Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1905-04-29
THE PULPIT.
AN ELOQUENT SUNDAY SERMON BY
DEAN 3. x. SANDERS. or
YALE UNIVERSITY.


ders. u. D.. the head OF the Divinity |
School OF Yale University. He took
for his subject "The Most Beautiful
Book in the World" and said:
My theme rests on the authority or
one renowned FOR his literary knowl-
edge. Renan. who is dcscrVcdly famous
as student Of literature and of the
Bible. He declared that the gospel OF 4
Luke was the most beautiful book In /
the world No one can. OF course. test 4
this statement who s. not familiar 4
with the gospel. To the superficial !
reader 10 is only one OF the stories OF /
the life OF Jesus. The skill the power. !
the pathOs and the sympathy of the |
writer become clearer with every re- /
reading OF the book. An early tradi- /
ton spoke OF Luke the painter. and
said he had painted portrait OF the
Virgin. That tradition. whether true
or not. was not very Tar from right.
IL may De said that he gave rs. in q
fashion. the most beautiful picture OF
Mary OF Nazareth; il stands out before
us with lively diStinctnesS. Everything
+ goes 20 show that Luke was a Greek.
familiar with the best literature OF his
day. keen observer and careful invcs-
ugator. He seems 10 have had unu-
sual opportunity for observing and de-
scribing the life and personality Of the
evidence OF possessing the true historic
spirit You viii notice how he is inter
eStcd in tracing the Lords active min
iStry from place 20 place. The story is
told in an orderly fashion that helps
Us 10 arrange the facts Tar better than
the other gospels could. You viii no
ticc also that Luke is fond OF following
up the physical and moral growth OF
our lord. He is also careful 10 con-
meet bis story with the history OF the
time-with Roman and Syrian history.
He is careful 90 place the life of Jesus
IN its larger environment and 10 show
what Jesus was inrelation 90 the world
about him. and we shall sec why IL was
that that point OF view laid such hold
upon him. This was natural 20 q cul-
tured Greek. and liz was necessary II
his purpose was 10 Influence his cul-
tured countrymen.
What is g. we may ask. that conSti-
tutes a beautiful book. and does this
third gospel possess those attributes I'm
supreme degree TX would seem 10
me that beautiful book ought 10 have
in the first place noble conception.
which in some way awakens and dom
mates the soul. and * ought 90 have a
sEuful. hut simple plan OF develop
ment rightly grasped and enjoyed
There must be good taste and right
judgment in the choice OF the material
+ which enables us 10 grasp details and
20 see the gradual unfolding which III,
writer would set forth. And there
should be felicitOus expression o
everything which the writer seeks Z,
set forth. These are the fundamental
OF a beautiful book
First. in its beautiful conception
The theme is the active life OF Jesus
and liz is Tar more than that; il is th'
broad life which He lived with others
Luke loses no chance 90 show how out
sidcrs sought opportunities 20 come ID
contact with Jesus and always evoke
a response. We see His parents. disc.
pies. friends and casual acquaintance
with entire dircctncss. and yet it wa
not Jesus the man that Luke tell
about. but the Lord Jesus. Luke neve
fOrgets that those 90 whom he refer
are now the risen Lord and the apo,
ties OF the church. 4 famous crit
said: Luke ever spares the twelve. @.
peclally Peter lie Omits many lltt
details even regarding our Lord. sue
as the agony ia the garden. and man
about the apostles. especially Pete
which are given in Matthew and Mari
Whyf Apparently because lie did q,
think IL was worth while. He va
studying the work OF the Lord in re-
erent fashion. IL was not his purpo'
10 simply put down facts. but 90 sho
those facts which would bring out n
explanation of the fact that Jesus W.
the risen Lord OF humanity. and th'
the twelve were the glorious cOmpar
OF the apostles" IL was not even Ju
that. but 10 show Jesus in all His p0,
or. and greatness and holiness. az
grace. the friend OF an who were
any kind Of need. the Saviour OF h
man kind the one power 10 whom q
whole world ought 90 bow. That seen
something like the thought that was
the mind OF Luke.
- But 10 90 10 the plan Of developmeI
-, IL is extremely simple. Marks gosl
consists OF a series OF scenes whit
bring out the life OF Jesus with stat
ling realism. Luke and Matthew a
not like that Luke seeks 10 give I
historical association. a plain and 81
pie view OF the development of the ll
and il is unique IN its simplicity.
has two chapters devoted 10 the
fancy and bOyhoOd OF Jesus, and
the last two verses he shows the thiI
ayears OF growth OF Jesus. Then T.
Schapters serve TO bring us 20 the POI
when in full maturity. and with alb
lutte command over Himself and j
purposes, He was ready for the va
which opened before Him. So three
four chapters give Us the preparati
for this public MINISTRY. tell rs OF 10
the Baptist. how Jesus came 10 hi
the details OF the baptism and temp
ton: then follows the genealOgy. a
n we are prepared for the actual So
NJ OF the active work OF Jesus. II
~ comes the story OF His ministry. fr
- Galilee TO Jerusalem. and then the
week I'm Jerusalem. the Passion, :
lastly the resurrection and ascensi