Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-07-22


him as mighty conqueror. Even In
his defeats he saw the oncoming con-
quests. Said this mighty pulpiteer:
He strobe on to victory. From his ell
evated standpoint ne saw rs the conse-
quence OF bis triumphal ascent to his
Father the overthrow OF PhariseeIsm
and Sadduceeism. He looked farther
and saw the overthrow of Roman aud
Grecian and Scythian idolatry. He
looked farther and saw the destruction
OF slavery. He looked farther and saw
the gradual emancipation OF the mass
es from the oppression OF tyrants and
their elevation into political and social
privileges. lie looked further and saw
the erection of hospitals and other in
situations of benPvolence He saw the
establishment on the one hand OF home
missions extending 10 tho hundreds of
thousands who have lapsed and the es-
tablishment on the other hand of for
eign missions. sending the gospel of
bis grace In the-ends OF the earth In
hundreds OF tongues" But. Though
Christ in his civilization and prophetic
vision may have seen All this. vet. like
Moses. with bis eyes overlooking the
verdant fields OF the promised land.
Christ was To have no direct physical
contact in the contamination OF the
worlds salvation.
Christ Never visited India.
All India was vet To give up It's wild
ow burning ana the tossing Of its help
less girl infants Into tho Ganges to be
eaten by ePoeodiles and the heather
worship OF Idols. but Christ was not. I'm
body, able as q man to SGT foot on the
soil OF India. William Carey and Alexan-
der Dun and Bishop Thoburn were to
do that. Africa. with Its murder and
rapine and cannibalistie orgies. was TO
build Its affairs TO the worship OF the
true Cod" but Christ. as physical
man. was never TO penetrate into those
dark missionary fields. \ Livingstone,
Taylor and HartZclI were TO do
that. Europe ut that time shaking
under the tread of the Roman Iecions:
North and South America utterly nm.
kpowp TO civilization; the islands OF the
sea. most OF them unvisited-all are
yet 10 bow 10 Christ and come under
she reign OF love and gentleness and
purity and truth. These are TO be won
through the instrumenta"'y of men.
Nen energized b. the Holy Spirit are
10 gain the whole world for him. Tru.
ly. as we look at such a conquest and
compare 1t with the work that he ac
complished In Palestine we see what he
meant when he said. Greater things
than these shall ye do" Christ saw
all this future conquest of the world.
put rs man he never went away from
the Palestine hills. He grew I'D In
Nazareth. He journeyed from Naza-
reth few times 10 Jerusalem. There
ut the Davidic capital he was Mt last
led as guilty criminal out TO the
Calvary heights to ignomniously die.
To his followers he left the stupendous
task OF evangelizing the world. prom.
Using that be would be with them to the
end and that through his power they
should be able TO win more souls than
he had done.
But though we have been nraisinp
mans greater works" we would have
you bear well I'm mind this one tremen-
dous fact No work OF man is truly
greater than ChrIst's work. because all
or mans greater works are the out
come OF Jesus work. II you read the
verse In which my text is found YOU
VIII ind the whole trend OF the thought
In the one word because" "He shall
do greater works than these because
l go TO my Father.H Because Christ
Is In God and God is In us is the ron
son man is able 10 accomplish greater
works than did Christ.
Never be deluded by the idea that
man In his own strength Is able TO do
anything apart from God. This idea
seems TO be running riot among many
weak brains. A short time ago stood
upon one OF the Pasadena hills and
looked or upon the mighty peak OF
Mount Lowe. lifting itself above the
clouds. There i'm the valley at my
feet were the California orange groves
and the flower gardens and the trees
which have made this land famous all
around the world. do you see that
little hill yonderT" said gentleman by
my side. Yes" ] answered. THAT
bill, said he. looks much lower than
we are" 1T certainly does" replied
Ihat nil must be ut least three hun
ired feet below u.s. But IL is not"
he answered. THAT hill seems lower
because yonder lofty mountain is back
of IL. Water from that hill flows down
10 this hill. That hill yonder Is much
higher than we are" So some people.
upon mans greater works."
seem TO think mans throne Is higher
than Christ's throne. But il Is not
Only rs Christ's life In its influence
touches our lives are we able to do the |
greater works" which are given man
10 do.
Esevattng Power OF Christiaaity.
"Oh. no." says some one. "that can.
not be. Some OF the greatest inventors.
some or the greatest statesmen, some
't the greatest OF American men have
been agnostics and did not believe I'm
christ ut all. How then could they get
heir power from God?" By the law
u association. The influence of Chris |
lanity Is an elevatlng, civilizing. In
spring power. Even those who are
csAHhSttS W IL uEe HuecttA1 4
~ The atmosphere Ii produces. Have |
Vou not noticed that nearly all ipven-
ions. nearly all true progress, nearly
Ill the worlds best blessings are found !
II Christian lands alone. 1t is said that |
me day the great landscape painter.
Joseph Turner. came into the studio of |
hat other famous English artist. IT
sidney Cooper. Looking about at the
pictures Turner saw one and gave n
lab with his brush. saying. Put that
pillar out. 1t destroys the breadth OF
he picture" A short time after Gil
OFT, the great art dealer OF Lon
Ion. heard what Turner had done no
'ame to Cooper and said. 1T will give
'ou three hundred pounds for your MIC
ure or the Welsh scene" But" said
sidney Cooper. elliott, you have not
wen seen my picture" "I know II"
answered elliott. but I nlso know.
me fact. Joseph Turner would never
nave touched that picture with his
brush unless it had been worth bav.
ng. And so methinks God blesses the