The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-07-12

the majesty and authority Of a king.
We have too much followed the idea
of Goethe and Carlyle, that Christi
anity is q religion of sorrow. and that
its chief end is tn:t of consolation.
This leads men like Mr.. John Morley
to call the gospel q sovereign legend
of Pity" and to long for a wider Cos
pei of justice and progress.
Christianity is more than a 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
anoirted King of men. He announces
His Kingship again and again in His
discourses, and it is as Lord and Mes.
siah that Peter presents Him to His
countrymen on the Day of Pentecost.
To submit to Elm Internationally is
mans wisdom and peace. 1t is not the
picture Of the earthly Jesus with His
hand upon q leper that this age needs
most Of all to see. We need to see
the Son of God as John, the apostle.
saw Hin, 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 l am in My Father, and We in Me
and I in you" IF q 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."
We do not lnow God as He is until
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, I stand at
the door and knock: if any mar hear
My voice and open the door, I will
come in to him, and will sup with him,
and he with Me-"
In Christ also we see Gods indig-
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 will@epart from Me
ye 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 90 to the judg-
ment saying, I did not know the helm
BUSINESS nor the awful penalties OF
wrong-doing.
With the Tractariai. 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 .:7orship, its
unity and its government are counted
all-important themes.
With Maurice and Kingsley there be-
gan a new interest inSthe social aspect
Of Christianity, and men began to Ia
Dor for the establishment of what was
called Christian Socialism. This force
has not yet spei.r itself.
But neither High Churchmen with
their s~acraments, nor social Settlement
workers with their philanthropies are
equal to the crisis which is low upon
us.
1t is not a loftier conception of the
Clurcl, nOr u WlueF uluuSlou VI cul-
ture and social cheer which is most
urgently demanded by our times.
What is needed is q fresh vision Of
God. q 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 q new race Of
prophets-men of insight and Of cour-
age, who endowned with the Holy
Ghost shall say to our generation in
tones which burn with fervent heat:
lie the wicked forsake his way, and
the unrighteous man 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.