The Penn's Grove record., 1903-05-29

r%etlcence aid hedging; there has Deen q
disposition to dodge the real question,
though perhaps with a charitable purpose
that thereby the conscience and hopes OF
Others might not be shocked; there mas
been a 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 i
e e. w 'asss hesitate 8 Iat s e aese lst II r. * set aneI t and
settle It right: Let us insist upon the facts
whatever they are.
Christians may well hide their heads in
shame if 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
take advantage of any technicalities. Bet.
ter ten thousand times a 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 il
not universally recognized, and it surely
inirmities 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 a sus.
picion that somehow If i've could fully
know Of this matter our creed would be
worsted? Such questions may seem to be
they may appear to be hardly iustiiable at
TINS late DAYS, pull. people Will think, even
though they think wrongly, and if they
are the victims Of d mistake or d misunder-
standing it is d human kindness to lead
them to q 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 bubble over the story Of the Saw.
tours 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
spear pierced the pericardium. It is now
simply preposterous to impeach the genu-
ineness Of the Lords death. The outcome
of the cross was not d trance. The Re.
deemer tasted death for. every man"
If the Lord really died; is it a fact that
He rose again? Medical experts can pro-
nounce upon the story Of His .decease, SO
tCSoA CAPCII Us WILL pass upOu tilG SLOIy .Ol
His resurrection. The testimony is all in.
Shall it be permitted to stand? Christians
need not hesitate to allow the matter,
which is so supremacy sacred to them, to
be dealt with in this fashion. If they
choose, they can go reyerently to the Su-
preme Court that will review the testimony
Of the Easter witnesses. All that 4hey
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?" Inasmuch as
their narrative is extraordinary in its char
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
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 APP
peared to them all on only a single occa.
2f their absolute accuracy, but they saw
Jesus many times after the resurrection,
they talked with Him, they ate and drank
with Him, they even put their fingers into
the print of the nails. The list Of wit.
nesses does no 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
the dead is worthy OF the utmost consider
alton. The results of this Easter creed
should be reckoned with, for the doctrine
Of the Lords resurrection has produced
> race of men, women and children who are
the very flower of the human race. It 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. It canine be discredited. 1t deserves
something better than the Scotch verdict
mot proven" Although we do not rely
upon the force sof argument for arousing
interest and changing opinions. it is worth
wnlIe to snow tnar the cnurcn'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 gertrude.
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
er New York if he were here. Jesus and
the resurrection" is the blessed and tri-
pmphant theme. How grievously that
Rprd ofsGod is needed not only for the up
holding of faith, but for cherishing and
Strengthening hope for an eternity Of felic-
ity and bliss OF arrant inidelity there is
now comparatively little, but there is most
unquestionably at. least a partial failure to
be quite sure Of the souls Immortality. The
prospect Of everlasting life is not denied,
it is simply not realized. Many a heart is
saying, would that I might be certain of
it all" 1t is impossible to suppose that
the multitudes who are not actively asso-
ciated with the church believe in immortal
ity. If they look forward to an endless ca.
reer beyond the hills of time they would
speedily change their attitude toward holy
things. And if the whole company OF
Christ's disciples were to lay hold as they
ought Of the gospel of Jesus and the res
direction" there would be another p-ate-
cost and the kingdom of Gods dear Son
would come Indeed in all it's power and
-1&-~, EZ5EIr@A