Evening journal., 1904-04-02
Bishop Coleman

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, sss':a.sasss's'sle'ssss
Iu of
The meaning Of Easter as applied to
one Of the seasons of the year is now
50 wen understood that its observance
is no longer confined to the compare
lively small portion of the community
which fifty years ago was compelled to
explain its significance and importance.
The world now joins with the church
in its homage to the great fundamental
doctrine Of christianity; for without its
doctrinal aspect the feast of Easter has
but little to commend it to general
acceptance.
The world may protest that its OBJ
eefvBnce of the feast is social rather
than religious, but without this re-
ligious character what is there to diff
ferentiate it from any other season Of
the year. or, indeed to give it any par
secular place at all2
and what is the significance or re-
ligious Interpretation of Easter? 1t is
eminently life. And eminently again:
The Christ-Life.
Life is the greatest gift Of God. But
it's enjoyment and its perpetuity were
imperilled by mans sin and infirmity.
This danger could only be averted by
the intervention in our behalf Of the
Son of God Himself
This intervention came by means Of
His incarnation, suffering and death.
But the seat of its acceptance with the
Heavenly Father is through His resur-
rection. The salvation of the world
was effected by the shedding of His
blood. But the assurance TO the
world of the efficacy of His atonement
is furnished by His rising from the
dead.
1t was a great price to pay for our
redemption, but Christ valued our life
toe highly to forego anything whereby
4 might be secured to us for all eter-
fity.
And if only death had been the end
of His earthly life and unparalleled
sunerings how could the world have
been made to believe that our sins
were expiated, and that the gift of eter-
nal life had through Him been restored
to us?
Had He not risen from the dead,
would we have been ready TO believe
that He who died upon the cross was
more than man, our Saviour indeed,
and the only begotten Son of God2
1t is again the story of life. for we
believe not in dead Christ. but in the
living Christ-a Christ that once was
dead, but is alive now forevermore, and
in whose life we, too. may and do live,
and may and only so can live forever
more.
But life, that is the Christ-Life, must
be the life of activity and benevolence.
IT is one thing to have respect for re-
lgfon. to be influenced by its motives,
1t is quite another thing to be governed
by them. to live i'm accordance with
them. So then we are not to stand
idly by the side of the empty tomb
singing our joyful carols because OF
His resurrection. But we are to fol-
low after Him in His irrepressible
diligence.
Because of His risen life all that are
His true disciples have communicated
TO them a power that no other event IN
His dealings with men had ever be-
slowed; power that maintains us in
our strivings against the flesh, ever
against the inevitable approach of bod
lily death itself.
Indeed. it is this that consoles us
in the thought of this death, for we
find in the resurrection OF AilIl5L lit
resurrection of our own flesh indemni-
flying US, so to speak, for our natura
death
Inasmuch. therefore, as Christ is
risen from the dead we shall also in
falibly. rise, forever, as st. Paul says
"as in Adam all die" because he was
their father, 80 in Christ shall all b'
made alive" because He is their saw
iour and their head.
There are among His disciples thos'
who allow themselves to have dreat
of death. These ought to welcome this
Easter day most gladly as giving then
the assurance Of life, Of the life tina
knows no ending.
In all this we are not following an,
cunningly devised fable. but we are re
lying upon n fact In human histor.
which is beyond the power of any rea
sonable man to deny successfully.
No wonder. therefore. that the who'll
world is called to rejoice in the cele
bratlon of an event which gives to eacl
and every one OF its inhabitants soil
foundation for hope Of his possessin
through eternity the Christ-Life.
Let us show our grateful appreciation
OF this gift by using it rightly here an
now, in consecrated. fruitful servic
Cor the Divine Giver, and for on
fellow -men, according to the measur
OF His own impartiality.