The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-11-29
THE LAW OF
SACRIFICE"
THEME or REV. a. {. CLEMENTS
SERMON At FIRST METHo-
DIST CHURCH.
Explains What is Meant BY Taking
up the Gross in Duties
Of Life.

4 theme OF Rev. A. K. Clements morn
o ing sermon on Sunday at the FRS
I Methodist church. Mr.. Clemen
] preached an earnest discourse to an
I other large congregation. Taking FOL
his text Luke 9-2S and "a, he said il
r part:
, 1T was on their way from Cesares
, Phillippi that Jesus opened up the
! conversation of the context prepare
. tory to the enunciation of his ap
7 preaching death. And on a ventured
rebuke at the hands of his disciples
the law of sacrifice was set forth Ito
. the people who thronged him. in the
language of the text.
THE idea embodied here many have
though to be only cutting of of the
ordinary inclinations of life, especially
those tendencies towards evil. But
its meaning goes deeper, even to the
complete subjugation of self. 1t does
not mean to deny self, but to deny
self. The next shaws the thought Of
surrender in the symbol of the cross
which must be borne by every one who
follows Jesus. To take up ones cross
is not to take up the undesirable
things of life, but to take up that upon
which self is to be sacrificed and bear
it on towards the place of execution
beyond which alone lies the rich goal
of life. And that which makes the
cross SO perfect a symbol of surren-
der is borne out by the historical fact
of it's introduction by the Romans ON
their subjugation of the Jews. 1t was
TO the Jews, therefore, despised sign
of an ignominious death upon which
rested the curse of God.
Others than Christians deny them
selves that they may win the goal |
of their desires. The athlete brings
his appetites and pleasures into sub
lection, even 10 the neglect of mind
and heart that he may win. The stu
dent forgets all else save the prob
lens in hand in order to develop his
mental grasp and skill. The man of
worldly ambition never tires of rising
early and working late to reach for
tune or climb the ladder of fame. And
if they thus buy for themselves cor
ruptable crown cannot we for that
arown eternal?
Whether we win or not, through
this avenue of death to self alone lies
the fair haven of rest to the soul. Net
only does today's text express this
thought but many others perhaps, if
possible, make : it even stronger.
Jesus, for example. said to the mis-
multitudes following
him, IF any man come to me and
nate not in the sense of love less"
his father, and mother, and wife, and
and brethren and sisters,
yea, and his own life also, he cannot (
,e my disciple" in the way of life. r
rhe cost of ones discipleship is him
elf and his all. $
But, thank God, heaven is just be- h
'ond the cross and its streaming glory u
will shine far down the path, for He +
Who is faithful and able to keep his ,
says that If we deny our
elves and take up our crosses and 7
ollow him we shall become disciples !,
I our Lord, and that If we lose our 4
ives for his sake we shall save them. \
lie who spoke worlds into existence I,
nd gave US our being is able to pre- q
erve our lives or return them to US I,
hen sacrificed. Christ's own purpose >,
coming into the world was that they a,
might have life, and that. they might >,
ave 1t more abundantly." Language !,
inadequate to express the meaning :.
this glad fellowship Of life in Christ.
life Is "the sum, Of all that is physical
;. intellectually, morally, and spirits
ally in the world and in man." And
he fullness OF the Christian life 10 :,
shibited in. its three elements--safe- =
, liberty and support" (Westcott). y
Il this and more besides is abundant
found in His provisions for life. 1t
cans strength Of soul, courage OF
,irit, depth OF love, breadth of ex-
,rience, height of knowledge, and
hatever else may be included In the
easurements Of the purpose of the r.
lie more abundantly" prepared for
ose who love him. To be his daily De
mpanion is JOY unspeakable, life
1rth living; to be in Christ is to be lui
new creature, to possess new life;
d to be in the likeness Of Christ is to co
ssess the noblest life In earth or ne
aven. lily
"The provisions are that he who bic
xes up his cross and follows Christ KIN
all be His disciple. And to be tor
Instant companion and "learner" OF the
m and His truth is sure avenue prt
broadening life indeed. Only such Ad