The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1903-04-18

the world nailed Him on the cross.
The Easter message Of q risen Christ
brings condemnation to the world
while II makes glad with hope the be-
lieving heart. How can the voice of
the world be lifted to swell the glad
Easter song Of Living Lord, while the
indictment of sin stands against it I'M
satisfied? No song Of rejoicing escapes
from the prisoner in the dock while
the indictment declares his crime and
the guilt Of lawlessness rests against
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 free man. The world
until it is reconciled through Christ
Jesus is Mt enmity against God. The
guilt of sin rests against IL until
wiped out by the pardoning power
of Jesus blood. That pardon must
be accepted before 1t becomes ef
ficacious 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 is condemned
already, because he hath not be-
lieved 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 ia
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,
unforgiven 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.
habilitated in Christian garb, and
the world soon was celebrating with
the true believers the birth and the
resurrection of Christ. The very
name Easter is of pagan origin, and
is derived undoubtedly from Eastre,
the Saxon goddess, whose festival
was annually kept about the same
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.
cURELY there is no sweeter music in
- the ears of Heaven than that
which bursts from the heart which
has been cleansed from all sin Ivy
Christ's blood and which has en-
throned 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 heart.
are closed tight against Him in unbe
lief? Oh, il we could only hear n.
God hears, il we could only see a,
His all-searching eye beholds, mucf
of the rich, full, magnificent Easter
music would be turned to funera
dirge over dying world which i.
talking of a living Christ while II 1.
perishing in its 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
unregenerate heart can ponder over
the truths of Gods matchless re-
demptive 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
~ seIehrafinU the reaurrecfion M