The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-01-27

rest assured that IL Will continue to increase unl
the whole world acknowledges His supremacy.
l. VALUE OF MIRACLES
Looked at from this point Of view, bearing
in mind that Jesus Christ is the miracle OF mir.
aclcs, what becomes OF the assertion that "mir.
acles have at best, only an occasional value.
And what becomes Of that other assertion: "Mir'
acles. once regarded as the great buwark OF tho
Christian faith, are now regarded as its greatest
burden" The fact is that the whole r,agnl.
cent temple Of Christianity is built upon a
miraculous foundation. and for that reason alone,
| miracles can never become n burden to Chris
tian faith.
Let us be we'll assured that the Gospel Of
Christ cannot stand without its miracles. Jesus
Christ is supernatural person, and lie claimed
to exercise, and lie did exercise supernatural
power. lie not only exercised this power Him
SELF but He also conferred it upon Ills dis.
ciples and Apostles
The incarnation of God in the person OF
Jesus Christ is n miracle, and il the rcsur'
rcction of Christ is a miracle, and il we should
eliminate these miracles, and reject them. we
would mar and disfgure the Gospel Of Christ to
such extent, that nobody would recognize it
as Chrst's Gospel Hence, say, the Bible and
its recorded miracles must stand fall together.
This further may be said We stand in rea.
ton to the miracles OF the New Testament very
much MS the Jews Of our Lords time, stood
in relation to the miracles Of the Old Testament.
We are bound to believe the inspired record. IL
has upon it the Divine seal. We are bound to be.
lieve in the miracle of Christs resurrection, with
the same degree Of certainty as II we had been
eye-witnesses of it, and as IL We had held con.
verse with the risen Redeemer And the same
is true Of all the miracles recorded in the Bible.
In proof Of this position, VIC may quote the words
of Christ, to the unbelieving Jews: 'If they
hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will
they be persuaded though one from the
dead"
LINK IN THE CHAIN.
I have ventures in this cursory way, to call
attention to the value Of Bible miracles as cvi.
dcnce for the truth of Christian doctrine They
constitute lnk In the chain of evidence that
no thoughtful Christian will brush aside or try
to ignore.
The miracle Vesech was wrought upon the Grip.
pie at the Beautiful Gate, attracted wide at.
tention. The porch Of the temple was crowded.
Peter and John became the objects of curious
wonderment Their power must be marvellous,
and their holiness must be extraordnary--so
thought the crowd. II was n fine opportunity for
preaching the Gospel, and the Apostles embraced
it, st. Peter was the chief speaker.
l. He at once proceeded to sink self and eyalt
Jesus. He said: aye men of Israel, why marvel
We at this7 or why look We so earnestly on us,
as though by our own power or holiness we had
made this man to walk?" He then told them
the source of their powerthat he and his brother
John were only the instrumental cause OF the
notable miracle, but that the Christ whom his
audience had rejected and crucifed, was its
neritorious cause. As OH the day OF Pentecost,
SO on this occasion he charged his audience
with the crime OF murder He said: "Yc de.
livered Him up and Denied Him in the presence
of PLATE when lie was determined to let Him CO."
He thus reminded them of their cry: "Not this
man but Barabbas!" He brought their guilt
home to them by charging them with the murder
of "the Prince Of Life" But he did not forget
to tell them that the Christ whom they killed
was yet alive; that lie had risen from the dead,
and "we' he said, John and l. 'are witnesses
OF that great fact. He then told them that it
was by the power OF this risen and exalted Christ,
that the cripple was healed.'' "Hs name
through (our) faith in His name, hath made this
man strong. whom ye and knew; yea the
faith which is by Him hath given him (who
was cripple) this perfect soundness in the
presence of you ALL"
URGED THEM TO REPENT.
O. Having charged them with great guilt, he
urged them to repent He changed his tones OF
severity into terms OF great tenderness. lie did
not break the bruised reed. Like the Master, and
like his beloved brother Paul, he more than half
apologized for their cruelty. AZ Jesus prayed
for his murderers, saying: "Father forgive them
for they know not what they do; as Paul, long
afterwards said Of his knsnen: 81 bear them
record, that they have a zeal OF God but not
according to knowledge; SO here Peter says: "a
wot," that is, l know, "that through ignorance
ye did it, as did also your rulers" But while
their sin a sin Of ignorance, it was. never.
theless, great sin, and they must repent OF il.
Hence the Apostle said: "Repent ye therefore,
and be converted, that your sins may be blottcl
out, when the time OF refreshing shall come from
the presence OF the Lord"
Repentance is the act OF the simmer, forgve-
ness is the prerogatve OF God. No man can
pardon his own sin. No angel hns any sucl,
power. prose poet has taken the liberty Of
saying that the recording angel was on a certain
occasion, so captivated by profane oath that
he dropped tear on it, and botted it out for
ever. But there is no word Of Holy Scripture to
warrant any such doctrine.
The conditions upon which Gods pardon s
bestowed. are here plainly specified. Repentance
IA radical change Of mind, and OF the aficc.
tions or change OF mind leading 10 change
OF conduct turning from sin unto God. with
full purpose Of, and endeayor after, new obed-
ience.
BE converted-turn away from your inquities
give up the error of your ways, that your sins
may be blotted out, ST. Peter does not mean
to say that God regards the repentance and con-
version of sinners as an equivalent for their
pardon. BY no means Salvation from Irst TO
last. is Of grace II IL Gods gift md n must
be accented as such II ia ..rot of words Iost ans
many should boast
PROPHECIES or MESSIAH
The Apostle reminded his audience OF the
prophecies concerning the Messiah. lie quoted
the prophecy 6 Moses their great law giver. lie
declared that hll the prophets from the time Of
Samuel had "foretOld OF these days" lie said
'Ye are the children OF the prophets, aud of the