Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-02-02

wish to speak TO you about the
man of whom it is most worth while
for us to hear about. BY confning
myself just now to His manhood, do
not infer that have nothing to say
of His divinity, l believe in that as
strongly as in His humanity and
another time l will tell you what that
faith is.
For this occasion we shall find His
humanity more than we can compre-
hend. I begin by saying that this
man is our religion.
If you want to find out what chris
tianity is IN it's simplest and largest
meaning, you have only to find out
what this man SAID and did, and who
He was. There is no need to commit
long catechisms to memory, nor try to
understand all the Christologies-no
need to puzzle your brain with the
discussion and contentious OF all the
various sects of Christendom. These
only touch the fringe Of the sublime
truth. The substance-the essence
of Christianity IS Christ. When you
have got Him into your mind and
heart you have got all that is vital
Ii you ask me who is a Christian and
what makes Christian, that is the
best answer l can give you. Receive
II i'm as your life, into your life.
A man may tell me that he has been
baptized, confirmed, admitted to the
sacrament-tliat he holds certain
views, opinions, believes in certain
doctrines, that no more makes a
Christian than tailor makes man,
they may be nothing more than a
loose garment, things on the outside
of man which dc not go to the root OF
his life.
A Christian is one who believes
thoroughly in the man Christ
Jesus, who makes him the ideal Of his
life, the master OF his thoughts, the
guide of his actions, the judge OF his
motives, he is one who loves, adores
and obeys this man above all others,
and who tries in every possible way to
make his life little like that of his
m lster. There is no definition OF a
Christian which will bear examination
except that, it means one who looks
to this man, learns of Him and loves
to do what He commands. Christian
| ity is Christ. Hold Him with a firm
hand and then you have all that is of
any value. II you are full OF doubts
if the problems Of life perplex you, If
the way is dark, turn to this man and
light will shine, the darkness will
vanish. Ii you cannot lind God by
the searchings of reason look TO this
man and you will see the glory OF the
Father in His face. Ii you are dis.
satisfied with the church and
Religious people, If you find them full
of faults and Inconsistencies. ii you
are seeking perfection then look at
Him and you will See one who has
been pronounced spotless by the
seyerest critics. Are you much tried
and greatly troubled? then, behold
the man OF sorrows and acquainted
with grief and he will show you the
| secret Of bearing the heaviest burden
o trouble With sublime Patience. Ii
you think that the whole world is
lagainSt you, turn to this man for
;. mpathy for it was against Him. II
you are friendless SO was He. II you
ale borne down by the burden Of some
heavy cross so was He. II your life is
hard, it is path of roses compared
with that which led up TO Calvary. II
you are weary of sin and long to begin
! "A tier life He stretches out His
hands to lift you up to it. Whatever
may be your difficulty the sight OF this
man will tighten your burden. All
that you need for life's work, for life's
journey. for victory over doubt and
fear, over evil aud weak ness, you Wall
find it all in Him.
I It is the sinpls, anadernsd man.