The Penn's Grove record., 1905-06-23

the majesty and authority Of q king.
We ave too much followed the idea
of Goethe and Carlyle, that Christi
anity is 4 religion of sorrow, and that
its chief end is that of consolation.
This leads men like Mr.. John Morley
to call the gospel a sovereign legend
of Pity" and to long for a wider Cos
pei Of justice and progress.
Christianity is more than n legend
of pity, it is a bugle blast calling men
to battle. Jesus is more than the con-
soler of people in trouble, He is the
anoipted King Of men. He announces
His Kiugship again and again i'm His
discourses, and 1t Is as Lord and Mes
siah that Peter presents Him TO His
eOuntrymen on the Day of Pentecost.
To submit to him Internationally is
mans wisdom and peace. 1t IS not the
picture of the earthly Jesus with His
hand upon a leper that this age needs
most Of all to see. We need to see
the Son of God as John, the apostle.
saw Him, with many crowns upon His
head, the universal Sovereign of the
kingdoms Of life.
Gods condescensiOn will also be seen
afresh in Christ. The great words
spoken in the upper chamber will be
restudied, and upon many hearts they
will fall with the emancipating charm
of a fresh revelation. "Ye shall know
that am in My Father, and We I'm Me
and | In you" IF a man love Me he
will keep My words. and My Father
Will love him, and we will come unto
him and make Our abode with him."
MO do nor Fnnvr God nc IIn IS ,rnAlI
we have seen Him not only high and
lifted up, sitting on a throne. but also
as the apostle saw Him, standing as a
suppliant, saying. Behold, / stand at
the door and knock: if any man hear
My voice and open the door, / will
come in to him. and will sup with him,
and he with Me-"
In Christ also we see Gods indlg-
nation against sin. He is the holy
Christ. Though merciful, He says to
workers of iniquity-I never knew you.
Though gracious, He says TO trans
gressors of Gods wlll-depart from Me
We cursed. Tender above all tender
ness known to mortals, He paints pic
lures of loss and pain and doom so
terrible that they have burned them
selves into the retinas of mems eyes
and into the gray matter of their
brains forever. Wherever His Gospel
is preached men cannot go to the judg-
ment saying, l did not know the helm
BUSINESS nor the awful penalties OF
wroDg-doing.
With the TractarlaL method of sew
enty years ago there began a fresh
emphasis upon the authority and sac
raments of the Church. To-day it is
the Church Wl.ch is still uppermOst
in many minds, and its worship, its
unity and It's government are counted
all-impOrtant themes.
With Maurice and Kingsley there be-
gan a new interest iIathe social aspect
Of Christianity. and men began to Ia
Dor for the establishment of what was
called Christian Socialism. This foyce
has not yet speLt itself.
But neither High Churchmen with
their sacraments, nor social Settlement
workers with their phiIanthropies are
equal to the crisis which is low upon
us.
1t IS not q loftier conception Of the
Church, nor a wider diffusion of eul-
ture and social cheer which is most
urgently demanded by our times.
What is needed is q fresh vision Of
God, a new baptism of spiritual life.
a lifting of the heart to higher levels
of aspiration and devotion. The world
grOans and travails in pain, waiting
for the appearance of a new race of
prophets-men of insight and of cou--
age, who endowned with the Holy
Ghost shall say to u generation in
tones which burn with fervent heat:
lie the wicked forsake his way, and
the unrighteOus nan his thoughts; and
let him return unto the Lord, and He
will have mercy upon him; and to our
God, for He will abundantly PARDON"
= COngregationalist and Christian
World