The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-09
FROM THE ClTY'S PULPITS
.sTHE DEEPER ATONEMENT," BY THE
REV. j. CUMMING SMITH.
He breaches of JOY from the Tragedy
of Calvary-Thoughts OF Other
Ministers.

The Rev ]. Cumming Smith. of the Tab
ernacle Church. preached yesterday morn
ing on ''The Deeper Atonement" He said:
1.-The purpose of the cross was better I'M
derstood by John in the mellowness of his
closing life than in the fiery midtime. The
cross grew in his thought as it has grown
with the growth OF the world. and the cross
will be more largely interpreted and illum-
mated in the maturity OF heaven than it
has been in the crude, though earnest, the
ologies Of earth. Its final purpose is to
bring men into fitness for fellowship with
God. This is the ultimate and positive de-
sign.
Salvation is not so much from some
thing as it is to or toward something; not
so much emancipation from a prison as 1t
is an affiliation with palace; not so much
an escape from pain as it is an entrance
into spiritual insight and even ecstasy.
Perhaps the negative and temporary fea-
lures of Calvary have been unduly accentu-
ated with a consequent loss of power. To
qualify men for high perceptions and enter
prises. TO open up the secret of Gods heart
in such way as 10 charm US upward to
fellowship with Him and hallow into
tender reverence as we stand in the pres
ence OF infinite mysteries is surely a loftier
appreciation OF the mansion of Christ than
that He balls US out Of jail or cancels our
condemnation.
ITO open a home means something more
than the bare negative idea OF terminating
dreary, companiOnlesS existence: IL means
a dawn or the happiness that comes with
conscious union of lives and the strength
that comes with the assumption OF new
and worthy responsibilities. To become
an American is something more than the
ceasing 10 be a foreigner merely: IL means
tulI animation with our government
sympathy with our institutions, an ardor
Tor what our flag symbolizes in the d.
rection OF progress and freedom. Citizen
ship is rich and positive idea. IL means
congeniality with the greatest things.
GROWTH OF CONCEPTION.
ITO grow in the capacity for fellow
ship is the function OF life. We begin
life selfish. self-centered and tyrannical in
our very helplessness. We are almost ON
nipotent in the cradle because Of our i'm
potence. We learn first TO understand
those in the home. then those in the neigh
borhoOd, then those OF our kindred whose
lives overlap our circle. then our town
and State and by and by our country; then
finally something OF decentralization and
the vague beauty and expansiveness OF
humanity captures our imagination. At
each stage the reality OF the fellowship
comes partly by the reciprocal ton OF
kindly services and benefits. but far more
by acts OF sacrifice Congenialities
the most enduring are not forced
or feigned or fugitive as a summer cloud.
They come by recognition OF splendid quail
titles that duplicate our own and are sealed
by our blood or self-abnegation. A man
never knows the glory or our flag until nc
has suffered TO shield IL from shame
Hence the evolution OF the finest forces OF
the world. Take one step more. See how
the sphere OF the law with all its winsOme
associations Widens out 10 embrace the
unseen realm. think OF the great men EN-
balmed an the gratitude OF the world for
their prowess and fidelity 10 principle
think OF them not a. dead or as In
trance or IN a stupid cOmatOse state or In
a weird ghostly vacuity, but as alive. a:
progressive. a. planning and rejoicing an.
leagued with their God in the holy con.
quest OF the worlds tremendous develop.
ment. then you discover how the sense oil
comradeship enlarges and comprehends not
time alone but eternity or which We are ar