Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1903-06-04

sponsc to his pronouncement? The ambas-
sador Of Christ understood that he had
come hlther as the legate from the courts
of heaven to the seers and scholars of this
seat of learning to declare the resurrection
OF Jesus Christ from the dead. He was face
to face with the clever scions of the highest
intellectual culture known to antiquity;
hard by were the temples of Eumenides
and Theseus, the Propylaeum of the Acrop-
Oils, the temple of victory, and. towering
above all from its lofty pedestal, was the
he assume that Stoics and Epicureans and
other thinkers would attempt his over
throw, but he did not finch while he an
nounced a religion as yet without influence
or art or literature, with scarcely a COM
Portable resting place for its Scriptures and
it's sacraments. In his manner, however.
there are no indications that he was con-
scious of any special advantages. It cond
not be otherwise, for he had himself seen
the risen Jesus and ne could. therefore,
not be more certain of the shining sun than
he was of the truth of the Gospel which he
preached. 1t was this unalterable convic-
tion which sustained him even on Mars
Hill while he discoursed If the redemption
accomplished by Him who died and rose
again. He was not splitting hairs nor tell
ing fables nor playing with metaphysics.
He upheld the risen Christ to challenge at
tention and support his truths and win the
souls of his distinguished audience
The basis of st. PauPs confidence as an
apostle of Christ Is the only basis of conf
dence in believing. The first Chrlsti,ns
We're Easter enthusiasts. Their untriiine
much to do in making them worthy of ven
Grafton as the lest among Gods family Of
saints. All that had been written concern
ing the ,on Of Man they pondercd with
plous devotion, but they never forgot that
He came forth alive again from the grave.
They would think Of Him as the Son Of
years; they would study His sayings and
! His works; they would contemp plate HIS
| sufferngs and death, but always would
| they include His victory and coronation.
| with great power gave the apostles wit
ness Of the resurrection Of the Lord Jesus Is,
and great grace was upon them all. The
apostolic church is model not only in
matters of polity and usage aud doctrine,
but also in the religious type Of its spirit
and faith. 1t was pre-eminently an Easter
corporation. Filled with the Holy Ghost.
| labors and achieved abundant results be-
cause in all It's ideas and plans it stood
upon the platform that God r.i'sed UP His
Son Jesus Christ from :he dead The same
cause we cannot doubt, would to-day pro-
| duce the same effect.
All ,his is Of solemn practical moment
to our own times. Although the preacher
is not among those who believe that the
cause of religion is waning. he is bound
the peculiar difficulties which beset the
church Of the twentieth century. CT, only
hope is to hold fast to the ideas and .dea Is
of .he church of the first century. The
weakness Of Christendom to-day is The re.
tirement from its cor,spiccuors position OF
the a.:-prevai'ing tr,lth winch was pow
erful in the beginning. There is entirely
too much uncertainty even a'iolg Chris
| tlans concerDi~g the resurrection CT ,!esus
Christ. How many there are WHO would
rather not be pressed too strongly, by its
discussion. who won,d rrefer to have It
eliminated from distinctiveiy Christian
teaching. who would award it no further
dignity than to allow it to be placed among
TIE matters Of secondary Importance to
which little or no reference need re made
lust mere there has uno1lestionably been q
decline of cortitude and the hour arrived
lone ago when the issue should be strongly
made and honestly ret. If it is at all un
certain that the divine Redeamer came
forth from the grave. it is just as well fo1
us to know it and to fashion cur belief ant
make orr calculations accordingly. If the
Old faith is. in peril, or even if it shoule
/ we should be ready and willing to accep
: the result with the utmost candor and con
) sistency There has been entirely too mucl
reticence aid hedging; there has been {
disposition to dodge the real question
2 though perhaps with charitable purpose
that thereby the conscience and hopes c
!, others might not be shocked; there ha
$ been sentiment that seems to advise tha
D he less this matter is emphasized the bet
:; ter for the church. Let the church throw
1 down the gauntlet: let it have this matte
{ out once for all with those who dispute j
}, or who hesitate to accept il ex amino.
: the case is not settled let US settle it AM
q settle it right. Let us insist upon the fact
t whatever they are.
: Christians may we'll hide their heads i
:, shame if they feel constrained in behalf @
4 their religion to ask any quarter, to accep
! any favors of those who do not stand b
u - the faith once delivered to the saints, or t
q take advantage Of any technicalities. Bet
:. :, ter ten thousand times a controversy tha
3 to have this imDortant part of the gosns
d continue where it now is in the estima ito
IS of so many good peope. We may well
c ford to seek all the light that is available
Is and we need not be afraid to accept tt
d consequences. There are those than
If God. who feel that the authority of tt
church is sufficient warrant for the do
,t trnes of the church, but that authority
20 not universally recognized, and it sure
10 will be no mortal sin if people amid the
:. infrnties respecting religion demand 9TH
considc.-.ot:oos in support Of belief in Il