The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1903-12-11

1 VIII 10 ylAS " satisfy Win
the things Of this life He may stuff
| to painful excess, but he will never be
satisfied. There has yet to be found
in this world the soul which has found
it possible to know perfect satisfaction
by the possession or enjoyment Of
what this world can give. But God
can satisfy, and His Gospel can fill
the unsatisfied heart and life. The vi.
sion of the cross can give a new in
spiration and hope which will not dim
throughout all eternity. For these two
reasons, then, the Gospel is a reason
able Gospel. Because it is the only
way by which man may gain eternal
bliss, for which he is intended by God,
and because the Gospel is the only
thing which can satisfy in this life or
! the life to come.
! THE preaching of the cross OF
| / Christ is not foolishness because it
units for the right activities and the
bearing of responsibilities of this life.
| Somehow, the idea has gotten abroad
| aud fastened itself TO the minds of
great many people that TO let the cross
of Christ rule in the life means that busi-
ness success and ability to mingle in
| the affairs of men will be curtailed If
not blasted. But true success cannot,
nor can the highest wisdom in secular
things, be found apart from God. Jo-
| seph found it so in Egypt and became
! the greatest statesman and most bril-
liant national executor and manager in
the world. David may be cited-vic-
| torious general, wise ruler, mighty
king. Daniel in the heather court Of
! the Babylonian king is another exam
pie of what God can do through a con-
secrated, obedient servant. Never did
! Satan coin a bigger falsehood or en-
! deavor to give it wider currency than
that man if he would make a success
| of his life must leave God out of the
reckoning. 1t is fatal and dangerous
! fallacy which has carried thousands
| upon thousands of souls upon the rocks
| of destruction. The cross of Christ
| gives one his proper bearings, 1t puts
| into right relationships with God and
man, and fits for and leads to a success
which can only be measured by eterni-
| ty. What bitter disappointment comes
to the soul which, counting the cross
| of Christ as foolishness and bending
! every energy and activity towards
| the gaining of some earthly goal, finds
at last that the coveted prize is but
gilded bauble! Yet there are thou
sands and tens of thousands who meet
| just such sad disappointment. Had
they not despised the cross of Christ,
had they not rejected the reasonable
claims of God and His Christ, they
would have found in this life abiding
satisfaction and success, and would
have possessed a hope for the future
| life which would have been as cheer
| ing as the beacon light is to the mari
ner as he sails the treacherous seas.
II OW can we arouse perishing souls
| L and bring them to realize that the
cross of Christ is the power of God unto
salvation, and not foolishness, as they
have supposed? Not by argument. Not
by trying to satisfy all the doubts and
! questions which arise and obscure the
main point at issue, namely, that man
needs salvation and has been given a
Saviour. One man with whom l talked,
who professed to believe that the cross
| of Christ was foolishGess, wanted to dis
| cuSs the question OF the inspiration or
| the Scriptures, the matter of miracles,
the account of the creation, with spe-
| cial reference to Adam and Eve and the
Garden of Eden experiences, and finally
he wanted to compare the writings or
Zoroaster, Confucius, Buddha, etc, with
the Bible. 1t was hard work trying to
| keep him pointed to the crucified Lord.
But that is where he needs to look be-
fore he can get all the other tangles
Strengthened out 1t is the only starting
point for the sinner, and if you cannot
get him to look in that direction, your
effort and your argument are wasted.
Yea, verify, the preaching of the cross
is TO them that are perishing foolish
ness" but nevertheless it is the truth
of God and will prevail. With Paul we
must say: 81 am not ashamed of the
Gospel of Christ, for it is the power Of
God unto salvation to every one that
believeth,' and we must preach that
and nothing else to the sinner, for that
is the only message which will bring
him to the light and save his soul.
The cross of Christ! Oh, that the world
| might look to it for deliverance from
sin! 1t is the crucified Lord which
should inspire the heart to song and
hold the eternal gratitude of the
cleansed and redeemed soul
"Oh, what IS thy Beloved?
They oft inquire of me;
| And what is my Beloved
| So passing fair 1 see?
| Is it the Heavenly Splendor
| In which He shines above?
! His riches, and dominions,
That won my hearts best love?
1 mo- re or
| He's worthy of them ALI
| IT'S not the throne and scepter
| Before which angels fall
| I view with heart exulting
! Each crown His head adorns;
| But, oh, He looks most lovely,
| Wearing His crown of thorns.
| I'm glad to see His raiment
Than snow more spotless white,
| Kefulgent with its brightness,
| More dazzling than the light;
| But more surprising lovely
| His form appears 10 me,
When stripped. and scourged. and bleeding,
| He hung upon the tree.
| Though higher than the highest,
| Most mighty King Thou nrt,
| Thy grace and not Thy greatness.
! First touched my rebel hAart;
| Thy sword il might have slain me,
| Thine arrows drunk my blood;
i But twas Thy cross subdued ma
| And won my heart to God.
| Thy scepter rules creation
| TEy wounded hand rules me;
| All bow before Thy footstool,
4 hut t.aP raria &c