Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-05-27
THE CRY FOR JESUS.

Magi and the Greeks represent that en-
lightened religious instinct which, dis
satisfied with that which cannot feed
the soul, is able to rise above previous
education and prejudice and seek the
qualification of its deepest needs and
its highest aspirations wherever that
qualification may be found.
These who thus came to Christ stood
for that large number of Greeks. so
frequently alluded to. who perceiving
the vanity of popular religion. turned
to something more satisfying, and
found in the synagogue service of the
Jews something which appealed to the
cravings of that instinct for God which
all men possess. Attaching themselves
more or less to Judaism without sub
hitting to the religious rites necessary
to give them full standing they came
to Jerusalem TO worship the God in
whom they had come to believe. Here
they put themselves in communication
with one of the disciples of Jesus and
request an interview with the man
who has created SO great stir in the
popular mind.
Their action may well be regarded
by us as suggesting the cry of an
enlightened religious instinct for the
personal Christ.
Mere curiosity may prompt such a
cry.
Now, as then, Jesus Christ is the
problem of the ages. He is a person
atty that must be explained; a force
that must be accounted for. This man,
whom millions love and no one hates,
thrusts himself before us in such
way that life is entirely changed for
us after I'VE meet him. by what au
thor:ty doest thou these things" is a
question we must have answered for
the sake of our own peace of mi J.
"What shall l do with Jesus?" is lie
inquiry of a soul who is confronted by
this perplexing personality, this mas
terful man The age of inquiry in
which we live finds its curiosity BAT
fed by this teacher, whose character
defies human analysis, whose truth
transcends human PHILOSOPHERS, and
whose influence is more living. more
personal. more powerful in each sue
ceeding age. Eager TO wot what God
would have us to do and be, we turn
from all else to Jesus, in the hope that
at last we can find an authority upon
which we can rest.
Appreciation may lead us TO him. Be
yond mere curiosity a soul has come to
know enough of Jesus to make him
feel that life offers nothing better than
the study of this character and life.
Moral beauties disclose themselves in
such a way as to charm us. We are
fascinated by his graciousness. sub
dued by his tenderness moved by his
love. We cease to wonder why it is
that those who reject him vie with
those who accept him in laying their
tribute of admiration at his feet, and
intidel can find the life of Jesus his
highest theme and greatest satisfac
ton.
The motives which draw us to Jesus
may be strong personal desire on our
part for Jesus because he has wooed
and won us. We hold him not at arms
length; we look not at him IN the snirit
of inquiring criticism; We treat him not
as something outside of ourselves. but
as dearer to Us than ali the world; we
desire to take him into our lives, to
reign there king of love and life
In abv and eve case that which
this re iyious instinc. cries for is a per-
sonality. When me church. by those
rude methods which it once used, tried
TO convert the world to Christianity, it
brought into its fold a mass of bar
barous and unspiritual votaries. which
left its impress upon church life for a
thousand years. II the church Chris
tanned paganism. paganism III turn
paSanized Christianity. AS a result,
the personality of Christ was largely
lost. 1t is the glory of the present
time that the church is swinging back
more and more to the personal Christ.
AS the din of religious strife subsidies
there is presented in new beauty and
power this one perfect personality. He.
and he alone, meets the wants and
answers the cry of the present day
man. 1t is an age of individualism.
The needs of man are paramount. AS
the monarch has gone down, man has
gone up. Humanity vans a Christ
who deals with individual men, and
who addresses himself to individual
wants. In the moment of sorrow we
feel for the hand of the comforter; in
the hour Of loneliness we seek our
companion; in the day of trouble we
want the counsel of our friend. There
is no one il all history who satisfies
US so fully az Jesus of Nazareth, who,
as Man Of Sorrows" and Friend of
Sinners" touches human hearts to
cure. to comfort, 20 cleanse.
Systematic theology is as necessary
as the bones Of man, but those bones
must be covered with warm flesh if
we are 10 have a friend. Delight in
the study of Christian anatomy must
not rob Us Of our living friend, the
matchless son OF Man The weary.
the sad. the forsaken are crying to-
day. as never before, Sir. va ~5uld
see Jesus"
FOR A QUIET SABBATH.
b. Rev. Charles ". TinsIey.
No nation is more loyal To the sab