The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-18

magne is king. When Charlemagne as
sumed the Iron Crown of Lombardy.
which tradition said was made of one of
the nails which had pierced the feet OF
Christ, it was only another way of con-
ceding, on the part Of the kings of the
earth, that the kingdom of our Lord anc
savior Jesus Christ is the only ever
lasting kingdom. And when Napoleon
later took 1t we find him encouraging
and proclaiming this tradition and ex-
Claiming: God has given it to me, let
him touch who dares.
Why are these things so? The life
that underlies this system must ex-
plain it.
There are three things which the
world does not willingly let die, which,
II combined in one man, will assuredly
render his name immortal: Greatness
and Suffering and Service. Now not only
was Jesus the greatest pesonage this
world ever saw, whether measured by
earths standard of conquests over un
intelligent nature and mems bodies and
minds and wills, or by Gods standard
OF obedience and conformity to the di-
vine will; not only was he the supreme
sufferer of the human race and thus
manifested to be the strongest as we'll
as tenderest man that ever drew the
breath of life, seeing that passive endur-
ance is severer test of character and
manhood than the fiery action of battle,
his service to the world is salvation
from SIM He is Gods greatest answer
to mans greatest need, viz: deliverance
from the guilt and power and pollution
of sim
ssShoI NO Christ IN ho
of the great? Men who achieve great
things are called great. The world es
teens greatness by conquest Did He
not still the waves of the sea with
word? Did He not cure the sick; heal
disease, and restore sight to the blind?
And many other wonderful works did he
not do?
''And again. though Jesus Christ was
an unlettered man His gospel has had
more influence on the literature of the
world than all other books ever written.
So if we measure Him by His influence
over the human mind and the forces of
Nature, Jesus Christ stands first
But it is not gospel of conquest but
of service. He is greatest in the kingdom
of heaven who serves most. Christ was
the the worlds greatest servant and
therefore it's greatest benefactor He died
that We might live. BY his stripes we
are healed He gave his life a ransom
for many. He has gone to prepare a
place for us. In such passages the Scrip
lures abound. His was distinctly life of
service.
But His pre- eminence is in the cate
CORY of suffering. This above all is why
the world does not and cannot forget
Him. Greatness fades and ingratitude
for service seizes the human heart, but
to all, rich and poor, comes home suffer-
ing.
Christ was not only the strongest Of
men but he was the tenderest. God did
not send him storming across the stage
of the world on a career of conquest
He gave us man of sorrow and &C
quainted with grief Our Lord was in
finitely strong, but he was also infinitely
tender. / say it reverently: His suffer
ing qualified him more for sympathy
with suffering. He knew agony Of body
and agony of mind. AS we stand today
and see Him reaching out in all tender
ness and love his mighty but pierced
hands we find the reason that we are
seeking-the reason of His hold upon
the world.
Then his service is one of salvation.
He is the worlds SIN bearer The Lord
hath laid upon Him the sins of us all.
These are the reasons for the bound
less growth of his Church an the ever
lasting duration of His kingdom.
''And now, Christian brethren, let this
sanctuary which you have built be to
each of you henceforth none other than
the house of God, and the very gate of
heaven, and may He graciously fill your
hearts evermore with the peace and
power of His presence.
when on the holy Sabbath you come
up to the house of God heartsick and
weary with lifes toll and struggle, dis
couraged and disappointed and broken
and take your place among those who
are assembling in the solemn stiffness
of the sanctuary, may the peace of God
fall like benediction upon your trou
bled spirit and, as He whispers: L will
never leave thee nor forsake thee may
your souls be filled with fresh courage
and hope.
when you are wrestling with some
terrible temptation to dishonesty or i'm
purity or unbelief, and come to this
house and try to lift your heart to God
in prayer, may He send you help and
through the wise and loving
words of your pastor, and may you go
hence resolved that, whatever betides,
you will stand by your principles and
hold fast your integrity and obey the
commandments of the Lord God AL
mighty.
when the minister of the Most High
stands in this pulpit to utter words OF
warning or counsel or comfort and to
proclaim the unsearchable riches of Je-
sus Christ, may he preach the Gospel