The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-01-01
BE. NOT INDIFFERENT
kR. CHAPMARS WEEKLY SERMON.

3 Noted Pastor Evangelist Argu':'
bat We Should Combine Our Fa;tli
tn Knowledge.
York City.-The following sermon
'Stoning Jesus" was preached
great evangelist, the Rev. DIR. j.
\Chapman. from the text: Then
took up stones again TO stone
Ohm Y: 81.
hining of the sun produces two
IN the world, one exactly the op-
of the other. In one place 1T en-
beauties and strengthens; IN the
it deadens, mars and decays. So
with the Gospel OF Christ. 1t is unto
ke ''savor OF life unto life unto 9th,
1t is a SAVIOR OF death unto death:
So it was with the coming or Christ into
the world He brought to light the truest
affection and the deepest hatred. Men
loved darkness rather than light. so
Christ's coming into the world could only
disturb them. '.
day, and if it be possible, turn over one
OF the logs which may be near to you.
You will find underneath hundreds OF
little insects; the moment the light strikes
them they run in every direction, DARK
ness is their life; they hate the light. But
if you journey little further and lit
stone, which for little time has been
covering the grass or the little flowers, the
moment you would lift the obstruction
these things would begin to grow. The
light is their life; they die IN the dark
ness.
Christ's coming into the world pro,
voked the bitterest prejudice and called
forth the deepest devotion. Simeon, a
devout man. was in the temple when the
Young child Jesus was brought in, and ne
took Him uD in his hands and blessed God,
and said, Lord, .ettest now Thy servant
depart in peace, according to lay word,
for now my eyes have seen lhY sai!a-
:. ton" 1t was JUS the opposite with
Nerod. When the king heard concerning
ns he sent the wise men that he might
IN out through them where lie was,
and when they did not return. he was eX-
ceSding wroth. and sent forth and Sew
all. the children that we're in Bethlehem
aud in all the coast thereof two wears and
under. according TO the time which he had
diligently inquired OF the wise men. lheSe
are the TWO extremes.
johns gosrcl IS the gospel OF love, but
in it we iird The same great differences.
Where can YOU find such sweetness as Is
contained in these words-"Foc God so
loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son. that whosever believeth in
Hin shoIid not perish bu: have ever!ast-
ing life WEcrc is there such tenderness
as in this approximations wept:
Only two words, and yct on them the
sorrowing world tests. taking comfort and
consolation! But where can you find suen
hatred as expressed III John WILL: ~.
''Then took they up stones to cast az
Him." and again III the text. hen the
Jews took M stones again to stone HIM.
When you remember whom they were
stoning. the Son of Man aud the Son OF
God, the One who was going anout do!nS
good the sin is something awful to think
about. This text and the verse that i Io!,
lows is a beautiful illustration OF hate and
love, brutality and tenderness. He had
Just said. Il and my Father Gre one"
words which snould have made the hearts
of the people leap for JOY; that He was
one with Jehovah. who had led their fore.
fathers from Egypt to Caanan; who had
spoken the worlds into existence; had
held the winds in His fists: in whose
hunds the seas washed to and fro. You
would have thought at these expressions
OF the Master every knee would have been
bowed in loving devotion; but not so.
The Jews took uD the stones again with
which TO stone Him. and He gave them
one OF the tenderest answers His heart
could dictate-"Many good works have
shown you from NV Father. for which OF
these do you stone Me-?
The text is an illustration OF the fact
that those who were models in fairness
OF their treatment OF men are most Unfair
in their treatment of Jesus CHRIST. III
Won are familiar with the mode of stoning
offenders in the early days, you will be
abe 10 see how true this was or the Jews.
a4HAe crier marched before the man who
was to die, proclaimlng the man SINS and
the name Of the witnesses appearing
against him. This was for the humane
purpose OF enabling any one VINO was ac-
Ouainted with the circumstances IN the
case to 90 forward and speak for him,
and the prisoner was held until the new
evidence was given. But the Jews were
not so consi2erate OF Jesus; when Tie
said. Il and Ny Father are one, imrne-
diately they began TO stone Him:
All that is asked for our religion, for
Christ and for the Bible is Just fair
consideration of their claims. The Bible,
we claim. is the word of God. not because
it is old only, but because it is both old
and true. 1t seems as il it were written
for us as individuals: it is my present an
swer to nv present need. We simply
present the Book in evidence. Suppose
You try to find its equal; suppose you try
to produce its simplest parable; failure
would be the result. Our religion IS the
same; we Only ask Tor ~ 13ir conslue[a-
ton. For Christ it is just the same. In
England not long ago woman was lee
turing against our religion, and after she
had closed. one of the mill-hands said.
Il would like TO ask the lecturer this one
question: Thirty years ago was the curse
of this town and everybody in it. tried
to do better and failed. The teetota Ter
got hold OF me. and l signed the pledge
and broke it.. The police took me and
sent me to prison, and the wardens tried
to make me better. and l began to drink
as soon as left my cell. When all had
failed. took Christ as my Savior. and
He made 4 rev man of me-. / am mem
Der of the church class leader and su.
perintendent of the Sunday-school. II
Christ is a myth and religion is untrue,
how could be so helped by them?"
Men are still stoning Jesus Christ Per
haps you shrink from the conduct OF the
Jews and cry. "For shame" but there is
worse way to stone Him than that. Men
can hurt You far more than by striking
you in the face OF heating you, with
stripes. Do you imagine. that Christs
worst suffering was when they cast stones