The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-11-16
Christianity as Taught by Christ
Seventh Of the Series Of Sermons Delivered by
Or. H. S. Bradley and Published by The Constitution.
The Eighth will be Printed Next Monday.

|, found consciousness of the blessedness OF
suffering? We cannot tell all of II. out, IN
the old days at Nazareth, he nad pro-
ably seen some of His brotners and sis,e i:
die. There was enough suffering propapiy
In being caiIed a crazy son by ms
mother, and in being regarded as heretic
by religious leaders. and an enemy ol
Caesar by the state to teach HIM lHis
great truth.
Jesus says that those who undergo an
experience like this are blessed. TOR lney
snail be comforted.' Not every one thae
suffers turns his suffering to GOOD &C
count. There are two results that may
come from experiences about which we
have been speaking. One may grow hard
bitter and cynical under suffering. or
gentle, patient, tender and large-hearted
1T depends upon how one relates hltnsell
to his experience. Jesus refers to the
latter, the one who turns even these
hard experiences to good account what
does He mean by being "comtorted!
We have already answered partially III
what has gone before. when We nave
spoken Of one finding self and God.
The word in the Greek which we have
translated comfort is also a strong
word. 1t is derived from the same root
as The word the "Comforter.' which re-
fcrs to the Holy Spirit. Our translation
comfort" IS good This word is made
up % two Latin words. con and Tor
It's. meaning made strong or strength
cned together These words OF Jesus
freely translated would be about these:
blessed is the man who sustains such
severe shock that the spell OF the external
world is broken and he finds real self and
God. G<cd in so doing grows strong and
brave
This beatitude IS not lullaby to sing
to a sick child. but the tocsin to sound
in the ear Of the warrior 1t is not an
opiate to lull one to s.eep, but a slim
ulant to arouse one to energy. The old
Greek writer's used the word here trans
lated comfort 10 mean ito arouse to
courage' Aeschylus. in his description
of the battle OF Salamis, says that the
Greek general went on the night before
the battle to the commanders OF all the
ships in the fleet and ''comforted' them;
that is he inspired them to courage,
He is not the strongest man who needs
most to make him happy, but he is the
strongest who can get along with least:
Jesus passed through many sorrowful
experiences. lie p9ssed through the
agony OF Gethsemane, out of which lie
came strong enough to fee. that lie could
get along without even physical life. We
catch something Of the meaning which
Jesus put INTO this word comfort when
We see what was the result Of the coming
of the spirit of comfort and strength
and bravery, the Paraclete. to the right
ened disciples after the crucihxion. lie
promised upon going out OF their sight
that the Comforter, the one that would
make them strong and brave, should
effect upon them? Look at Peter on
the night of the betrayal. lie is so
cowardly that he denies his Lord in the
high priests judgment hail, and curses
when charged by maiden with being
one OF his followers. After the shock
Of the crucinxion, Peter and the other
disciples find the strength and courage
which Jesus promised. See him now az
on the day of Pentecost when, bold az
lion. he stands In the city of Jerusalem
mt
crowd VINO had put his Lord to death.
Peter had been comforted.
blessed is the man whose experience
helps him to find self and God, for In so
doing he is made strong and courageous.
Ii IS a great thing for the world tina
these experiences, which come TO all OF
us can be turned to good account, The
blessedness of which Jesus spoke IS IN
the reach of every one of us today
My brother is your business failing?
Are You poor? Turn your poverty to
good account. The loss of your worldly
goods may lead rou to find God and HIS
strength If you will let It. Is Your health
failing? Are there premouitions OF the
end? Do not lei this make you gloomy,
rlorose and bitter. Let it teach you the
lesson which the Good Father would
have 1t teach. Let it bring YOU TO
consciousness OF n life that IS indepen-
dent of a body an experience that is
superior TO time and things. Have your
loved ones or Your friends died and lett
YOU desoIate and broken hearted? You
may If yOu Will, turn even TINS heavy eX-
perence to good account ne dedtn "
your oaby should not make you lose
interest," in other babies but give tc every
child which cries in the streets I'm interest
that YOU never saw IN hlm before l-e'
j. enlarge your heart and broaden your
vynpathins. Crittenton the benefactor
of fallen women los. his daughter Eliot
enco. hut in losing her has found 10000
daughters who need him worse than For