Arizona republican., 1904-04-04

performance wrung from the lips of the onlooklng multitudes loud expressions of astonishment and praise, but had failed to fully open the eyes of their understanding to see in him the super natural Son of God. With the memory of the past rising tip before him and presenting to his view the thrilling scenes of the descent of the Holy Spir- it upon him at the margin of the river, his glorious transfiguration on the holy mountain, the stilling of the winds and the waves on the storm-swept sea, and the raising of Lazarus, his friend, from the dead, he felt strong to stand before the assembled world and pro- claim him the Son of God divine.
 As the martyred@ Christ he saw the approval of God set upon him in the form of his resurrection from the dead. With all the assurance of one who knows whereof he speaks, he says: "Ye crucified and slew him, but God raised him from the dead" He bases this af- firmation on, first, his own personal knowledge. and, second, upon, the logi- cal necessity of the resurrection. Ere quently during the forty days he had, with many others, seen him, conversed With him, eaten with him, handled him. He was as sure of his identity as he was of his own existence. No pos sible room had been left for him to doubt that his slain Lord had risen to life again. Then his reason told him that the resurrection of Christ was a logical necessity. The body of him who had been owned at the Jordan and on the mount of transfiguration as the Son of God, could not be left in the silent tomb. The hand back of which the mighty hand of God had been placed in the performance of such signs and wonders as had been wrought by him, could not be allowed to see cor ruption. The tongue that had said, 'I and my Father are one,' and He that hath seen me hath seen the Father" could not molder back to dust and know the silence that is never broken. The mighty works and wonders and signs wrought by the ministering Christ demand the resurrection of the martyred Christ. Hence Peter was enabled to say what the world has nev- CT been able to successfully deny. Whom God raised up, having loosed the bangs of death because it was no. possible for him to be holden of it."
 As the Messiah he saw him approved OI OOu Dg HIS CActlldlAOl lO LAlC l4S H. hand of the power on high. Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made him both Lord and Christi" After all the miracles of his ministry, after his resurrection from the dead, there could be no doubt as to the destination of the form that was received out of their sight in a cloud'' that hung over the holy hill last pressed by his pierced feet. If there had been, it would have been taken away by the messenger sent back with the parting promise of the speedy return of the Lord. But the speaker had proof even stronger than this that the Christ he proclaimed was alive and enthroned in the heavens. Even as he spoke his heart was thrill ing with the indwelling presence of the - Heavenly Spirit fresh come from the presence of God. The very message it. self was a message inspired by that indwelling Spirit Is it any wonder that his words went to the hearts of those who heard them and that threa thousand souls stepped upon the solid rock upon which he stood? The strangs
 thing is that all did not do it.