The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-08-04
pAuL,s SOLE THEME.

"Christ and Him crucihed." Jesus Christ
and HIS death had been his theme, the
beginning and the end OF all his teaching
II was that to which all else led up 70
and which gave unity TO his preaching ana
unity to his actions. No man, like st.
Paul, has ever presented that great central
truth in sucn variety of illustration, press
ing into the service of the Crucinsd the
words of heather poets, the natural love
Of nature, tue idol worship Of those TO
whom he spoke, over all things he cas-
the halo OF Christian meaning IN the
athlete of the arena he saw the Christian
in his training and struggle. IN the proud
pomp OF Roman triumph he recognized u
dim picture Of his ascending Lord leading
captivity captive; In the craving after WIS
dom he saw the mlsdirectcd longing OF the
soul after Christian knowledge; In the many
affairs, many priests, many victims he be-
held the shadow OF the true, the one altar.
ghe Eternal Priest, the Divine Victim.
Never did he fail steruly TO rghuke that
which as false judged Ivy the doctrine OF
the Crulhed. Never did lie fail 10 welcome
and TO gather together all the fragments
of truth which dimly and lmperfpctly Yet
imaged out the form Of the Crucihed. NE
looked on all the flowers Of carth and saw
the cross upon them. To HIM they were
all crucIferae. But his highest presentn.
tion of Christ crucihed Is on the altar or
the memorial sacrifice, thar he made tne
very center aud pivot on which all else
turns. Vain and feeble words are not the
center of church worship wandering ana
imperfect prayers are nos the center;
scanty offerings and efforts Of work are
not the center. But on the altar, there 1t
IS the blessed body ana blood Of christ
on which all feed, ana from which an rise
refreshed tina. Is rhe center and soul or
all. The church service seems almost 10
burst Ike a flame OF glory ln this altar
celebration She tells You that there Is
Lord, not in a figure merely, not IN
the mind only. hut really ma truly there IS
Christ. AT the Sign OF the broken bread
and poured out wine the mortal veil IS
rent asun1cr and We are with the Lord
Everything that wac before ma erlal he
canes sacred aud divine hete is me
human heart ana here Is christ, tne
Lamb oi Cod that akcth away the s'ns
Of the world Here are human sin, ana
burdens aud doubts and sorrows, but there
Ia divine succor and divine strength Above
all there is Christ saying the most abso-
Iutely consolnE words that even His nps
can utter; ''rhs Is my body, which Us
given for you; take md eat this In remem-
brRnce OF me an he living bread which
came down from heaven, ana the
bread which / VIII give Is my hesn, which
! will give for the life OF the world
GODS COMPASSION FOR SINNERS
At the Hardy Street Presbyterian church
Rev. ]. A. Ramsay spoke on the text AS
live. saith the Lord God | have no pleas
ure In the death OF the wicked" The fol-
lowing extracts are noted;
How does It appear that God has no
pleasure In the death OF the wickedf There
are many witnesses. (ni The wicked are
prolonged IN life aS are the righteous. Goi
IS lengthening out their day uf grace that
they may nave space Co turi repent ana
accept terms of salvation. (hl God Is
multiplying his offers of mercy to them.
He b. giving them line uupu line. prCCcpt
upon preeept;D His word Ills gospel, His
ordinances. and sending them ministers.
lure ana encourage then 10 come to Him by
gracious invitations. Come ana let us
reason together, saith the Lord, Though
your slnS he as scarlet. they shalt he as
white as snow. though they he red like
crimson. they shall be as WOOL By pre-
cious promises: Him that cometh unto
Me I viii Ia no wise cast ont Come
unto Ne, and ! Will give you rest BY
entreaty and warning; Turn ye. turn Sc.
for why viii We dic|' Turn unto me
saith the Lord OF hosts and I Will turn
unto YOU What does all this signify
hut great heart going ONT after them and
longing for their saivation1 voice plead
Ing with tbe,O NOT 20 destroy Themselves?
And the everlasting arms of love still
stretched ont 10 save idl But of an the
evidence that God takes no pleasure Ia the
death NJ the wickd. the strongest evil
dcnce. the sum of all evidence, Is the
wondrouS provision Tor the sinners re-
dempti, n; While We were yet sinners.
Christ Of His own will and under a COM
mission from the Father, died for MS. a"
The penalty due To the sinners was trans
To GOD. Wonderful. wonderful is the plan
OF redemption Il surpBsses understand.
ing! II : too high too vast, too sublime.
100 profound for human comprcheN sion.
Every particular IN the scheme Of rcdcmp.
tion sustains the text, that Cod has no
pleasure In the death Of the wlckld
Until the crucnalon the great heart Of
God bad not been fully revealed Would
you see and know that great heart Of lover
Then unveu the cross md contemplate IT,
Here Is Infinite 1--we for sinners iqhorluc
TO reveal Itself. agonizinE to express It's
funess and dying 20 prove It's oncr Of
mercy TO ungraieful men. But for this
sacrifice q cloldless ocean OF love wouIi
have remained hidden In Gods great heart,
but on Calvary IL found nm ocean channel
through which II flows TO the world Re-
You'd this lie can not 20 The sad llfe the
cruel suffering, the Intense agonies iha
ignominious death. the triumphant resur.
rectlon the royal ascension. the prcstly
intereession. all all testify that God has
no pleasure in the death of the wicked.
HE HATH DONE ALL THINGS WELL
Rev. John T. Nicholson, in Sacred Hear
church. preached from the above text II
the following language;
There was only one being ever In tl
world of whom It could be truly said Ill
hath done all things welt" mud that ON
was the homeless child OF Bethlehem nm
lowly aud hidden Nazarene whom tbe neoni
ead prayed for, the prophets prcdlcted an,
sod had promised 10 save demoralize,
md dying world; lie whose example ha
been n guiding light for those Ia larknes
and a safe anchor for those in Innger
be did all things we'll for at 70 He Shove
His wisdom by dispnting with the doetorJ
ut 30 by confounding the Pharisees iii
wisdom was such as was never heard he
fore. so that all who heard Him erie
out. Never did man speak as this" /
was such that his hltterest enemies
whether pref ndlng atheists OF biaSpheulin
Jews, admired i, ana even they who denie
His divinity admitted the, supreme pertcc
ton OF his manhood, thus confoundn
themselves out q their own mouths. /
tradict themselves now, but 10 no eor
founded for Him means to be confounde
for eternity
AT IL he went down 20 Nazareth nm
obeyed bis parents till 30 lie ala no
think he should say Mt Is or 16 or 20 Win
lmpudent children say nowadays ana wha
Satan said before his fall II ,EiU no
serve He showed divine compassion Ia
suffering and distress when lie took nit
on the tears of Martha and Mary nm
called their brother from the tomb vher
for four days he slept the sleep or death
when lie fed the thousands starving 4
the wilderness; when He gave back 10 tn
arms OF the heait-brokep widow her oul