The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-09-15
A SERMON FOR SUNDAY 7
AN ELOQUENT DISCOURSE 81 THE
REV. c. CAMPBELL MORGAN, D. D.
-

hES. ~ SH"I OGII mSnSH'' - ~
Subject: The Attractiveness and Exclu-
siveness OF Jesus-Listen to the Call
Of Christ-He VIII Brook No Division
of Your Loyalty.
LONDON, ENGLAND. - The following
sermon, entitled THE Attractiveness and
Exclusiveness Of JESUS" was preached
here on a recent Sunday by the Rev. L.
Campbell Morgan, d. D.. He took for his
text: Then said Jesus unto HIS disciples,
If any man will come after Me let him
deny himself and ia ake up his.scross. and
follow Me.-St Matthew 1924.
There were two facts about Jesus Christ
which no one can read the Gospel re-
cords without recognizing; facts which
appear to be contradictory, but which, as
matter of fact, are Complementary, and
the understanding of which reveals for
all time the method of the Master in
dealing with men. I refer to facts Of
the attractiveness and eNclusiyeness of
Jesus. 81 =
There can be no questionsabouts the
former; there can equally be no question
about the latter. to. those who have care
fully read the records and have seen the
methods of Jesus while He was here
among men. He was constantly drawing
people to Him, and Ee was perpetuaily
holding them aloof. BY the very WIN
someness of His person, HeEwas: drawing
men and women of all sorts and scondl-
tions,, at all times and in all places to
Himself, and vet by the uttering of words
so severe, so searching, SO drastic, making
us 1remble even to-day, He held men
back from Him.
venture to say that the words / read
to you this morning from the Gospel OF
Luke come to those who are most familiar
with them bringing a sense Of surprise.
We never read them without feeling more
or less startled by them Unless. you
hate father and mother, husband and wife.
parent and child, you cannot be My DIS
cip,e . We have attempted to account Tor
these words, but do not hesitate to say
that in some senses they have staggered
the faith Of many, and yet there they
stand. 81,
And not there only, but through all
His teaching there is evident the same
method of Christ, that of holding men
back just as they were approaching Him;
drawing them to Himself by multitudes
and then holding the crowd as they
pressed upon Him, and sitting them with
such surprising words as these. Now there
must be reason for this. ana it Is tor
that reason that want to look, with you,
. little this morning. 81.
But first allow me to say few words on
this fact of the attractiveness OF Jesus,
because the more clearly we recognize and
understand that, the more clearly shall
we understand, as I think, the other truth
of His perpetual method off holding men
back and excluding certain persons from
close scompanionship with Himself.
Take first, then, this great fact of His
attractiveness. the most fascinating sub.
iect on which to speak. Remember, I
pray. you, that IF the Gospel records re-
veal one thing more clearly than another
they reveal that Jesus was, somehow or
other, a.Person that drew men to Him
irresistibly.
I 20 back to those silent years at Naza.
reth concerning which we know so very
little. You will remember that on those
DAYS Luke opens for us jus! little Won
dow. through which we look when he says,
ttHe was subject to His parev.s, and grew
in favor with God and with man" l do
not stop one moment to dWell on the
statement that He grew in favor with
God, although it is a very interesting
statement, but just for moment, for the
sake ,of our argument, listen to the other
part of it: 'tHe grew in favor with man" !"
Take that as it is Ampiy stated, and you
ut once see picture of the bog growing
up to be youth, andspassing from youth
into young manhood until He became the
Carpenter of Nazareth, known 30 all the
little town that nestled among the hills,
Just removed from the highways Of hfe.
This is all the truth that is revealed. II 4
may reverently put it, Jesus was favorlte
in Nazareth. j am not sure that that doesn
almost startle you, because somehow or
other we have come to think that Holiness
is almost always accompanied by angular
man is good he never can be favorlte. 1t
is a great mistake. 1t is by the measure
in which man lacks holiness that man
is not in favor. q.
Here is, man living in Nazereth, and
He is q favorite. I do not want TO hit
that into super-spiritual realm, but II
YOU have no imagination you can just go to
sleep for two minutes while I imagine l
look into that window and see the Car
penter at His work, and tell you what
See. He is favorite. see children tax
ing their toys to Him to be mended, and l
am quite sure He mended them: I see
young men going at eventide to take their
problems with them because they know
He is sane, honest and pure. I think see
old men, upon whose brow already sat
light that never was 'on land or sea" talk
ing to Him because He has such wonder
full way of talking about My Fathers
house" and "the many mansions; favor
ite, sane and strong, and pure, and attract
i've as to personality. - =
know full well that little laterson
these same men took Him to<a hill and
tried to murder Him, but that was there:
silt Of something else to- be discovered
later. The pure, human, simple life Sot
Jesus was, in itself attractive, and Luke
says, "He grew in favor" =
: Leave those hidden years and look at
Him just for one rapid moment as He
streads the pathway upon which a, fereer
light falls than.erer.fal upon a throns...
the pathway of the public teacher, and ii
you read these Gospel stores the one thing
that strikes you is the fact Of the mIllti'
4udes around about sesas Christ. Wher-
ever He went they followed Him. If He
went out into the city the country people
crowded the. streets to be neal. Him; II He
went out into the country place the city
men and women hocked after Him, follow
ing Him so far tbst at times there was no
chance for them to provide themselves
with food, and He had ito feed them; for
in their eagerness to follow they had for
gotten food and had forgotten distance.
And wherever He went they came after