St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-05-16

him. Rather does he plead for mercy
But let some one step before the judge
and offer to take the punishment and
let the prisoner go free, and hope
springs anew in his heart and gives
birth to the glad song which bursts
from his lips as he goes out of that
courtroom a free man. The world
until it is reconciled through Christ
Jesus is at enmity against God. The
guilt of sin rests against it until
wiped out by the pardoning power
OF Jesus blood. That pardon must
be accepted before it becomes eff
tlcacious to save from the penalty of
sin. How is it possible for the pris-
oner to gain his liberty if he refuses
to accept the pardon which is offered
him? How is it possible for the
world to escape the penalty of sin
II it either thoughtlehsly or wilfully
refuses to receive the pardon which
God offers through the sacrifice of
His Son Jesus Christ? God says:
HE that believeth not lis condemned
already, because he hath not be-
ieved in the name of the only begot-
ten Son of God" And He also de-
clares that "there is no condemna-
ton to them which are in Christ
Jesus"
I EFT us go back to that first Easter
l. morning as it broke in all Its
beauty and hope over Jerusalem and
consider the contrasts between the
song sung then and the Easter music
as it swells throughout the world to-
day. Then custom had not come to
claim the day and plan its celebra-
ton as it has to-day, but only the
believing hearts echoed the Heaven
born music of a Saviour risen. The
angels came singing of the Living
Lord and the disciples quickly
caught up the refrain and went
speeding everywhere with the glad
message. But the world could not
join in that song. With the bursting
OF the tomb and the stepping forth
of the Living Lord, the soldiers ''did
shake and became as dead men,"
And the world shared in that fear
and dreadful apprehension. Sin.
unforgiyen sin, always awakens in
the human heart deadly fear when it
is brought face to face with God.
Then the world had not learned to
look the facts of Christianity in the
face without meeting God face to
face, but when Constantine popular
lied the religion of Jesus Christ,
'the Kingdom of Heaven suffered
violence, and the violent took it by
force Pagan festivals were re-
in Christian garb, and
the world soon was celebrati ting with
the true believers the birth and the
of Christ. The very
name Easter is of pagan origin, and
is derived undoubtedly from Eastre.
the Saxon goddess, whose festiva,
was annually kept about the samc
time as Easter. The customs which
have grown up around Easter are of
secular and heather origin. The
song which the world has learned to
sing is about the risen and Living
Lord, but He is not. allowed to en-
ter. He is not enthroned in the
hearts of multitudes of those whose
lips sing His praises.
e URELY there is no sweeter music in
- the ears of Heaven than that
which bursts from the heart which
has been cleansed from all sin by
blood and which has en-
the Living Lord therein, but
what think you it must be to God to
hear human voices raised in praise
of the risen Lord when the hearts
are closed tight against Him in unbe
lief? Oh, if we could only hear rs
God hears, if we could only see as
His all-searching eye beholds, much
of the rich, full, magnificent Easter
music would be turned to funeral
dirge over dying world which is
talking of a living Christ while it is
perishing in it's sins. Easter flowers
would wither and fade at the touch of
the unregenerate hand of man, and
the popular celebration of the day
would become the darkness of pagan
ism. Only the regenerate heart can
catch the strains of Heavenly music
and send back song which will min
gle with the Celestial harmony. The
heart can ponder over
the truths of Gods matchless re-
1emptive work, but there is no light
Or hope there unless the Living Christ
is allowed to come in. The voice, be
it cultivated to the richness and
scope of the prima donna, may rise
and fall with the strains of the glad
melody of the Easter anthem, but the
sound thereof will reach no nearer
Heaven than the gilded dome of the
church, unless the heart behind the
voice has felt the power and pres
ence of the Living Christ.
G ATAN'S Easter.-Think of Satan
y celebrating the resurrection of
Jesus Christ. We do not want to ap-
pear irreverent. We do not wish to
shock the sensibilities of the human
heart. We know that many, many
people are not really Christians be-
cause of carelessness and thought
essness, and because they fail to
.ealize their true attitude toward
iod. Comparatively few, perhaps,
have deliberately and finally rejected
Gods claim upon them. We suggest
he thought of Satan's joining in the
Easter rejoicing and festivities so as
% bring out forcibly what Easter
celebration may mean. God declares
hat man must either take his stand
With Satan or God, that he cannot