Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-04-07
Ta1ma&e
Sermon
~ Rev.
Frank De Ufft
TAIN a 70. d. d.

sermon the Easter story receives a
new and beautiful setting. which ap-
peals equally to the simple and the
learned. The text Is Luke xiv. 81,
And their eyes were opened. and they
knew him. ana he vanished out Of
their sight
Familiar truths become impressive
when presented in IN unfamiliar way.
1t is therefore necessary for the
preacher to find a new setting for the
gospel camera. whenever I wish
some lesson to I've clearly remembered.
would wing IT," once said Thomas
Guthrie. the great Edinburgh puipiteer.
by gratifying the legitimate play Of
the inngInation salient truth finds its
way more readily to the heart and
makes deeper impression on the
memory. The suggestive illustration.
like a float. keeps it from sinking: like
q nail. fastens II In the mind; like the
feather of IN arrow. makes It strike,
and, like the bark, makes it stick. -
caption OF q book Of serinonic illustra-
ton. Yes; we all need new windows
rs we'll as clear windows through
which we can learn the great lessons
Of gospel truth.
This IL Easter day. The lessons with
which the anniversary is fraught are
ut the very foundation Of our faith.
| They are SO momentOus that the I'M
aglnation 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 a different stand
point from that to 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 sanhedrin. at
which the humble Naxarene was con-
demned, but we pay no attention 10
them. listen not TO the excited re-
ports flying everywhere that the high
priest and bis hirelings and the Off
GERS Of the law, led by the Apostate
Judas, had captured Christ in the gar
the multitudes that arr crowding the
courtroom, I'm which PLATE Is the Judge
and Jesus the prisoner. gaze not at
the awful scene when Christ hung
upon the Cross aud his dying lips part
ed In their last agony. go not with
Mary down among the lilies to the
tomb on the first Easter morn. But
| tor,u <>f To ufn ftny
has bathed the JudRan hills In great
waves Of Nght would point you to n
couple Of pedestrians vending their
way from, the Jerusalem capital TO-
ward the little village OF Bmmaus. AS
these two ordinarily dressed men wink
on see them accOsted by third trav-
eler. who appeared over the hills. And
now, as these three come nigh 10 the
village. | would see them enter hum
he home. Then, while they are nj
supper, I would show you why the
stranger revealed himself 10 these two
disciples as the risen Christ.
Easter's Revelation.
Easter afternoons revelation. in the
first place, comes as n welcome en-
enlargement to all those who nre ear
nestly andprayerfully trying to increase
their faith by reaching out for more
light. 1t comes as q divine denonstra
ton that the prayer Of a broken heart.
ed father once made to Christ. Lord,
believe; help thou mine unbelief." Ia
one of the most beautiful and yet hum
bic prayers Of earnest heseechment. I,
is holy inspiration that though We
sometimes in spiritual life have Ia
walk as blind man feels his way
along, step by step, yet II we 20 on
trusfully and prayerfully and hope
fully Christ. after awhile. will reveal
himself to lis in NIL his glory.
Why do entertain this hope! l find
ground for It In the fact that one OF
the earliest appearances Of Christ Oh
this Grst EHster day was TO the two
men who had doubted the feet Of his
resurrection. Christ. when upon earth
dealt with men as we deal in our loves
with our Stth and kin. Supposins that
I was a young man and had gone OH
70 four years war. supposing after
!: long 'seriSs OF adventures I should
come back to my native town. Who
would be Abe first person I should
want to Aeef Woujd I Wish to 80 ind
call FIRST upon my school friends OF
upon meeCiiant In whose store used
10 work 40 Z elesk1 Would / care frs,
TO zee my oId sosiaty friends and the
boys with whom | used to play base
bail IN the village Aots! Oh. no. II
was a young man the person whom
would honor first with visit would
DO my mother md then my father and
my sisters II was a married mnr
tho first person I would honor after
my return home would be my wife
md then my children. When the tele
gram was handed to Abraham MbcOlr
notifying him Of his nomination fol
lhe presidency by the Republican ma
lion convention assembled in Chicago
the first move Abraham Lincoln made
WAS to put on his tall hat and say
We'll. boys. there IA a little woman uI
the street who would like to hear THU
news. l guess will 60 and tell he,
what has happened
Seek the Divine Light.
After important absence we always
seek first those whom we would hono
the most Whom did Christ first seel
after bis resurrection? Was it the gen
tie John. or the brave Luke, or Mary
the widowed mother. or Matthew, VIII,
sat at tho seat of custom, or James. o
| the efaadfaat T.aHayua9 Oh M TN,