The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-15
"The Measure Of the Cross.
.lsclccted for ATha NTH s-D lspntcll.

8S "The Measure Of the Cross" ,sa
, (sclected for The Times-D lspatch.) \
$"That We mnyyb e nble To- comprehend
with all saints, Wha is the breadth and
length and depth and height, and to
know the love Of Christ. which passctf
knowledge. Epf. litis, 10. n
ST Paul here speaks OF the cross Of
Christ Not. OF course, the wood fror,
which the actual cross was made but
the thing Of which, TINT cross was a
sign and token. eli "a
Now, OF what Is. TIE cross II tokerni?l
or the love and mercy Of Christ, and
What kind Of love Is that? A lovo which
will dare and do and yenrn and smolrn; q
love which cannot and will not rest; a
love which Is evor ready to ,snclN.oo It.,
self; a love which would suffer-yea'
oven die---fot It's loved one.
rho great motive and underlying pu l|
nose OF St.4Paul's life was to make all
people know the 5lovosof Christ4by shows
Ing them dwelling upon the cross OF
Christ. Thus he hoped that they might
in part at least, takosin tho breadth ana
length and depth and height.
we shalt never know the whole Of It's
proportions, nor ever fully know all that
Gods love has done,San VIII DO Tor U.S.
But the more we learn about IT the more
blessed md hopeful. the moro strong
and earnest, the purer and better, W we
shall become Lot us, then, strive 20
understand IT better, ITO realize what
means moro fully. fE.
What, then, is, the breadth Of tho
cross OF Chrlst2
~ It is d broad rs the whole universe verse
for He died for the whole world Asst
IS written, lie IS the Precipitation, not
for our sins only, but for the sins OF the
whole world" And again, God w itli
that none should perish" And yet yet
again, God 50 loved the world that H 10
gave His only begotten Son, that who who !.
soever bclleveth. on Il I'm SHOULD not per-
ISL. but have everlasting life.
So that Is the breadth of the cross.
The. length signifies the time during during
which, its virtues will last. How long
them,,.yis the cross OF Christ? Long
enough to last through all times ana ana.
throughout etorplty As lorS as: as there
Is one sInner.lto .;be saved las long as as
there is Ignorance and sorrow, pain ana
dea Ii, Or anything contrary to the Will
Of God, ana hYrtful to man man, s in this this
whole universe s!ofa God, 50 long '1g VIII
Christ's cross hast. For It US If written
"He must reIEh' iii He hath put;.E.;a.lll
enemies Under Ilig feet and God Is is al q.
In! all."s!so that isttheg length OF the
cross Of Christ.
How hight is the cross Of Christ? As
high as the highest hea4ven,. even to tho
throne t,of God ana the bosom OF the
Father When ohraLord hung upon the
cross heaven itself came down on earth,
and earth ascended into heaven.
Christ never showed forth Ills Fathers
glory SO perfectly us when hanging upon
the cross. He cricd Father, forgive
them; they know not what they do
Thesc words proved the true height Of
the cross and 50 t.aJohn knew MS
vision was true. and the dream, when
he saw afterwards In the midst Of the
throne Of God "a Lamb as It had been
slain.'' i43
Such is the height of the cross.
How deep is the cross Of Christ? This
Is Il great mystery, and one OF whch
people in those days are afraid Of. They
darl1en it OF their own will, beca use they
will not believe their Bibles nor nor the the
voice OF their own hearts.
but if tho cross Of Christ DO as high.
as heaven, then. 1t must also be as deep
as hell; deep enough to reach the deep
est sinner in tho deepest pit Into which
he may fall.
we know that Christ descended into,
hell. We know that lie preached to the
spirit in prison. and David says; III
ascend ZIP to heaven, Thou art there, and
II I go down to hell. Thou are there also"
So let us hunbly hope that isathe depth
of the cross of Christ.
Then we shall find st. Paul's words
true when he says that Christs love
"passeth knowledge" And We shall
I find TINS true alSO Ia lloWcNctF p!oau We
may think Christ's cross; 1t Is broader
still. However LONG,, lit Is longer still
However high. it Is higher still, How
ever deep, It is deeper still
The day will come, my friends. when
you Will find that the measure, Of tho
cross is the most important question
upon earth.
In the hour Of death, In the day Of
Judgment, the one thing that win sup
port or comfort Is the cross OF Christ
However much faith you may have had
you will find that you have not done
many good works you may have done,
you will find that yu have not done
enough, Tho better man you have tried
to be- tho more dissatisfaction you will
feel. Only the cross OF Christ. and the
|-love which shines thereon. Will then be
your stay
In plain words. II must throw myself,