Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-10-01

ton is not alteration Men might say all
these about the Christ and yet mlsJudge
what the Christ meant to bring to the
hearts of men. Men are questioning the
assurance of the love OF God. Where shall
we look for certainty if not to Jesus?
There is an optimism in American char
acter which tends toward contentment
with this present world. | have re-
marked it in my travels from east to west.
A readiness to take things as they come
and be satisfied with them. :.
I'm this assembly, as large IS 1t IS, hoii-
lay assembly, too, there arc undoubtedly
men who have some great sorrow, a .,l
there are times when many of us have lett
some great sorrow. | have found here and
there we come across silent men, who
have been beaten in thc battle OF life, and
Who have no part in this general optimism:
The world as God has made it is one OF
,eauly. This morning, for example, the
sun is shining around us everywhere; we
are lad to meet its beams; the very
brightness affects our spirit, and helps us
to look forward with hope INTO the future.
But do you realize that there is tragedy
under every green leaf? Hear the waves
breaking upon the scashore. Do You real
i2e that the smiling sea surrounding us
Yesterday strangled some mothers son?
Here are we meeting in brightness and
g,adnass. DO you realize that the same
sun shining upon us is taking the lile OF
some one in some part OF this continent
to-day?
Have you never felt, brethren, some
time that YOU could improve on life II you
had the power that is in the hands OF
God?
ooh, love, could you and I with Him con-
To grasp this sorry scheme of things en-
tire;
Would not we shatter it to bits-and then
Rc-mo!d it nearer to the hearts desire
1t is because of this mood that | have
found in America and England that people
have asked the question, How shall we he
sure ot God! Where is spiritual certain
lyg One man once said to me, III you
were master Of the community, | think |
! could trust YOU ! don't think you could
wish me harm. Can't you make me sure
Of the love of God. Oh, make me sure OF
he victory of Christi
Now. brethren. listen to me; first of all,
Gear. the ground by this reflection, that
hc only real communion the only spirit
lal experience that is worth having is not
hat which can he set forth IN terms of
mind: it is not that which can be demon
strated by figures, and YOU will have to
1csin where they did--in the upper room.
A man must ,tlnd Christ for himself. Your
soul should be the reflection of the mind
Vt the Master. The only real communion,
even here, is that which cannot be demon
,trated.
For example, suppose the bishop, here,
vas called to his reward, and while | am
speaking to you some one should say, He
gone But all that you can now see.
lis venerable body, would still be here, and
ret YOU would say, ''Hc is gone" Yes, it
would be his soul that had gone to make
perfect the union with Christ.
Brethren. take the Christ out of my
spiritual armament and the world would
oe dark and cold to me-. There never was
time when the worlds people were in
such demand OF a Christ as TODAY. No,
Hcvcr. Ii YOU could take the Christ out
II history, il You could suppose the world
, be As it is men would still be asking for
some one to save them, and the conquer
ng love would be c,avcd for by them,
evcn ii they did not know it.
Now. brethren. let H. 20 back To the
Christ ly all means. but let it BE- the
I hr,t of experience, not simply the Christ
nj history. Christ went away 10 come
rcarer. He went to His own and He never
left them
1t is by no means Gods purpose that any
man should remain IN the house of mourn
ing On the throne of the universe sits
one with the heart Of child. No stran-
rcr cries but whose voice is heard by the
One whom Paul preached. whom John
lowed the same. WHO ia the far of days Of
Gnh'tc walked upon the hilI~ldcs doing
good. lie Is on the throne now.
Mr., Moody once told a story in England
concerning the first cvanrnlica} mission
there He was asked to call upon a poor