The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1899-12-22

and a man not 1T to live. But dying
He lives again, and, He lives forever in
the memory and hearts OF men,
The ancient Greeks and Romans del
fed their heroes-aIways men Of blood
and war-but Jusus Of Nazareth was
the prince Of Peace bis entire life
was a negatiOn Of all the supposed
prerogatives Of greatness and BE even
said: Il can do nothing Of Myself"
He claimed a divine mission and the
Divine indweIIing. His words, His
miracles, His resurrection, set the seal
both Of His character and mission. His
apOtheOsis is both complete and tran
scendently glorious Like the Roman
centurion experimenting His exscU-
ton and standing By His cross, the
world says: surely this was the Son
Of GOdgn
AncientIy, some doubted, and so It's
now. Some doubt, some question, and
some deny. But blessed are those
that believe. 1t should be remember
ed that all these HOndrOus things in
the life Of Christ were enacted well
within the historic era and that the
Carpenter Of Nazareth" lived in one
Of the pOpulOus towns OF northern
Palestine and on a wide thOrOughfsre
Of international commerce. Imperial
Rome was mistress Of the world. The
Greek language and literature we're in
the ascendency. Science and art had
produced their marvels, and still re-
main as models. 1t was an age Of cal
ture and enlightenment. In arms, in
politics, in law, ali roads led to Rome
In literature and art Athens was the
the center; but in theology, in religion
and intelligent faith, Jerusalem was
the fountain. Moreover, there was
worldwide expectancy, based on the
prophesies Of Jewish scriptures, that
I redeemer should come, which found
complete fuIhIIment in the man of
Gallilee.
Rosseau, a French skeptic, on the
genuineness and authenticity Of the
gospels says: "The facts respecting
Socrates, which no one doubts, are not
so well sttested as those Of Jesus
Christ. The gospels have character
istics Of trUthfulness so striking, so
grand, so perfectly inimitable, that
their inventors would be even more
wonderful than He whom they portray.
Yes, if the death of Socrates be that Of
a sage, the life and death of Jesus are
those of a God"
The great Napoleon once asked one
of his officers; Scan you tell me who
Jesus Christ was?" The officer declar-
ed his inability to answer the question.
"WeH then said Napoleon, Il viii tell
you" Then he instituted a cOmpari-
son between Christ and himself and
other heroes Of antiquity, and showed
how Jesus far surpassed them. 81 think
L understand human nature" he said;
'and tell you all these were men, and
am man, but not one is like Him
Jesus Christ was more than man.
Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and
myself founded great empires. But
upon what did the creations Of our
genius depend? Upon force. Jesus,
alone, founded His empire upon love;
and to this very day millions would
die for Him"
Such words as these from men Of
colossal intellect, scholars, empire
builders, are very fOrcible, and it would
seem should have their due weight
with thoughtful men Jesus loved not
Himself but loved the world, denied
Himself, bore his cross, endured the
agony of Calvary, bresthed out His last
breath in prayer for His executioners,
expired, slept a brief, restfuI sleep IN
JOseph's new tomb, awaked on the
morning of the third day, showed Him
self alive to his disciples by many in
faIIiable proofs, during forty days; and
ascending on high received gifts for
men" and, "there, in the presence Of
God, ever Iiveth to make intercession
for Us"
Such the gospel story. Send gifts,
beloved. Sing praises, as the angels
sang It is Christmas. peace on
earth, good will to men,"