The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-02-03

Comments by William T. Elli..


roaring without the room. No one
knew whence the wind came or Wheth-
er 1T disappeared, or what it looked
like. vet amy one could feel 1t and be
convinced of its reality. The weather
man today, With all his wisdom, cannot
tell YOU how the wind is born, or where
or what becomes of it. So the new
birth, the life of the spirit, may not be
understood, but ii may be experienced
and its results Witnessed. The fact may
be proved though not explained. To
this witness the teacher appealed.
A wise word upon the perplexing
question Of the new birth is that penned
by the late Henry Clay Trumbull: Be
ing born, the first time or the second
time, is clearly not I, duty to be per-
formed by ourselves. No man can
born himself. Turning to God, sub
uniting himself to God-that is a duty.
Being made a new man, being spiritu-
ally renewed. being given "a clearer
sight-that is a blessing from above.
Turning. trusting-that is mans part.
Renewing, regenerating-that is Gods
part. If we will do our part, God can
be relied ON to do His part. To doubt
TINS rs wrong and uniustifiable.'
An Early Calico.
The memorable interview over. Nico-
deinus Went out into the night. There
can be little doubt that he was con-
WINGED that this Wonderful Jesus was
the very Christ of God. He had
sought the truth; he had found the
truth. From tina hour the great
counsellor believed in Jesus.
But he was in that state of torment
the worst possible TO nortal-of see
ing the truth and not having the cour-
age To follow it. The night outside Was
not half so black as the night within
Nicodemus' breast. His incl instincts
all babe him give up everything and
npHn11. - "a nrnnp, 10, - ,IAA ,L--
Master in whom he believed, but his
past, his training. his associations, his
pride. his fear, his love of mems good
opinion. all argued against this bold
step. 1t was principle versus expedi-
ennN, and expectancy Won.
Nicodeinus continued to sit in the
S~anhedrin and To he numbered among
the leading enemies of the one whom
he believed TO be none other than the
son OF o What a horrible situation!
Inc DrodigalS was not half so miser-
able. The poor wretch on the gallows
rs not hall so much to be pitied as one
like Calico before the vatican. or Mic
ode'nus in the Sanhedrin, or a professor
IN a chair, the teachings of which he
dlsbelieNes, or an author p~rostituting
ms pe:i-who sees b better and does
the worse; who aSsassinates his con-
Nlctions by his cowardice. If Nicode-
mus could speak today his message
''N'' ~ tiidl tlltit Is Ilo peace except
i'm being loyal to ones highest concep-
tons OF truth, whatever The cost.
only thrice does Nicodemus appear
ON the sacred page, and every time as
me man who came by night phe
brand OF his cowardice is upon him.
~! his learning, all his noble aspira-
lions. an his fine ideals were nullified
by lack of 4 little courage. IIad he
possessed the confidence to confess
Ntrist he might have been martyred
with him-for he would have incurred
the special hate OF the $anhedrin-but
ut ISL he would have lived and died
y hr#ve ma and a loyal disciple. In
stead. he dwelt in torment for three
years. enduring the shame of being de-
spiSed by himself. which is the only
rear disgrace, and ut the end made
brave too late to give comfort to the
ilVln$ Christ, he enjoyed the poor privi-
ieSe OF bestoWing of his once priced
wealth To buy spices for the burial of
the dead Lord whom his fearsomeness
had he1pe2 r,11cifv