The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-12-03

,b,t at tho hattie of Ca6esia, in which
tho decavine mower of the Persian king
dem fell before the rcsistless onslaught
of the Saracen arms, the standard OF the
monarchy, overthrown and captured III
the field was "a leathern apron or
blacksmith who I'm ancient times nao
arisen the de!iverer of Persia; but this
badge OF heroic poverty was disguised.
and almost concealed by profusion OF
precious gems"
Let us learn this truth: Retaining an
ancient standard could not assure the
former courage of heart and strength OF
ann: rather were the accretions OF pre-
cious jewels the sign of decayinS man
hood and disnteCrated power, ana II
may be. alas! il too often is, that the
most costly worship offered TO the crucl-
fled Christ is the sign OF waning failh
and unconsecrated life. Only the mar
tyr's snirit can win the martyr Victory
and gain the martyrs crown.
why should Christians glory in the
cross Of Christ?
l. Because it is the most tremendous
revelation of Gods love and grace OF
which the human mind can conceive. IL
is the end and explanation OF that NE
which was in itself the expression OF III
vine iove--God's gift of His son to the
world To the seeing eye all nature re-
vcals God, but ii reveals only Ills Ia"
! and His wrath. Grace and truth ana
! the revelation of His righteousness came
I by Jesus Christ And the perspective of
/ His life nay, the perspective OF all Bibli-
cal thought. ends in His cross Without
/ il His teaching descends to the level OF
! philosophN. and His influence upon the
world is that only of an extraordinary
I man: with il we have an explanation OF
the ages key to the centuries. Now
when we realize what is Christian iaith
that the mediator between God ana
man Christ Jesus. man-did on the cross
offer Himself for our redemption. so
that peace is made by the blood OF his
cross ". mass into an atmosphere that
is charged with wonderful thought-that
is weighted with tremendous meaning
The nossion and death of jesus cease to
no th,, subject of emotional and sentl-
! ,ncotaI reflection and become the state
! mont of "A titantic conflict ALMOST beyond
, the grasp Of human thought. the love
/ of God and the dignity of humanity Stahu
out as opposite sides of the same great
! truth. and we exclaim with far more rea-
] son than had David: what is man that
/ thou are mindful OF him. or the son Oh
I ,rap that thou visitcst him." They who
can talk glibly of this might happening
! and carclessly partake of the emb,ems
thereof in the holy sacrament. should
pausc to consider how fathomless 10 hu-
man thought is all the nearing OF inns
I divine, transaction. and revcrentlN ponder
upon the mystery that is bright with
glory
4 In the cross Of Christ I glory.
Towering Ger the wrecks of Time.
Az the light of sacred story
Gathers round it's head sublime.
! . the cross Of Christ is the single eN-
/ planaticn of the mysteries and miserles
! of human life. That there Is both mEs-
! terry and misery about human nfc no one
/ can deny: nd some are ready 10 attrlb-
/ ME them To the Christians God; but
. Christians teaching is the explanation
4 Of these things. and. who Will hesitate TO
say. infinitely the best explanation that
has been offcro To the world? suffering
. is sometimes am awful thing. when the
/ whole body is rackcd with pain ana every
nerve sends separate panS To the center
] of physical being. but he VINO was the Son
I of The Everlasting Father. he Prince OF
I Peace "a q suffered 50 that once IN tls
I agony Re sweat. as it ere, great drops
of blood and in virtue of that SUFFERING
, saws: Come unto me all We that labor
and are heavy laden, and | will give you
rest" The burden of life, with its inca