The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-02
DOCTOR M'KITTRlCK
ON BIBLICAL PICTURES"

The Reverend Doctor w. J. McK;ttrick.
rastor of First Presbyterian Church. occu-
pied the pulpit of Tyler Place Presbyterian
Church yesterday morning. His topic was
biblical Pictures" the text being taken
from Matt. xiii. "a. He said IN Fart:
''Our first lessons OF life are pictorial. Our
earlies; knowledge is conveyed TO us in i'm
ages and object lessons. TIE picture book
comes before the grammar. The child
eye ,grasps first Of al the form and color r
a landscape. The green Sweeps OF Eden
were beautiful TO look upon The biue Say
was won 81 roa Shd ana svil came and the
forksd lightning OF sin darted through that
powered Innocence. II became more than
landscape. 1t became mountain pass
stained with the blood Of the wounded ana
"But i was all picture TO You and d,, me
once We looked at 1t with rourd, wide
open eyes. The CLINT of the waters. the sing
ing OF the pines. TIE big flakes OF snow. the
crocus heralding the spring the burning OF
the stars IN the far-of heavenly fields. the
roseat- smile OF the dawn, the chastened
beauty of the night-these things made UP
the world of our Childhood, before We knew
the walls of our paraiises. before We had
looked into the black face OF the devil.
There is a spiritual childhood, too. God
taught Israel by pictures. Sinai was rep
resentation of the divine authority Inc
wilderness WAS representation of the d.
vine providence. The shifting of the rock
at Horeb was an OBJECT lesson which the
duilest Israelite of them all could easily un-
derstan1. great deal of the stern sim.
pliclty of Gods dealings with his ancient
people, the mysterious visits OF angels. the
rpyelat ions of his will In signs and dreams,
the swift. sudden strokes of his wrath: Will
be clearer to us II We keep In mind the
rude intellectual and moral conditions OF
the times. the density of the medium
through which the truth had to be filtered,
and the short vision OF the multitude in ali
that perta!ncd to the ethics and spfrituaii-
ties of religion;
the disciples. The PARALLELS were pictures
for children. Each Of them had a bold
outline OF truth that was adopted TO i'm
rose itself upon the simplest underSt 3nding.
They were not ready for syiiogisms. but
they could walk through picture gallery.
We read that the common people heard him
gladly. and this was because he put on the
canvas such clean. clear strokes OF the
brush that one need not have sat at the
feet of Gamaliel 10 get hold of the vertebral
columns Of the immense truths that glanced
out through the simple and beautiful word
painting. A picture of the love or God Is
better than an argument 10 prove it The
pulpit was never meant to be a platform.
The church was never meant to be a de-
batting society. We do not mean to say
that Christian people should be unable 10
give a reason FOR the faith that is in them,
but We do mean to say that the Christian
church should not be content with standing
forever on the defensive and trying TO
prove to people that II has n right to open
It's mouth and say something to the world
Its work Is aggressive. Its business Is TO
hold up before men the rcdecming love of
God. over ard above all It's civilizing in
fluerces or its educational uplifts. 10 keep
before the soul of the world that same re-
deening love, in all its manifestations and
ramifications and farreaching issues. to
keep on, in front oil every moan ard groan
OF humanity, sketchng out, in picture after
mercy that left the ninety and nine and
went out into the wilderness for the one
lost sheep.
Let W notice, in the next place, a few
iynDrpSSlVa
about the life Of Christ on the earth. not
dwelling upon them. not irving to draw
before them one by one. and seeing how
true II is that not only were our Savfor's
cast into pictorial form. but that
the deeds OF his life almost every step from
cradle to grave. might give theme to the
pajnte:.
picture. No. !. The interior of a tent.
the earth. The Savior Is weary. The day
has been filed with iabors of love. But
still burning on his face. His feet are
stained with dust. but his heart Is awake
and glowing. There is some one else in the
tent As we look at this other face We see
pressions. The strong Hebrew outlines are /
stamped with deep thouehtfulness. But |
man is member of the Jewish Council. |
and is talking with despised Galiiean- In |
the eager eyes there is the light of startled !
Fear and Faith are studying |
together.
picture No. . An old well IN Sama- !
ria, so old that the peasants OF the 4
village tell Of the time when Jacob watered |
his cattle there Some one is resting on \
Its curb, and a woman Is standing before |
him. hard-faced and sensual, for her life !
Is STEPPED in sin. but trembling and shaking /
under that mighty prophet voice. her errand |
to the well forgotten. sn,itten straight to |
te- conscience. the truth of eternal life |
smly floating before her eyes. heavens |
gates slowly opening above her head.
Picture No. 3. Here is another wom- I
IN, with storm OF angry passions l
raving about her. There is no pity In 1
those stern-faced men. Their virtuous /
hatreds are let loose like a pack of blood |
hounds 10 rend and tear this fallen sister. |
Every forehead is wrinkled with the frown !
II unmercffui vengeance. Every face Is /
flashing sccrn. Every fist is doubled up in \
fury. May God have mercy upon the poor
'inrer' And he did. For the rabble is driven |,
back. Christ stands before them with the /
majesty of David's royal son. Let him that |
= without sin among you cast the first !
stone They have lust heard the thunder
II these words: And see how they cover
away. See the tears Of the poor woman
The dust.
Picture No 4. Here is the great Jewish
empse. Its pinnacles glitter In the sun,