The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-11-10
ALL LIFE WITHOUT CHRIST
is RAGGED AND UNFINISHED.
The Reverend A. Nj. Campbell Deliv-
ers Sermon OD Growth of Christ
Mt Wagner Place Church.

The Reverend A. NJ. Campbell, pastor OF
Wagner Place United Presbyterian Church,
t Glo%.h OF t Christa@s He n'e ehc.e for his text
Matthew XXI, IL: "nhe stone which the
builders rejected is become the head of the
corner" he said, in part:
The emphatic words are, is become He
is now different from what he was. He IS
the same yesterday, to-day ana forever
lie Slows. We speak not or our growtn. but
OF his growth. He was as the moss-coV-
cred. neglected, rejected stone lying in the
grass, ard without any Importance 10 the
builders CT the temple.
But after life has been built up by man
as Well as ne can az II onn 81 crv for r
something divlner. without which the build
ing cannot be completed.
The Christ which this century has after
all i.fe's best efforts at upbuiiding by itselI
is a far larger Christ than the Christ known
and had nineteen centuries ago. Iheh he
was without form end comeliness. lie Is be-
come altogether lovely.
I'm the carry public days Of Jesus among
men he was a great healer OF bodies. Not
only was he so thought of by men, nut ne
himself gave far more thought, or at least
time ana speech, to such lines OF help than
ne did later on: Mos. OF nus m most 81 w tpe
miracles were healings. But there was dan
! ger of the people seeing the physical healer
yond tie healer. So he lessons the fire.
quency of the miracles. and puts more EN-
phasis on his work as spiritual. or course,
ne WIS Il Spiritual NEARER nv Std Il
but he grows in size and emphasis as me
spiritual Savior. In the first half Of Isaiah
the Redeemer is chiefly a national deliverer.
book he is a spiritual Savior. The Christ of
power to give the healing In Corinthians,
IL; becomes larger IN the next enapTe h
church ministering tnstitutonaliy is at It's
Incidental work. 1t is real work. Is spirit
ual.
ITO many in his earlier days on earth
Jesus was a rival of Gamaliel. and other
teachers. And to-day he is a rival OF
reformers. But Jesus passed out of the
sermon on the mount into the sixth chapter
of John, and the distance covered is many
leagues. a great growth. From preaching
to multitudes along lines Of duties between
man and man. as at the first, our Lord grew
to give larger proportion of time to teach
souls true home and OF the heavenhes.
I'VE know it is true that Jesus Christ
has brought to the world the completes co5e
of laws as to relations, between men. We
know. too. that his largeness over all
more and more fixing itself in human
and determination Of standards;
Very interesting. indeed: Is the growth OF
legislation of mankind. Larger and larger
his place in the ideals and meas |
nres Of life, and this i, Is s,s come i1eaI ABOUT but tSs
sword. but by the silent growth OF inner.
worth. How little of christ-thought
there was nineteen centuries ago IN tHe l
common life Of men! I
But he has grown upon man and into
mans thought. and made for himself a
place and a kingdom over thought and life
standards. which is a victory far greater
to win a portion for territorial rule. /
He is become a ruler within us. determin-
ing attitudes. estimates. and ambitions
This is indeed power and dominion. Yet
larger than this Is he become even over
coming passions within men. and expellins
evils. and bringing in peace and rest. The
liberty to decide for self and be sovereign
In self is distanced in worth to US by hav-
ing Christ in us on our throne. stronger
our soufs enemies.
''Is not our Christ even larger than this. |
and one who awakens within us desires for
holy things? 1t is much to rescue us. 1t IS
to that TO build up desire Godward. \
so that it will be pleasure to do holly.
HE Is become the head of the corner. |
many hearts he Is absolutely. necessary
completion Of life. All life without nm
is ragged. broken-e1ged, unfinished. With |
him It rises into divineness. He becomes
all in all then to such hearts. ''Of him
are We In Christ Jesus. who of God Is made
unto us wisdom and Righteousness and
sanctifcation and redemption; that ac-
cording as 1t is written, he that g%lorieth. |
let hin glory in the Lord VIII he yet
more grow before us? Yes. In all eternity"