The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-07-10

us NnlhhI Nutf NnAtN contemplate his
suierlngs and death, but always would
they include His victory and coronation.
With great power gave the apostles wit.
ness OF the resurrection of the Lord Jesus
and great grace was upon them all" The
apostolic church is q model, not only In
matters Of pohty and usage aud doctrine,
but also in the religious type Of les spirit
and faith. 10 was prc-eminently an Easter
corporation. Filled with the Holy Ghost.
u bore abundant fruits and did abundant
labors and achieved abundant results b..
cause in all lis ideas and plans &c stood
upon the platform that God ra'sed mp His
Son Jesus Christ from The dead The same
cause. we cannot doubt, would to-day pro-
1uce the same effect
An his is Of solemn. practical moment
10 our own times Although the preacher
is not among those who believe that the
cause of religion is waning, he is bound
with all thoughtful people to recognize
the peculiar difficulties which besct The
church of the twentieth century. Cur only
hope Is to hold fast 10 the ideas and deals
OF !he church OF the first century The
weakness of Christendom to-day is the re.
tirement from its conspicuous position OF
the al-prevailing truth which was so pow
erful in the beginning. There is entirely
too much uncertainty even among Chris
tians concerning the resurrection OF Jesus
Christ. How many there are VINO would
rather not be pressed too strongly by it,
discussion. who would prefer 10 have 1t
eliminated from distinctively Christian
teaching. who would award it no further
dignity than TO allow IL to be placed among
the matters Of secondary importance TO
which little or no reference need he made.
lust here there has unquestiouGbiy been a
decline of gertrude, and the hour arrived
long ago when the issue should be strongly
made and honestly met. if it is at all un-
certain that the divine Redeemer came
forth from the grave. it is Just as well for
us to know it and to fashion cur belief and
make our calculations accordingly If the
old faith is in peril, or even il it should
be held in allegiance, as lovers of the truth
we should be ready and willing to accept
the result with the utmost candor and con-
sistency. There has been entirely too much
reticence aid hedging; there has been
disposition to dodge the real question,
though perhaps with a charitable purpose
that thereby the conscience and hopes Of
others might not be shocked; there has
been a sentiment that seems to advise that
the less this matter is emphasized the bet
ter for the church. Let the church throw
down the gauntlet; let it have this matter
out once for all with those who dispute IL
or who hesitate to ACCEPT l. ex amino II
the case is not settled let US settle it and
settle it right. Let us insist upon the facts
whatever they are.
Christians may we'll hide their heads in
shame if they feel constrained in behalf of
their religion to ask any quarter to accept
any favors of those who do not stand By
the faith once delivered to the saints, or to
take advantage of any technicalities Bet
kngR Ton
to have this important part of the gospel
continue where it now is in the estimation
of so many good people. We may well af-
ford to seek all the light that is available,
and we need not be afraid to accept the
consequences There are those thank
God, who feel that the authority of the
church is sufficient warrant for the doc
trines of the church, but that authority il
not universally recognized, and it surely
will be no mortal sin if people amid their
nhrmities respecting religion demand other
considerations in support of belief in the
risen Christ Are other considerations
forthcoming? Are there reasons which jus-
| tlfy tlmidity on our part? Is there a sus-
nicion that somehow if we could fully
know of this matter our creed would be
worsted? Such questions may seem to be
primary to those wii2se faith is sure and
they may appear to be hardly iustifable at
this late day, but people will think, even
| though they think wrongly, and if they
are the victims of a mistake or a misunder-
standing it is human kindness to lead
them to a knowledge of the truth What
is the case of the resurrection Of Jesus?
OF course the disciples believed that he
surely died, a conviction which is now
! shared by everybody the Hebrew people
! themselves not excepted, II one is dis.
Po oSSd to a5OG 41{b 9f tbS SAY
the Son of Man did not die, he should be
! referred to medical experts, who will tell
him that if Jesus died of heart fracture IL
| was only natural that the water and blood
flowed from His side when the soldier 4
spear pierced the percardium. 1t is now
simply preposterous to impeach the genu-
| ineness of the Lords death. The outcome
of the cross was not a trance. The Re-
deemer tasted death for every man"
If the Lord really died, is it a fact that
He rose again? Medical experts can pro-
nounce upon the story of His decease, so
legal experts will pass upon the story Of
His resurrection, The testimony is all in.
Shall it be permitted to stand? Christians
need not hesitate to allow the matter,
which is so supremely sacred to them, ia
be dealt with in this fashion. If they
choose, they can go Teverently to the SUI
preme Court that will review the testimony
Of the Easter witnesses. All taat they
ought to ask is that the tribunal shall he
absolutely fair and honest in the applica-
ton of the laws of evidence. Who are the
witnesses and what is their reputation
for truth and veracity" Inasmuch as
their narrative is extraordinary in it's char.
acter they must expect to submit to the
most rigid examination. They will stand
! Tho Tho nnOstlae and fbair fDllpv-are
were people who for integrity and religion
have never been surpassed Not only were
they the incarnation of honor and piety
but they are entirely trustworthy on every
account They investigated the matter
with the utmost care. Although excellent
folk may be deceived by others and even
by themselves, it is impossible to suppose