The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-31
OUR RELIGIOUS CONTEMPORARIES.

There are two ways in which we may
study the Christ-spiritually and natural
", or after the flesh and after the spirit.
We may study
KNOWING CHRIST him as a man,
AFTER THE FLESH. ''in his natural,
human appear
ance as a Nazarene, lowly in his birth,
without the education Of the schools, re-
jected by men, and finally crucifed- We
may theorize about the divine kenosls
Just how far he emptied himself of the
glory which he had before the world was
We may subject him to a psychological
study, and try to trace his gradually
budding self-consciousness of his divine
nature and mission. All this is studying
him as man. Perhaps this interesting
study has been too much neglected III
the past; but certainly the scales have
swung too far the other way, and most
modern biographies of Jesus have en-
phasized this human side too much for
example, Mrs. Stuart Phelps w ara
story of Jesus. While these works may
endeavor to bring Christ nearer TO man
Kind they are apt to magnify his hu-
mainly at the expense of his divinity:
in irving to bring him down to the level
~ man they make him little more than
mere man. This is knowing Christ after
the flesh X man who has never en-
1,erienced the regenerating power OF
Christs Spirit can write such biographies
Not so Paul He caught d deeper IN
sight into the real Christ; ne reailzeo
the intimacy of the union between Christ
and the believed; so that when Christ
died we died This is knowing Christ
after The Spirit. No one, unrenewed by
the Spirit. has any true conception Of
this Christ This alone can give the IN
spiration and power to such an unset
fish. consecrated life as Pauis--Dr. X.
II. Graves, in the Religious Herald
In discussing the relation of the Epis-
copal Church to Holy Week. the South
ern Churchman says:
TIE LESSON all and by II all
OF HOLY WEEK she is emphasizing
the same lessons.
The lessons that Christ Himself was
teaching-wtat a dreadful thinS slit Is,
that it should call for such q 1eariu'
sacrifice, and what q. "ondeEiui thti7
Gods love is. that 1t sAotto ilaAo so
maravolus a sacriIice
There are those who talk to-day OF SIN
rs though it were a small and indifferent
matter: a question OF habit, or tendency
az. environment, or heredity, or what aoI
=. small slight ard superficial thlnS-
IA be superticially cured. But no man
can inteliisentiy and belieyinglE READ
the New Testament and hold such a We"
as this. And no man can folioM tiie
church's teaching through Holy Week
and Good Friday and believe 1or a mo
ment that she leans to or syfapithi--3s
With any such teaching as this
,rhe church-s cry through 1t al Is thae
Eve who worthily deserved TO be pun
;s}ed for our sins" we who We're III tile
i,lackness and darkness, the gail OF olt-
terness and bond of iniquity, shaii realiAe
his awful soul disease of sim An" tne
further appeal to realize the if1lhlts Ia!.s
and infir.:ty OF Gods loVe-ehe 4ove
which hesitated at no price-so that tie
prodieal in the land of swine might pe
, able Ia say. Il ,sill arise and go TO my
Father. ,fo,,.s
of sin and redemption. the lessons VI
This season are calling upon us 10 resili@e
that sin is tht. foulest of all diseases anu
REDEMPTION the greatest and most pre-
ious sift of God. which could otiiS n'
sealed to lis by the blackness ana oa,A-
ness of Calvary and the septlichre, pc
fore we could rejoice in the brightness
and glory Of the Easter dawn