Evening journal., 1908-02-03
TELLS OF VALUE
OF OBEDIENCE
P0SlOT FeTeuSOn'S Interesting
SeImCn 10 N. mb.rs o.
, ST. Luk-'S

'ODedience Through Suffering" was
the subject Of an interesting sermon by
the Rev. George L. Ferguson in ST.
Luke's Reformed Episcopal Church.
Eighth and Monroe streets. yesterday
morning. He took his text from He
brews SIS, Though He Were a Son.
Yet Learned He Obedience Of the
Things Which He Suffered" He said
in part:
"1he problem Of evil is one that
has ever called forth the best efforts
of men in their attempts to solve IT,
Philosophers and religious teachers
have given 1t untlring study, meditation
and prayer. But the best solution they
have is existence is sorrow, its very
essence is evil" CBuddha) or "tha
world is so bad that no world would
have been better; il Is something that
had better never been" (Schopenhauer)
Well might men stand in awe and
CONSERVATION, whe nthey find them
selves powerless before the frghtfu
calamities nature brings upon them
the evil men do to men, the sorrow
sickness and death that belong TO our
humanity. But across this dark back
ground OF life Jesus Christ throws a
golden ray Of light that illumines the
darkness and reveals to men the heart
Of a loving, compassionate Father
THE Son of God learned obedience
Christianity meets the problem OF evil
with suffering Christ. He that knew
no sin suffering for the sins of man
kind. Sin came into the world through
disobedience and il could only be con
quered by One who was obedient
Obedience is not a hereditary blessing
il must be learned. and the Son of
Goo was compelled TO learn it "by the
things which He suffered" He suf-
fered being tempted He suffered all
the hsrdships and joys Of the working
man. He suffered hunger and thirst
and "had not where to lay His head
He suffered by the treachery of false
friends, and the bitter enmity of muir
derous opponents. He suffered the
heartache caused by physical Ills and
shed tears beside the open grave. In
Gethsemane He suffered without one
human heart TO sympathiae with Him
lie suffered alone In Plato's judgment
hall on the cross He suffered incoin-
prehensible agony during .he last con-
Llict in which sin and death were de-
feated
Imagine, if you can, the suffering
the Innocent One must have endured
in such ignominious shame. The si.f
iering of a heart that in the presence
of death was breaking for those who
took part in His death, for those
around His cross, for all men. for Won
and l. and for the generations vet un-
born, and we will be compelled to saw
though He We're q Son, yet learned lie
obedience by the things which He suf
fered.
Must Learn Obedience.
The suffering Of the Son Of God has
brown a flood Of Divine light upon
he problem of evil by teaching men
hat the suffering due to evil has an
ducatve value. BY il man learns
bedienoe. BY the tempest, shipwreck
ma loss of life man has learned to
master the mighty deep with our great
'essels that carry ON our great inter
national commerce. He conquers nature
by being obedient to its inexorable
laws. BY famine. pestilence, earth
quake and fire, man has learned To
safeguard himself, and for the vic
TINS there Is a heartfelt sympath,
which belts the globe and is felt at
every freside. BY the suffering Of the
weaker at hands Of the stronger. mar
has learned to form his internationai
avs, and compels him TO seek univer-
sal peace BY suffering the loss of
property at the hands Of the criminal
he loss Of sons and daughters i'm IN,
lens OF vice, and at the hands Of the
vampires of society man has learned
aw and TO raise the safeguards OF
ociety BY suffering an the physlca
us. man has learned to erect hospital
'nd Institutions for their relief. and
by this the heart of humanity is be
oming more tender. and man moro
iod-ike. BY suffering the loss Of
owed ones by death. life has taken or
deeper meaning, the ties of love are
lrawn closer, and the home is a more
9cred pace. Truly mankind learns
bedience by the things which it suf
'ers
7ersonal Obedience.
The obedience Of the Son OF God
vas personal ana perfect This. We
now, we do not render to God. II IS
impossible. But the obedience IF the
Son was not to mock our imnerfeo+
ature, nor was It a mere spectacular
display Of Diety TO call forth the nd
niration OF men, There was q Divine
purpose I'm It. "And being made per
ect, He became the author Of eterao
aviation into al them that obev Him 90
nhrorgh faith in Him our sincere al
ihough imperfect obedience Is aocenter
because Of the love and compassion
fe has for us. He Is faithful and inst
'or though He We're a Son. vet Learned
Tie obedience by the things which Hc
,tt t0fa,.ad