Evening journal., 1906-08-08
MANS LOSS
THROUGH Sin
speeIal 70 The rvenIng journal.

Special to The Evening Journal.
DOVER, Aug. 7-"Man's Loss Of the
Divine Image and Its Restoration
Through Christ" a sermon taken from
the text: "For the Son of Man has
come to seek and to save that which
was lost" was delivered in Wesley NJ
f. Church by Rev. Edwin Gardner, of
Millington In the course of a polished
sermon upon this subject, Mr.. Gardner
said:
In the first Paradise God displayed
the best and the noblest that His IN
finite wisdom could contrive for the
enjoyment and welfare of the being he
had made in His image. The trees of
the garden yielded their choicest fruit
after their kind for his food the flow
ers bloomed in exquisite fragrance for
his pleasure; the animals were docile
and kind in his presence. Gorgeous
arborescence provided him the most
adequate and comfortable shelter. The
air was the purest. the climate the
healthiest, and every surrounding the
best that could be provided for human
comfort and pleasure.
In his moral condition he was ar
rayed in the garments of heavenly pur-
! ity; harmony reigned within his soul
and glory made everything splendid
without His understanding. though
finite, reflected Divine knowledge. His
judgment was influenced only by the
truth Of God. His affections were spir-
itual. and always reveled in the enjoy
ment of celestial bliss.
After the admonition was given that
he was not to eat Of the tree Of life,
the character of the Almighty was
changed from Creator and Benefactor,
to that of Ruler and Law-giver. The
positive precept was TO test the obe-
dience. Continuance in the observance
Of the law viii give life, but for his
violation, death will ensue.
zone day a chorus choir Of angels
announced that there was born i'm the
city Of David a Saviour who should
save his people from sin. He was also
to be a redeemer possessing power not
only to redeem, but to restore to them
that image OF purity and Righteousness
which man had forfeited by his first
transgression. The whole burden Of
His ministry was: I came not to call
the righteous, but sinners TO repent
ance.' For thirty-three years this fact
was kept before the people, but to them
that believe on Him would He restore
that image in its perfection and
beauty.
1.-THE manner in which Christ accom-
plished this wonderful design is in per-
feet accordance with the claims OF JUS
tice and the criminality of the Offend
er He came and offered himself as
the infinite substitute. He placed him
self at the bar Of justice, received in
His own body the blow intended for
the criminal. made it possible for the
guilty to be restored to the Divine i'm
age. and at the same time guarded
every infringement upon the justice Of
the law -giver. so that God could al
ways be just and yet the justiher of all
those who sincerely repent.
Behold the Immaculate Son Of God,
clothed IN the garments of His royal
priesthood, treading the wine-press of
the wrath Of God! See Him coming
out Of Bozrah. travelling in the great
ness of His strength. enlisting Him
self with all our enemies disarming
death Of its terrors, busting the bar
rier OF the tomb, and binding with His
chain Of the atonement earth to Hea-
ven and man to God. The terms by
which this divine image is restored are
repentance toward God and faith in
Jesus Christ. There must be no Teli-
ance upon ourselves or on our own
righteousness. We must turn away
from Sinai that condcmneth and come
TO Calvary that acquitteth. We must
plead the merits Of cruciied Saviour,
ever remembering that:
Five bleeding wounds He bears
] Received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers,
They strongly plead for me-"
! Therefore. being justified by faith,
we have peace with God. through our
Lord, Jesus Christ