The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-10-14

| ton is not alteration. Men might say al
these about the Christ and yet misjudge
what the Christ meant to bring to the
hearts of men. Men are 9uestvGpnlnG vpnrIG GsbsI1 5ns
| we look for certainty if not toJesus?
There is an optimism in Alerican char.
acter which tends toward contentment
with this present world. l have re-
| marked it in my travels from east to west.
A readiness to take things as they come
and be satisfied with them. ;.
In this assembly, as large as it is, holi'
day assembly, too, there are undoubtedly
men who have some great SORROW, ana
| there are times when many OF us have tels
| some great sorrow. have found here and
| there we come across silent men, who
have been beaten in the battle Of life, and
who have no part in this genera! optimism:
The world as God has made it is one OF
beauty. This morning. for example, the
sun is shining around US everywhere; we
are glad to, meet it's 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
breaking upon the seashore! Do you real
ize that the smiling sea surrounding US
| yesterday stranged some mothers son!
Here are we meeting in brightness and
gladness. Do you realize that the same
sun shining upon US is taking the life OF
some one in some part of this continent
| to-day?
Have you never felt, brethren. some
time that you could improve on life if you
had the power that is in the hands OF
| God?
"Oh, love, could you and I with Him con.
spire.
To grasp this sorry scheme Of things en-.
tire;
Would not we shatter it to bits-and then
Re-mold it nearer to the hearts desire"
1t is because of this mood that I have
found in America and England that people
have asked the question, How shall we be
sure of God? Where is spiritual certain.
| ty? One man once said to me, If you
were master of the community, l 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
the victory of Christi"
Now. brethren. listen to me: first of all,
clear the ground by this reflection, that
the only real communion, the only spirit.
| ual experience that is worth having is not
that which can be set forth in terms of
| mind; it is not that which can be demon
strated by figures, and you will have to
| begin where they did-in the upper room.
A man must tnd Christ for himself. Your
soul should be the reflection of the mind
of the Master The only real communion,
even here, is that which cannot be demon
| strated.
For example, suppose the bishop, here,
was called to his reward, and while l am
| speaking to you some one should say, He
is gone" But all that, you. can now see;
yet you would say, ''He 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
be dark and cold to me. There never was
time when the worlds people were in
such demand of Christ as to-day. No,
neveri If you could take the Christ out
of history. if you could suppose the, world
to be as it is men would still be asking for
sore one to save them, and. the. conquer.
even if they did not know it.
Now, brethren, let us 60. back to the
Christ by all means, but let it be. the
Christ of experience, not simply the Christ
of history. Christ went away to come
nearer. He went to Bis own and He never
left them.
It 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 a child. No stran-
GER cries but whose voice is heard by the
One whom Paul preached. whom John
loved the same. who in the far off days of
Gallee walked upon the hillsides doing
good He is on the throne now.
Mr.. Moody once told story in England
concerning the first evangelical mission
there. He was asked to call upon poor
man in Dundee who had been hedridden
for long time. Mr.. Moody went to take
blessing, but instead got one. The man
had been standing under the blessing OF
Calvary; it was no shock to him to be told
that the world seemed to be upside down,
and the man would have had poor time
Of it if they had spoken to him Of his, suf-
Der he said: ~ guess when the angels. pass
for refreshments" Do you see, brethren?
Do YOU see?
Men like Peter and John who have
been admitted to the fellowship of the
cross do not doubt the love of God. Peace
and pain, ioy and sorrow, are not exclus-
i've. The latter prepares the way. for the
I once heard "Gypsy" Smith tell story
about bis own little sons who had played
truant. and in irving to be stern he had
sent them to he'd. and they were not to
the rest of the evening tiptoeing about lis:
teaing and wondering what the effect of
the punishment would be. Finally. not
the bed chamber. As he leaned over the
bed one Of the little fellows said, "ls that
YOU, father" I just went for him and
drew him in and the little fellow sobbed
out, "Father, will you forgive nle?" eyes,
nv son; yes. yes, will forgive you, for l
| love you." "Then. father. take me down
to supper" We know the great Father
because we have looked into the face OF
| the Son.