The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-11-10

-PhOfOErapneQ by owe Studio,
REV. DOCTOR MICHAEL BURNHAM.
Pastor Of Pilgrim Congregational Church.
to teach and did teach that other truth.
that he was one In power and glory with
But now they were perplexed by the
him and nave seen him. Tbeir request for
a confirmation of faith in that Father by a
sight of him other than Christ, the expo
nent OF the Father, who stood before them.
was not SO much erroneous as imperfect.
The seeming rebuke which followed Phil
Fps request soon gave place to instruction
In a sense, there is a knowledge Of God
apart from fncarnate God in Christ. We
grasp certain facts apart from the historic
W early, perhaps easily. grasp the fact
OF Gods existence. The mind OF man de-
mands an in%teilisent cause for created
cause.
But not merely Is the existence Of God a
IS Esa as str rans 20 and spe th M'n ccnV SHa one a ey'1 ciese
concerning the unity of God. God is one.
Reason rejects gods many and lords many:
a unity in design and execution.
$50, too, reason sees in God the con-
troller of this worlds affairs, and here We
get our Providence.
From experience, also, honest men can
not fail to see that God vindicates his OWE
law. Mems sins carry the punishment with
not av Ha1e ali results. Single acts are fol.
lowed by panalties-acts it may take but a
moment to penetrate. but the wrong Is not
a resurrected past more than they dread
the struggle for to-day, or the future. ia
cob's sin came back to him after twenty
himself. much less God. does not forget
aBut all this does not sufice US Il there
might grope for knowledge concerning the
very first laws Of existence. and might
Ero A., and travail ci in Pain do Christ Set says syys e1 cd
and upholds law: II ne did nothing else. We
should never kn9T .l him 2. . H rsss,d Is S Sys, stee
Where is God? Here. is disease. suffering.
plague, disaster. Where is God. our Fa-
hood Of God az Christ reveals It, who shall
say that the soul has q fair chance IN such
..When we see the fear that Sits its dust
over our pathway. the, announcement
tina men suffer under the r.gors Of con
science. the sadness hat settles down
are, the few peaceful. the few pure in
heart. the unrest OF life. we put an en-
phasis on the craving for God as our
$50 Christ emphasizes the revelation OF
the fatherhood of God; He that hath seen
me sc hath sSsn the F tSs ro,v Father. Hear
his prayer: o. holy Father. the world hath
not known thee, but 1 have known thee
See MS uIe, see MS SdCIlnCe 10 prove 1Ou
holy.
Christ displayed the love Of God as a
father in his own inherent owe to love.
= Christ displayed the love of God over
all his works. He fastened attention upon
the vastness OF that love. Listen. He is
drawing a picture of the sheep-fold. All
the sheep are safe but one: one Is out: but
the shepherd will net leave 1t without the
fold. He goes out into the night, seeks for
1t, calls for It. lays 1t on his shoulder. re-
joicing. That is God. Now IT is the return
ing prodigal. whom his father sees a great
way of, and runs. That is God. Now 1t is
Mary at his feet, bathing them with her
tears and wiping them with the hairs of
her head. and receiving the welcome news.
THY sins are forgiven thee That is God.
Now II Is Lazarus, borne a wretched
beggar from his place at the gate of the
rich mar in Paradise Christ is teaching
God. Now 1t is the cruciaxion. silent, awful
In its grandeur, with the gift Of the Spirit
beyond the sepulchre. That is God. Christ
took us further yet-the sovereignty and
fatherhood are one-the fatherhood and
holiness are one. The Father needed the
Son to v1ndicate by death his holy love.
Mans deepest necessity was and is re-
demption. Substitution under human law
Who has not felt at times the need of It.
but seen human inability to grant 1t? But
here Is the divine ability to grant II and
satisfy the craving of the heart.
And here are some of the most precious
facts that inhere in the fatherhood Of God
as revealed in Christ
Only as we see Christ do we know that