The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1903-10-08
and suggest that even He Himself might.
have been wrong.


writer, DIR. Sheldon, who has given us
book which has been sold on my side of
the water, entitled, what y ould Jesus
Dor l have known many men in Lon
don who would rot enter a church nor
read religious book, but were drawn to
this work, not because it was ceverly
written, but on account of the words on
the title page, What Would Jesus Do!"
| have heard Christ cheered in working
mems meeting because He was referred
to as the first great Socialist, also re-
ferred to as an example in economics.
In our literature of to-day there is visit
full emphasis laid upon the meaning of
Christ. But admiration for Jesus stands
higher than mere alteration, ut admira-
ton is not alteration. Men might say all
these about the Christ and yet misjudge
what the Christ meant to bring to the
hearts of men. Men are questioning the
assurance of the love of God. Where shall
we look for certainty if not to Jesus!
There is an optimism in AI-erican 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, a holi-
day assembly, too, there are undoubtedly
men who have some great sorrow, and
there are times when many of us have felt
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 general 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 a tragedy
under every green leaf? Hear the waves
breaking upon the seashore! Do you real
ize that the smiling sea surrounding us
yesterday strangled 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-
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 / 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, eff you
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; 1T 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 find 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 / am
speaking to you some one should say, "He
is gone" But all that you can now see
his venerable, body, would still be here, and
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
such demand of Christ as to-day. No,
never! If you could take the Christ out
of history, if you could suppose the world
to be as 1t Is men would still be asking for
some one to save them, and the conquer
ing love would be craved for by them,
even if they did not know it.
Now, brethren, let us go back to the
Christ OF experience, not simply the Christ
of history. Christ went away to come
nearer. He went to His own and He never
left them
1t is by no means Gods purpose that any
man should remain in the housa of mourn
ing. On the throne of the universe sits
one with the heart of 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
Galilee walked upon the hillsides doing
good. He is on the throne now.
Mr.. Moody once told a story in England
concerning the first evangelical mission
there. He was asked to call upon poor
man IN Dundee who had been bedridden
for a 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 a poor time
of it if they had spoken to him of his suf-
ferings. When Mr.. Moody left the cham
Der he said: II guess when the angels pass
over Dundee, thew will stop at that house
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, JOY and sorrow, are not exclus-
i've. The latter prepares the way for the
former.
I once heard Gypsy" Smith tell story
about his own little sons who had played
truant. and in. trying to be stern he had
sent them to bed and they were not to
have any supper, if you please. He passed
the rest of the evening tiptoeing about lis
tening and wondering what the effect Of
the punishment would be. Finally, not
hearing any sound, he made his way to
the bed chamber. AS he leaned over the
bed one of the little fellows said, els that
you, father" just went for him and
drew him in and the little fellow sobbed
out, Father, will you forgive me?" eyes,
my son; yes, yes, will forgive you, for
love YOU" 'Ihen, father, take me down
to supper" We know the great Father
because we have looked into the face of
the Son.