The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-02-13

Brooklyn, N. Y.-Preaching at the
Irving Square Presbyterian Church
on the theme, Jesus Christ; an Esti-
mate" the Rev. Ira Wemmell Hen
derson, pastor, took as his text st.
John TIA: And the Word was
made flesh and dwelt among u.s." He
said:
The history of many lands and Of
many people through two thousand
years is the record of the influence
and the inspiration of Jesus Christ.
Upon the story of the world none has
made a deeper impress, none has
marked a richer fame. Born in a
manger, His early acts almost I'M
known, a mere pittance Of His royal
wealth of mind and divinity OF soul
preserved to US to this day-and that
pittance a storehouse of wisdom n
eternal life-the character and the
claims of Christ stand forth pre-emi-
nent and predominant before the
world. Through every epoch and in
every age the might and majesty OF
His life have been a force for uplift
among nations, and a factor for
righteousness in individual lives.
Listening to the admonitions OF the
Saviour, rulers have learned the way
to reign. Attending to the advice OF
the Master, many a sin-seared soul
has entered into Heavens haven and
found safety in a sure salvation. Lay
ing His hand upon womanhood, Christ
has bid her rise. Speaking to the
hearts of men, He has counseled JUS
tice, and has bid mankind be fair.
To the statesman, to the craftsman,
to the captains Of industry and to the
tiiiers of the soil, the words and the
works and the life of Christ have
been the measure of true manhood
and the guarantee of His divinity.
Sent Of Almighty God to. be the Saw
Jour of human kind, Jesus has taught
every mortal how to live. Preaching
no gospel of minutiae, our Lord has
given unto US a rule of faith and
practice that must revolutionize the
world. Born into a world Of caste,
class and prejudice of birth, Christ
taught the value and nobility of each
and every soul. Finding pride to be
more of account than purity, He de-
manded cleanliness of heart. Finding
hypocrisy to be far more prevalent
than high-mindedness, He asserted
the necessity for sanctity Of soul.
Trusting in the assurance Of divine
guidance, and feeling the impulses Of
divine love, the Son Of Man came to
seek and to save that which was lost.
With sublime confidence in the in
:yincibility Of the right, and that truth
must win, the Christ assailed and ar
raigned, with fearless ~fervor, all the
host of spiritual wicked ones who
prostituted to their own ends the
holy places and the hallowed pur-
poses of the Most High. Filled with
sympathy for all the army of the
earth's oppressed, He spread a loving
arm about them all, and babe them
take courage and have peace and
cheer. Knowing the beauty and the
bIessedness of holiness, and seeing
the hideousness of sin, our Lord
yearned that men should experience
and know the Joy and glory of the
Fathers favor.
First and foremost in the world OF
human action, Jesus Christ stands to-
day, yesterday and forever as. the
Saviour of mankind. The incarnation
and the revelation Of the Father, He
has preached and practiced that no.
bility of life that awakens within the
human heart the recognition Of His
divine authority. Hearing His words
of love and of light, and seeing His
blameless life of beauty and of grace,
men have recognized in Him that
word from Heaven which shall n
tify and save the world. Experience
ing the inability of wisdom to re-
veal Jehovah in His f%ullness, and
longing for that preachment from on
high which shall point the way to sal
walton and the perfect knowledge Of
our God, men have ever since the
days Of Christ known in Him that
power and ability which can save.
Words are good only when backed
up by Deeds" Christ proclaimed His
saving mission and His cleansing
grace. and lived a life of love. Gao
tons speak louder than words" De-
claring His integrity with God, the
Lord tf Life revealed, in outward act,
an inner and diviner grace. Urging
the need for purity, He was pure;
stating the nobility of Righteousness,
He was just; standing firm for holt
ness and for sanctity Of life, He never
strayed from God; a counselor OF
loneliness, He was patient and kind
and true; persuading men to godli-
ness, and dissuading human souls
from sin, the Christ eve exemplified
in His own career that godly and sin
less life that His promises inspire.
rL-.I - A. C1,,- sr ,~ro~o
OF imitators He has many, and Of
equals none. To be the saviour of
this world from sin, a man must have
within his soul the fullness of divin-
ity and of Godhood. To be accepted
by mankind as the revelation of the
Father and the healer Of the race, a
man must show forth in act the hid
den, inner power. The Christ rings
true. The melodies of Heaven peal
through His words. He speaks, and
10! we hear eternal truth. He acts,
and the very manner is divine. We
listen and we see. Our hearts re-
spond. We take Him at His word,
and prove His power. We trust His
promise, and we initiate His life.
Christian experience sustains Him.
He is indeed a Saviour. He is in
truth the way and the life.
E Revelation is information. To re-
veal is to disclose. TO inform is to
disclose facts which were before un-
known to those who may give ear.
Disclosure is an uncovering. Christ
the Revealer has disclosed to man
what is the character of God, not only
by the words He spoke, but also by
the life He lived. He has taken the
veil away and informed Is of the
1.11-1.a 80 %l~ -1Dr,y ~ Tnhoroh Ln