN THE WORLD.


ments of individuals, and that life is
perpetuated by the warrior and the
statesman. The history of Egypt is
linked to the life of the Pharoahs,
and the exodus of Israel could not be
written without the biography of
Moses. The four great empires OF
antiquity call up the names of Ne
buchadnezzar, Cyrus, Alexander and
the Cesers. The history of France
is associated with Louis XIV. and
Bonaparte; of England with the his
toric dynasties of Tudor and Stu
art; and of the United States with
names of Lincoln and Washington.
The history of the great rebellion
could not be compiled without the
names of Grant, Sherman, Sheridan,
Lee, johnson and Beauregard
These men have stamped their name
and character upon the historic page,
and they cannot be forgotten while
man is a student of history.
Science, philosophy and religion
also bear the stamp of authorship.
Tie law of gravitation calls to mind
the genius of Newton; Confucianism
is like Confucius; Buddhism is like
Buddha and Mohammetanism is like
Mohamet. These religions are but
human and they bear the marks of
their human authorship. They can
not rise above their human origin and
are, therefore, imperfect, one-sided
and contradictory. But the morality
and religion of Jesus towers far above
all of the thoughts and inventions of
man. Christianity is like Christ and
it bears the stamp of divine author
ity.
Louis XIV, King of France, in his
pride and arrogance, said of the State;
at is myself" Jesus said, 81 am the
way, the truth and the life," and no
one questions his authority. Then
we can say that Christianity is Jesus
in the world in fulfillment of his
own words, "Lo 1 am with you al
ways"
Men of genius and power leave a
measure of their spirit in the minds
of their followers. Men win admira-
ton and love by their force of char
acter. Sauls armor bearer and the
soldiers of Napoleon and Sherman
prove this to be a fact. Methodism
cherishes the name of Wesley; the
German Reformation has its Luther
and Melancthon; Unitarianism has
its beloved Claiming, and Universal
ism almost reveres the name of Hosea
Ballou. But above all men Jesus of
Nazareth was beloved and honored
by his disciples. He was the founder
of Christianity. He was the Life
there, and death could not hold him
in its sepulcher. Because l live ye
shall live Also" is the pledge of
eternal life to his followers.
Other religions and kingdoms rise
up and flourish for time, but fall in
to ruin, when their founders cease to
give them life by their presence and
power. But the religion of Jesus and
the kingdom of heaven in human
hearts stand firm from age to age.
Other systems and forms of religion
may hold sway over the masses for
time, but they lose their influence and
powerwhen their founders have gone.
The reverse is true of this. Viewed
from any human standpoint of knowl-
edge and experience, Jesus attempt
to change, to overthrow Judaism, and
to win the world to him, was until
long after the crucifxion, a most sig
nal failure.
But death was not defeat to him.
In his earthly life, Jesus was appar-
emily baffled by his enemies, and
driven by hostility and the most
cruel persecution until defeat seemed
inevitable. But he looked far be-
yond the range of mans natural Wis
ion when he said, "And l, if | be
lifted up from the earth will draw all
men unto me-" From small begin
nings, in Judea and Galilee, the Cos
pei reaches on and still on, fulfilling
the prophecy, "All nations shall serve
him." "There shall be an handful of
corn in the earth, upon the tops of
the mountains, and the fruit thereof
shall shake like Lebanon"
Looking at the march of events,
who can doubt that Jesus in the world
is the great moral and spiritual force,
that has established and perpetuated
the Gospel of good tidings. Chris
tianity, like its divine author, is i'm
unchangeable-"the same
yesterday, today and forever"
The forms of Christianity may diff
fer in one century from those of an
other. Truth itself is Interchangeable,
but the expression of that truth
through the media of the words and