Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-05-26

When James A. Garfield was elected
president Of the United States. one day
he said 10 his secretary OF state:
Blaine. all my life | have been study.
ng the theories OF government. but
since have been elected president in
stead of thinking about theories | have
had To spend mort of my time listening
to the pleas OF 'ndidaAy Or office.
Who Is to he pOa ic Springfield
or district attorney Of Chicago or judge
OF Ohio has monopolized all my attcn-
ton" SO you say: II have not had
time 10 think whether Christ IL super
natural or not or whether he can give
me supernatural power or not. have
been using up my time In service AMI
not In theories. I have been trying to
obey tle' voice Of God. who tells me to
visit the sick and feed the hungry and
be Il guide for the blind. truly try TO
live right do all the good can TO
rs many people as | can In rs many
different ways as | can. Therefore
let hair splitting theological questions
alone. Whether Christ Is divine or not
whether he can give 10 his disciples
supernatural gift. rarely enters my
mind. TO tell the truth. do but little
else than try TO help my fellow men.
and guess God does not care much
what think about Christ as long as
try to serve him as faithfully and ear
ncstly M can" All. my friends,
you are wrong II does make "A good
deal Of difference In reference to your
gospel work what you think about
Christ II may mean the difference be-
tween the possible higher power and
the lower spiritual life.
Works without Faith.
"Faith without works Is dead" But
without faith In the divinity OF Jesus
Christ and in his supernatural power
works" in the sight Of God are worse
than dead. The lack Of faith In Christ
means that YOU are utterly devoid Of
the Christ power. This belief in Christ
IS the very foundation Of the gospel
What would you think of an architect
who takes you down to the seashore
and shows you beautiful temple
which he has erected upon the sands?
oh. It Is exquisite In design. The lights
come shining through the most eXpen-
sive of glass windows. The affairs are
rich with gold and beautiful tapestries.
The floors are exquisite mosaics. The
dome is perfect heaven Of blue What
would you think IL that architect. after
he had taken you through that building,
would reply 10 you when you asked:
"IIow are the foundations of this beau
tiful structure? Are they strong AND
truc:" "Oh. did not put much work
on the foundations Instead OF digging
them deep and strong. where all the
work would be hidden from the eyes
Of man. | simply buildcd these walls
upon the surface. expended all my
What would you think Of n ship de
slgner who did not lay the keel Of his
ship straight and true? Why. ON the
day of the launching of that boat the
hull would turn turtle" or In the
first great storm ut sea that boat would
90 10 pieces or sink with all on board.
Now. il is not sufficient In the Chris
llbN ts!t lbT Iilii ~ dIi an
right because have visited the sick
ana fed the hungry and was eyes 10 the
blind" II Is not sufficient for the archl-
tect 10 say. II am all right because |
have worked hard and buil,led my su.
p1rstructure we'll" IL Is not rational
for the ship designer TO talk about set
ting his masts before he has laid his
keel we'll. The questions of the dlvin-
ity Of Christ ana the divine power Of
Christ are the most vital questions In
the gospel life. II is foundation ques
tlon. This question preccdcs all other
questions. Whom say We that ann
Jesus asked the disciples OF old Peter
answered. Thou art the Christ. the son
Of the living Cod" DO you answer
thus? DO you believe thusf DO you be
licve In the supernatural power OF
Jesus rs the disciples did when they
gathered In Jerusalem 10 be endued
with power from on high?
These disciples believed that Christ
could give his supernatural power TO
his disciples II he would. They did
more. They believed that Christ would
give to them. as individuals this super
natural power, II they were only Obedi-
ent Ia his divine commands and tar
rled still In Jerusalem until they were
endued with power from on high.
Now. II Is one fact TO feel that Christ
can give 10 others his power II he
would or that he will give 20 me- indi-
vidually his higher power If am Will
ing to obey his commands and do as
he wishes me to do. Let me explain
this demarcation.
Realizing Possibilities.
Az American boys are born free and
equal. All have possibility of some
day being elected president of the
United States II they live. We We're
all taught this theory from the cradle.
The story of Lincoln. the rail splitter.
and of james \. Garfield. following the
towpaih. have been repeated again aud
again In almost every nursery. But
though the poor boy. the hoy OF the
humble home. may yet he elected presi-
dent of the United States. do we in the
highest flights Of our Imagination sup