The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-10-30
THE PULPIT.
A SCHOLARLY SUNDAY SERMON 6Y
THE REV. M. l. BURTON, PHI. D.
Theme: Jesus as Prophet.

.
services of the churches on the
Heights. the preacher Sunday was the
Rev. Marion Leroy Burton, Ph.D.,
grims. His subject was Jesus the
Prophet" He selected his text from
Matthew 21:l0-1l: And when He
was come into Jerusalem, all the city
was moved, saying, Who Is this? And
the multitude said, This is Jesus the
Prophet of Nazareth of Galilee." DR..
Burton said In substance:
The central question of all this in
Christian life is, how does Jesus save
us; how are we to profit by Christ's
life? 1t is impossible in this short
time to answer but one phase OF the
three which our Saviour lived. as
Prophet, Priest and King. Yet each
conveys its part Of truth upon a pro-
per concept Of His holy life. How
ever, IL is well to concentrate upon
the prophet side Of His life, not to i'm
ply at all any sense Of separateness
between them. We cannot give at
tention now to the kingly aspect, but
to that of prophet, which Jesus lived
for our salvation. What was II that
caused the multitude to follow Him,
and, as St. Matthew tells us, take
Him for a prophet? 1t was He who
proclaimed the truth and in this light
We can see how Jesus is related to
our life.
Without going into the questions
and different divisions which natur-
ally arise on all sides, let us consider
how He lived as prophet. In what
sense does He stand asSour prophet?
In the first place. We know that He is
prophet in regard to God. He has
revealed how God is taking us be-
meath His forgiveness and patience
and ever watchful care - how we
cease to exist without Him. Let us
note, in the first place, Jesus revela-
tion of Gods attitude toward sinful
ness. There are those who declare
sin Is underestimated, but II we are
wise, We can understand Jesus true
attitude in regard to sin. 1t is shown
in His denunciations, in His opinions
of the leaders of the day, in the Ser
mon on the Mount, all of which show
His conception of sin. Not only the
man who is the adulterer, but he who
lives in conditions of lust; not only
the murderer, but he who inspires the
act and remains silent; not alone the
perjurer, but he who fails to be truth
full by keeping silent. These are
likewise" sinners.
But Gods attitude toward sin con-
Germs not alone our outward acts, for
the inner being is brought into ac-
countability and cannot escape. Jesus
has called upon us not only to do
something that makes for our saliva
ton, but also to have in mind that we
Go IF In
ner self that the victory over sin has
to be won. We should have life not
of action alone, but also of being.
Jesus has taught the world the terri
bic consequences which are to follow
our wrongdoing, that the man who
sins will condone il by suffering. He
has told of the penalties of sin. He
who deceives the little one had better
tie a milestone about his neck and
perish in the sea. What awful penal
ties that follow the sinner! But not
alone has Jesus revealed to us Gods
attitude toward sin, but in the second
instance He has revealed God. through
Himself, and has shown His manifold
purposes Of our destiny.
Let us study the character and lie
OF Jesus and We shall see that He has
clemency and patience. Why was II
the multitude followed Him? Be-
fIluse they took Him for a prophet?
1t is not that alone, but because of
His magnetic personality, which at
tracted all to Him and made Him be-
loved OF all men. No wonder the
twelve disciples came at His call and
served Him with true love and faith.
tIyn At - ~
Gle, however, that Jesus attracted
men about Him by His wonderful per-
sonage. Nicodemus came TO Jesus.
The centurion was wont to seek Him
out for counsel. The multitude list
ened to His words of wisdom. He
was a friend of the publican and sin
ner. AT the day OF the feast the
Greeks came and said, I'VE would see
Jesus" He spoke in infinite love and
drew all to Him. He sought to lead
them through the paths of His truth
and to teach them quietly, sincerely,
OF life and their salvation. How mar
velous and how perfect that He should
lead men toward the truth and a bet
ter and less sinful life. Witness Him
teaching the multitude to the path
ways of truth and see Him carry them
to His Word. He knew that much OF
His teachings fell on barren soil and
took no root, but He was patient with
Els people. oh, the beauty and pa
thos OF <he parting with His disci-
piles! 1t passes all understanding
1t was a crisis in the life Of Jesus.
He taught them the truth, and He led
them out In vital existence.
Teaching the people. Jesus was pa
tient at all times. Even the same
twelve men who gathered at His call
20 preach the Gospel to the world Of
ten forgot His teaching of the Word
On the way to the Last Supper they
quarreled among themselves as TO
who was the greatest among them.
But He was patient and forgave them.
Did not the priests take before Him
an adulteress, and when the accusers
had fed. - 4 He not say, Where are
those who condemn thee? Neither
30 I condemn thee. Go and sin no
more" oh. the infinite love and for
giveness OF ;he Master, Then Jesus
tells OF the Prodigal Son and shows
that forgiveness with the Father is