The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-10-30

Be iFNs - IL. "eNallN lal@> Instr uC-
lively on Subject of Vital Importance
90 u Ali-rhe Highest Typo OF Lie is
That spent For Others.
BROOKLYN. Y. YIN ;he Sixth Avenue
aptlst Church Sunday morning. the pas
pr the Rev Char.es Il. McNailN preached
q An Old Question fo- the New Age -
- text was from John =: III Thou be
le CHRIST, tel Us plainly Nj. NcNa.y
The men who asked this suction were
le answer was OF vita. impor, 10 them
hat word Christ was laden with a
'ealth OF meaning for these Jewish ques-
oners Our word Chris: j. the offspring
the Greek "ChristCs," which IN It's tuln
lherts AL the meaning that the Hebrew
nbodied in his word Messiah" Around
~ word for hundreds ot years all Jewish
fe, political and religious. had centered
ne Psa'mists had made II the dominant
Ote IN many OF their sweetest songs. Its
luitico'ored shadlngs had formed the
arr and wool OF prophetic visions. The
, 'Other a. she lullcd her little one 10 sleep
lang Of - Messianic hore. The little lad
i he came 10 his fathers knee asking for
tale had his, imagination fired ty the
.ory Of what would he when Messiah
nould come. More than the name of
rowweil or Wesley 70 England. and
{ Washington or Edwards to Amer.
"A. was the name OF Messiah 10 a jew,
lr u was az once the battle CRY az his DO.
iical liberties and the keynote o. mss re.
glon.
TIE Jews as thcv thought of the Messiah
lay be divided into two classes. those
hose conception was predominant!y rel-
Gus and spiritual and those whose
hought was predomInant.y political. /
ay predominantlv because tie two views
ere commonly blended. The more spirit.
al hoped for the deiveraoce of the ma
ons from the BONDAGE % sin. and the re.
gious supremacy of the Jewish nation
hrouch the ministry oi The Messiah. While
he less religious looked for the nolitical
re-eminence Of the Jews under the lead.
rshlp of the Messanic King. However
ivercent the views, IN two things all were
greed-the coming OF the Messiah meant
ewish pre-emlncnce. and he in his coming
'ou!d be the especially anointed of God.
aving the powers, the words and the
nirit of God. he was 10 he the instrument
God. the voice of Gods will TO and for
he nation. Earlier IN the history OF the
alton the conception was more spirtual
nj by the time of tho coming OF Jesus Of
'azareth their hope had lost it's higher
nd more spiritual character.
Ono morning toward the close OF His
arthly ministry. when the chilling blasts
winter had driven Him from the open
ourts Of the temple 10 a sheltered spot.
esus. the now far famed teacher and
laimant of Messanic honors. might have
cen seen pacing up and down the paved
1ciosuTe known az Solomon's Porch. II
;as the feast OF dedication and the faith
rs OF the nation were gathered in Ierusa-
am. There was much agitation and con-
let among them. The fame and claim ot
esus Of Nazareth was known 10 all.
lany OF these very men had followed in
he crowds 10 see and hear Him. The
lore spiritual had felt strange stirring
{ the soul IN response 10 the call of this
trance teacher TO n purer and more exalt-
d life. but surely thev reasoned this could
OF be the Christ--He was 50 different
rom what they had cNpcctcd the Christ
o b.. The less religious were even more
uzl!ed. The li'c OF Jesus from the Great
re comfort side wac nothing 10 be en-
led. They could find nothing 10 explain
he ann OF this Teacher with His Suhver-
i've teaching. or one thing :hev were
urc. He was a dangerous man. tor while
" lmpllcatlon and even openly He claimed
o ne the Christ, lie IA no wav correspond-
TO their idea of what the Christ should
20. Surely He was not the Messiah of
iod! Upon what could such a man as this
ase such a claim!
While Jesus naced thouohtfullv m and
own within the porch He was quickly
urrounded by an eager. pressing crowd.
Omc intense with yearnino for assurance
nd satisfaction Of soul others dark with
he clouds OF stricken conscience and the
|nalicousness Of disappointed hatred. Not
|yithstanding their varied feelings. all alike
we're anxious 10 ply Him with questions.
Eagerly thew pressed noon Him the vital
Igfl
literally, How long wilt Thou
". up our souls:" excite Nc. hold us be-
ween hope and fear? IF Thou really ar.
he Christ, then tell us plainly" Such is
10 inevitable question which must be
sked by every soul when brought face to
ace with the claim of Jesus 70 he the
'hrist Of God. Was Ho the anointed Of
iod? Was He the Kings Son" who
hould he called Wonderful counselor.
he mighty God, tir everlasting Father.
he nrInce of peace" Was He indeed
|veakiinP. illusionod nv the fervor OF HIS
,wn enthusiasms? These questions as old
b. Christianity are vital 10 our day and
hour. If He is not the Christ we NAV he
one with Him and 90 our wav. II He il
n very truth "the anoin'ed,' 'the sent Of
iod. ~ we are hound 20 listen tsHie voice
- the voice Of God, 20 learn His precepts
/ nj obey
To our question art Thou the Christ -
'esrs makes answer. note His words
Il told you, but vp believe not y The
|mmcdiate appeal Of Jesus was 10 His yer.
pal attestation ot His Messiahship. Al
|eady He had tod them that God was His
Father. that the Father had sent Him
10 the world in His name. TO establish
lis kingdom among men but they would
OF believe. Of what use was II 10 tell
hem that which thev had already heard
nd had refused to believe Nor was II al
'ocether strange that His verbal attesta-
| on otHis Messiahship was not readily ac-
|epted. for His assertion to be one with
.Od was a most startling one. Men give
redonce slowly to the claims Of others:
hey must see reasons or they Will not be
eve. Should a man come 10 our National
Government claiming 10 he the Ambassa-
OF OF England the first thing that would
e REQUIRED If hiLi would be that he should
irnish credentials Failing 10 furnish
hem he would be laughed at for a fool.
esus saw that He must found Ills claim
something more convincing than HI.
crhal sttestation. He recognized She ne
essity for proof and furnishes that proof
His words "the works that ] do IN Nv
ather's name. these bear witness OF Me. -
his anpeal OF Jesus to His works as proof
at He was the Christ requires that VIC
p moment examine them.
Strenuous efforts have been made during
ne the new age. 10 read out OF the works
| Jesus all that j sunernatural and di
ne. lie is uninteliicible we are told. un-
s. accounted for on human grounds alone.
onsider, then. that when viewed in the
ght of human action. His works were
antiful and powerful beyond comrare,
"a in themselves point 20 a higher divine
e The advanced thinkers of our dav
,vc. within comparatively few years.
ached the conclusion that the highest
pe of life - that which they call altrnis
c. j. .. life spent for others. The
CHEST personal life is realized only az
at life. Forgetting self. rises above self
4 exhauses itself for others. The ethical
ord reJoices IN this newly found truth