The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-08-21

Rev. j. T.. f@TullldD, btihPOAe'iS fe.~
of Central Union Church, preached an
instructive sermon Sunday on "Whom
Shall We Follow" He said in part:
The text which 1 have CHOSEN for our
consideration this morning Is found III
Gospel of John, 9Th chapter and the 6Sth
and 9th verses-"Jesus said therefore un-
20 the twelve Would We also go away?
Simon Peter answered Him, Lord TO whon
shall we go? Thou hast the words OF
eternal life; and We have believed anu
know that thou art the Holy One Oh
God"
what a noble confession, How 1t must
have cheered the heart Of Christ at TINS
irving period, Jesus had come TO a crisis
in His earthly ministry. Up TO this time
He had gone through the country preach
ing the Gospel of the Kingdom, meaning
diseases raising the dead, and the people
had heard Him gladly. An ever-increaS-
ing multitude followed Him on His way.
His popularity had been great; every
. where the people received him willingly
and brought their sick to be healed. The
climax was reached on the green slopes
which rise so beautifully on the east OF
the Sea OF Galilee. a vast multitude had
followed the Master to this country place
because of the wonders He had perform
cd on the sick. All day long they listen
20 Him. Finally they grow weary and
faint from hunger. The Master sees IL
ard His heart goes out in compassion for
them. His infinite power impelled by his
compassion, performs that miracle. the
feeding of 5000 with the loaves and fishes.
In the eyes of the multitude, this Is the
acme of His wonderful deeds. Each man
turns 20 his neighbor and exclaims,
This IL of a truth that prophet that
should come into the world" This is the
Messiah, our long-expected King. AS one
man the multitude rises to proclaim Him
King, TO march back TO Capernaum as
a royal host. They see a vision in which
their hopes are realized; freedom from the
yoke of Rome. royal court. like David 3
of old. a powerful King who can work
wonders. peace and plenty, prosperity and
rest throughout the land. Alasl IT was not
to be so. Christ was to be King indeed
but not I'm that gross and earthly way.
Jesus therefore perceiving that they were
about to come and take Him by force TO
make Him King, withdrew again into the
mountain Himself alone"
on the morrow as Jesus enters Caper-
naum, the multitudes again gather about
Him, but not because they wish TO hear
Ills words, but because He has power to
satisfy their physical wants. Jesus said.
-'Ye seek me not because We saw the mir
acles but because We ate of the loaves and
were filled" This was a kind Of popular
ity Christ did not desire. 1t was time.
therefore, to try the multitude, to sift the
wheat from the chaff. So He speaks 70
them of the Living Bread, II am the
Bread OF Life" Il am come down from
heaven" IF any man eat of this bread
he shall live forever" The Father hath
sent me and this Is the word of God
that ye believe on Him whom He hath
sent" But We have seen me and yet be-
lieve not" When they heard this the
multitude said. This is hard saying, who
can hear it2' Upon this many of His dis
ciples went back and walked no more
with Him. The test had been made: the
crisis was reached: what was TO be the
outcome? Christ could not be made King
az the multitude desired. He had dsabus-
ed their minds and they had deserted
Him. Was all His life so far to go foi
naught? The multitude had departed anC
He returns to His chosen twelve and says
WIZ We also 20 away?" You may II you
wish; press no one into my service. II
Is for yu to choose. But Peter in hi.
bold confidence. speaks up for the twelve
Lord. to whom shall we go? Thou has
the words Of eternal life. And we have
believed and know that thou art the HOLY
one Of God"
In your more serious moments did yoI
ever ask yourself this question, ITO whom
shall go?' / know you have This uues
ton comes to every one sooner or later
Perhaps we have tried to avoid giving am
answer; and then our spirits have erie,
out ana allowed us no peace. We arr
compelled to have some master to follow
ways remain Indifferent to the innate de
mand of our souls for the highest an,
best. IL may be We have sought answe
IN an agnostic philosophy, explaining GU
life and the aim OF our existence by tn
theory OF a Goddess evolution. But in tn
hour when suddenly affliction has presse
hard upon us ana all seems dark. an
dreary, the soul has leaped over the bar
ZEN theories of the mind, and has cried on
In agony: o Cod hear and save. The
have we realized the long, unsatisfie
want of our soul In God alone is tn
truest. the richest life. No life apar
from Him is satisfactory or full. o Goo
TO whom shall we go? Thou hast tn
words OF true life
This fuller life, the eternal life while
God planned for man, is revealed to II
only In Gods way-that is, through Je.u
Christ. He came ''to seek and to saw
that which was lost" to save from tn
mean and sordid existence those who wer
lost in Godlessness; to bring them back
the grand. rich life with the Heavenl
Father. Christs great purpose was
give TO men this eternal life. He alor
had the words of life. He was "the wa,
the truth and the life" No man coul
come unto the Father but by Him. Ths
He alone Is the way TO life is not merel
the statement of jealous disciple. tt
truth OF 1t is proved by His words and
His character. The principles He la
uOWH were aDONt ally liAiuk lllOQ-
before or since-not so much in their sci
arate statement as in their relation
each other and to the whole system. ii
stead of being barren rules, they were T.
ing truths. They made anew, and mac
alive, all who accepted them. In Chri
were gathered together all the SCAT rt
rays OF light found in other religion
the world, and from Him radiated u
beams of Divine Light which brought Il
spring-tide to the hearts of men.
.Buddha had taught the virtue of sci
denial; he had instructed his followers
be kind to spare life, even Of the smalle
insect. The true Buddhist abased himse
and developed his life as little as possibl
for existence itself was misery, and Il
end sought was nothingness. But man
greater than this. There is no satisfactic
bere-no words OF life. Mohammed taug
reverence and obedience of God-the o.
true Gcd-but his theory was fatalisti
what il must be. What Is, Is right
was his motto for life But here there
no room for development, no room for al
bition. no room for a higher life. 1t
IN Christ that the fu