The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-06-10

the matters of secondary Importance to
which little or no reference need ne MADE
o,Tust here there has rnqucstlorably been q
decline of certitude, 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 Tor
make our calculations accordingly. II the
old faith is in peril, or even if it should
be he,d 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
reticcnce aid hedging; there has been
disposition to dodge the real question,
though perhaps with a charitable purpose
that thereby the conscience and hopes CT
others might not be shocked; there has
been 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 it
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 i 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
ter ten thousand times controversy than
to have this important part of the gospel
continue where it now is in the estimation
of SO many. good people. We may well at.
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 is
not universally recognized, and it surely
will be no mortal sin if people amid their
in6rmities respecting religion demand other
considerations in support of belief in the
risen Christ. Are other considerations
Forthcoming? Are there reasons which JUS
tify timidity on our part? Is there sus-
picion that somehow if we could fully
know Of this matter our creed would be
worsted? Such questions may seem to be
primary to those whose faith is sure. and
they may appear to be hardlv jlstifable at
this late day, but people will think. even
though they think wrongly, and if they
are the victims OF a mistake or misunder.
standing it is human kindness to lead
them to knowledge Of the truth. What
is the case of the resurrection Of Jesus?
OF course the disciples believed that He
shared by everybody, the Hebrew people
themselves not excepted. If one is dis
posed to quibble over the story of the Sav.
iour's passion and to suggest that perhaps
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 it
was only natural that the water and blood
flowed from His side when the soldiers
spear pierced the pericardium.. 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."
He rose again? Medical experts can pro.
nounce upon the story of His decease, go
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, to
be dealt with in this fashion. If they
choose, they can go reverently to the Su-
preme Court that will review the testimony
of the Easter witnesses. All that they
ought to ask is that the tribunal shall be
absolutely fair and honest in the applica'
tion of the laws of evidence, Who are the
witnesses and what is their reputation
for truth and veracity" lnasmuch as
acter they must expect to submit to the
most rigid examination. They will stand
the test. The apostles and their followers
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
that these men were the victims OF either
form Of deception, If the Master had ap-
sion. there might be place for a suspicion
of their absolute accuracy. but they saw
Jesus many times after the resurrection,
they talked with Him, thsv ate and drank
with Him, they even put their fingers into
the print of the nails. The list of wit
nesses does not consist of two or three
names, but includes at least 500 persons.
The church is still another witness. Her
organization, her beliefs, her sacraments,
her unfailing testimony from the beginning
and to every generation that the Founder
Of the Christian religion came forth from
alton. The results of this. Easter creed
should be reckoned with, for the doctrine
of the Lords resurrection has produced
q race Of men, women and children who are
the very flower of the human race. 1t has
brought forth all that is best and worthiest
in every Christian country. -,
What is the reasonable response to al,
this testimony? It cannot well be ruled
out. 1t cannot be discredited. It deserves
something better than the Scotch verdict.
mot proven" Although We do not rely
interest and changing opinions. it is worth
while to show that the church's creed is
supported by ample and adequate reasons.
and thar faith in the resurrection of Jesus
is not blind credulity, but the acceptance
of an historical fact which is duly verified
by the canons of historical certitude.
This whole case of the Lords resurrec.
ton merits far greater prominence than It
commonly receives, and it should be al:
lowed to resume the position which 1t held
in apostolic times. In this way the mod
the confidence which marked those holy
people who were instrumental in carrying
the gospel throughout the then. known
world. With what courage and power
Christians would deal with the religious
skepticism and misapprehensions of the
age. If Jesus Christ has risen from the
dead, the gospel has the most infallible
proof Of its absolute truthfnlness. When
one comes back from the light of the next
world and reat6rms every jot and little OF
His teachings, there is scarcely place for
the shadow of doubt. Our religion has
this high credential. Christianity is sane.
toned, and sealed by voice from heaven:
Misgivings should cease and confidence
should return, and the Saviour's disciples
should rally as never before to the support
of His cause and kingdom. Their creed
should be accepted as infallibly true be.
cause it has been brought so evidently
from the skies.
Human nature does not change essen.
tally. The needs Of to-day are not very
different from those of 1000 years ago.
The gospel which st. Paul preached in
Athens he would preach this day in Great.
- NJ, VorI- - he ,,ara baro HJesuy and