The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-04-13
GRAND AVENUE CONGREGA-
 TIONAL CHURCH.

TIONAL CHURCH.
 In the Grand avenue Congregational church yesterday morning, the Rev. James Robertson, D. D., of Edinburgh, Scotland, preached an eloquent sermon on The Resurrection" It is the first time he has preached in this country. A large congregation listened to his sermon with attentive interest.
 The preacher told of the week before the crucifiXion as a week of awful suf fering and dwelt graphically of the in- cidents pertaining to the resurrection. He demonstrated the biblical proofs of the genuineness of that glorious event and of how the doubts of Thomas were dispersed, Continuing he said:
 Apart from the living contact of the living Christ it is possible to doubt the testimony of all the ages. Men may tell their spiritual experiences but they can never transmit their convictions and feelings. Consequently, in the last analysis, our belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ depends mainly upon experiences based upon the promises and purposes of God.
 What, then, is the practical outcome of Christ's resurrection?
 It made many passages and rites and | ceremonies in the Old Testament scrip lures ineligible Christ alone ascend | ed up on high leading captivity cap l live and bringing gifts for men, l (Psalms 68) He tasted death for every I oil | to remain in hades, neither did His | flesh see corruption (Psalms 16). The scapegoat was an enigma till Christ arose. By that one act the Old Tes- lament was unified and much in ii which was dark and mysterious made inteIligible.
 Nor were Christ's own words anent his dying and rising again understood till he overcame death and the grave They thought it had been He whc 1 should have redeemed Israel and felt l sadly downcast and forlorn when they saw Him die on the cross. o fools said He, and stone of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory! Then He opened unto them the scrip 1 breaking of bread and disappeared l U4uke 24.)
 l That same risen Christ makes the ] hearts os those who love Him burr | within them still as He talks witt them by the way. We understand His Words only in so far as we understand | Him.
 It was His rising that alone con firmed their faith. Apart from thi: His atoning death would never have been understood. But they now know exactly what He meant by rising iron the dead and were confident that thi.
 was indeed the Christ, the Saviour promised.
 It was His resurrection that brough life and immortality to light, making our resurrection to life sure in Him
 but only in Him; for if Christ be no
 risen, then is our preaching vain ant your faith is also vain. Yea and w
 are found false witnesses of God; be
 cause we have testified of God that H raised up Christ. And if Christ b not risen your faith is vain; ye are ye
 in your sins q Corinthians 15, 14) But now is Chris. risen and becom
 the first fruits of them that slept-fo
 as in Adam all die even so in Chris
 shall all be made alive.
 The resurrection of Christ has adde'
 joy to hope, dspelling gloom wit
 glory. Who, when standing at tn
 open grave shut in by the clouds 0
 sorrow, grief-stricken and depressed
 has not seen the rift in the clouds an
 felt the warmth of Gods love in Hi
 heart when he heard the cheerin
 words 1T am the resurrection and tn
 life. He that believeth in Me thoug
 he were dead yet shall he live. Yes
 this is the pale star of the Christian
 life, the abiding hope of the redeemed Christ's resurrection put new song i
 our mouths to ever praise our Goo
 The song begun by the angels goes O
 increasing in volume as the redeeme
 around the great white throne in
 creases. The river of peace deepen and broadens as, it. flows ,onwar through the ages towards eternity To