The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-01-18

turned back again to the easier argument
in Christ's behalf-the visible effect He
has on life around. 1t was possible 70
study Jesus in His own character. The
crowd came that day to see Him and to
see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the
dead. Indeed, Lazarus, changed into new
life. was so strong an argument that his
enemies would have killed him to silence
him. ~
And it is still the eommonest method to
explain away or to deny the effects OF Je'
sus in the world. II He has laid hold on a
people, we must find out how climate and
ancestry and customs have been the real
upliftina agencies. If He makes a charac-
ter attractive and winsome, we talE about
disposition and training. That is, We want
| Lazarus explained away unless , mean
! to acknowledge the power Of Christ, Inc
changed life is the argument when tDe
world finds most ~forceful. The world IS
interested, not in Christ's theory. but IN
| His success. That argument can be MADE
in q large way. His influence can De
| traced through the long stretch of years.
| Our own race and nation could be made
| an illustration. Or the minds OF men cou!d
| be pointed to peoples only yesterday IN
sayapery and now lifted into a well begun
| civilization. I read recently the life OF
| James Chalmers, the missionary IN the
| South Seas. just after he became ac-
| ouainted with the people one of his wlte's
| friends, as a mark of respect and atectlon,
| brought her a piece of human flesh, nlGely
| cooked, as a dainty for her own table.
They were often invited to cannlnai 1easts'
| On a new island, only four years ago,
| Chalmers was killed and his body eaten:
| And the gospel of Christ, with the arts OF
| civilization, has taken hold upon such PEG.
| Die and make them fraternal and safe and
| helpful. There. is no Christian island IN
| the South Seas where a ,voyager ls not
safe; there is no non-Christian island where
heiis safe. ~
| ceived its best things. The best times are
| not past nor present, however giad tney
| NAV be. There are better things to come
| out of the Fathers love as we so on IN the
Fathers world. And this hope works lnse
the sight of men in the form OF cheer, OF
| BRIGHTNESS. of encouragement. Some one
| asked the other day what l thought OF
LAUGHING Christians. 1t was a new phrase
to me- We do not think much of silly
| Christians, I suppose, of shallow Chris
| tians, whose Joy compares with real Joy, as
| n oigple compares with a laugh. But what
can one think of q Christian life whose
| hone never comes out into the cheer and
brightness of a joyous life? l heard a
| child say a little piece once, IN which was
| explained that one day in heaven God De-
| came weary of the dinging OF the harps
| and the singing of the angels. SO be 81
fenced them all and sang a strain OF mpSc
caught It. threw about it a beautiful plu-
mage and cast it into the air, and SO the
sonebirds came to earth. They are Gods
music sent into life. And are we other;
| Who 60 well as we may catch the glad
| strain of 10y and make our lives o gladden.,
inc influence in the world? And If instead
we droop and pine, and will not bear the
SORROWS as though they were charged with
glad meaning from our Father, and Will
not cast a radiance of joy into other hVes'
where is the changed life?
The Kings OF the Holy. Roman Empire
were crowned with a triple crown, IN one
of which was q nail of the true cross. And
in the triple browning which marks the
| changed life, one bears the nail OF the
cross. For supremely the changed life 10
the life of. love. and love means sacTlhce'
love means service, love means heip1ul'
ness. No man can see anotners iove ssTI
az it shows itself in the service OF helpfpf
ness it renders. When men seek the gu
preme example of love they look upon a
figure which glorifed the Cross, which had
the pierced, hands and feet and side-a
Ho,re of One who came as a = e-senger OF
ciad tidings of peace-His feet beautiful
upon the mountains, but bloodstalnea
And love is the hid fact of that best lie,
coming into sight of others as helptulness
and service. This is the supreme marx OF
the Christian life-such a love as makes qs
helpful among men for Chrlst's sake. Il
is no mere pity of other mems needs; 1t IS
no shallow sentiment which cannot peal 70
see suffering. 1t is a far deeper thing
than that. It is the commanding motive IN
ali lfe-to serve. 1t means laying out ouf
lives for that wherever they are lived.
Sometimes it demands large things. Some.
times it comes out in the daily, common
life. We may not do for men what they
want. but we learn to do for them IN one
measure what they need. And go life be-
comes a constant help to others.
These are the plain marks OF inc
changed life, which stands as argument
for Christ. Faith, within which comes
out in view as faithfnlness everywhere
Hope. coming out into view as eheerrrl'
ness. encouragement, brightness. Love,
breaking out into service. Is your lie 60
triply marked, not by fortunate birth, MOI
in shallow ways, but deeply and because
YOU have lnown Him? If it IS, then you
in YOUR commonplace life are His Cally
argument, the Lazarus Of the present cay,
drawing men to Him.