Democratic messenger., 1904-04-09
Talma8e
Sermon
BY Rev.
Frank De Oiff
Tain a Gc. d. d.

pcals equally 10 the simple and the
learned. The text is Luke xiv. 81.
And their eyes were opened. and they
knew him. ami he vanished out OF
their sight"
Familiar truths become impressive
when presented i'm an unfamiliar way.
II is therefore necessary for the
preacher Ia find new setting for the
gospel camera. Whenever wish
some lesson 10 be clearly remembered.
| would wing it," once said Thomas
Guthrie. the great Edinburgh pulpiteer.
by gratifying the legitimate play of
the Imagination salient truth finds its
way more readily To the heart and
makes deeper impression on the
memory. The suggestive illustration,
like a float. keeps il from sinking: like
nail. fastens il in the mind: like the
feathers OF an arrow. makes il strike.
and. like the bark. makes il stick"
Windows For Sermons is the pointed
caption of book of sermonic illustra-
tion. Yes: we all need new windows
as well as clear windows through
which we can learn the great lessons
of gospel truth.
This is Easter day. The lessons with
which the anniversary is frausht are
at the very foundation of our faith.
They are 50 momentOus that the i'm
agination is overwhelmed by their i'm
port. The facts are few. but how vital.
how significant they are. Let us try
to look at them from Il different stand
point from that 10 which we are accus-
toned. Transporting ourselves in
thought To the city of Jerusalem ON
that eventful day We hear rumors
about the sitting of the sanhe,lrin. at
which the humble \aZarene was con-
dcmned. but we pay no attention TO
them. | listen not 10 the excited re-
ports flying everywhere that the high
priest and his hireiings and the Off
GERS of the law, led by the Apostate
Judas. had captured Christ in the gar
den of Gcthsemane. mingle not with
the multitudes that are crowding the
courtroom. in which Pilate is the judge
and Jesus the prisoner. | gaze not at
the awful scene when Christ hung
upon the cross and his dying lips part
cd in their last agony. go not with
Mary down among the lilies to the
tomb on the first Easter morn. But
when the sunglow of Easter afternoon
has bathed the .Iu1:ran hills in great
waves Of light would point you 10 a
couple of pedestrians vending their
way from the Jerusalem capital to-
ward the little village of Emmaus. As
these two ordinarily dressed men walk
on ! see them accosted 10y Il third trav-
eler. who appeared over the hills. And
now. as these three come nigh To the
village. | would see them enter hum
ble home. Then. while they are at
supper. would show you why the
stranger revealed himself To these two
disciples as the risen Christ
Casters Revelation.
Easter afternoons revelation. in the
first place. comes as welcome en-
couragcmcnt To all those who are ear
nestly and prayerfully trying 10 increase
their faith by reaching out for more
light. Ii comes as II divine demonstra-
tion that the prayer of n broken heart
ed father once made 10 Christ. Lord.
! believe: help thou mine unbelicf.' is
one of the most beautiful and yet hum
hle prayers of earnest beseechment. Ii
is II holy inspiration that though we
sometimes i'm spiritual life have TO
walk as blind man feels his way
along. step by step. yet If we go on
trustfully and prayerfully and hope
fully Christ. after awhile. will reveal
himself io us in all his glory
Why do | entertain this hope: I find
ground for il in the fact that one of
the earliest appearances of Christ on
this FIRST Easter day was to the two
men who had doubted the fact of his
resurrection. Christ. when upon earth.
dealt with men as we deal in our loves
with our kiih and kin. Supposing that
| WAS Il young man and had gone off
TO four years war. Supposing after
Ion. series of adventures / should
come back TO my native town. Who
would Ice the first person | should
want 10 see: Would wish To 20 and
call first upon my school friends or
upon Il merchant in whose store used
TO work as clerk: Would I care first
10 see my old society friends and the
boys with whom | used la play base
ball in the village lots: oh. no. III
was Il vollng man the person whom
would honor first with visit would
he my mother and then my father and
my sisters. If | was Il married man
the first person | would honor after
my return home would be my wife
and then my children. When the tele-
gram WAS handed to Abraham Lincoln
notifying him of his nomination for
the presidency 10y the Republican ma
tiOn convention assembled in Chicago
The first move Abraham Lincoln made
was Ia put on his tall hat and say:
We'll. boys. there is u little woman up
the street who would like 10 hear this
news. guess will 20 and tell her
what has happened