The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1903-12-05

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 unsstisfied heart and life. The VI
sion of the cross can give a new in
SEPARATION and hope which will MT dim
throughout all eternity. For thesa two
reasons, then. the Gospel is reason
able Gospel Because 1t is the only
way by which man may gain eternal
bliss, for which he Is intended by God.
and because the Gospel is tho only
thing which can satisfy In this life or
the life to come.
THE preaching of the cross of
/ Christ is not foolishness because 1t
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 a
great many people that 10 let the cross
of Christ rule in the life means that busi-
ness success and ability to minglc in
the affairs OF men viii DO curtailcd II
not blasted But true success cannot.
nor can the highest wisdom In secular
things, be found apart from God. Jo-
seph found 1t so in Egypt and became
the greatest statesman and most brill
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 con-
secrated. obedient servant. Never did
Satan coin bigger falsehood or en-
dcavor to give 1t wider currency than
that man II he would make 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 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
"a 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
III 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 q
Saviour. One man with whom talked.
who professed to believe that the cross
of Christ was foolishness, wanted to dis
cuss the question Of the inspiration OF
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 OF
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 II 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: Il am not ashamed Of the
Gospel of Christ, for 1t 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 1t for deliverance from
sin! 1t is the cruclfied Lord which
should inspire -the heart to song and
hold the eternal gratitude OF the
eleansed and redeemed soul.
"Oh. what Is thy Beloved?
They oft inquire OF me:
| And what Ia my Beloved
So passing fair see?
10 II the Heavenly splendor
| In which He shines above?
| His riches. and domlnions,
| That won my hearts best lover
"Oh. no! It's not His g,ories;
/ He's worthy OF them alI!
| It's not the throne and scepter
| Before which angels fall!
/ view with heart exuit!ng
Each crown His head adorns;
But, oh. He looks most lovely.
| Wearing His crown Of thorns.
I'm glad to see IFS raiment
Than snow more spotless white.
Refulgent with Its brightness. s
More dazzling than the light:
But more surpa ssing lovely
His form appears to me,
| When stripped, and scourged, and bleeding
He hung upon the tree.
Though higher than the highest. 4